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Line-up changes

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L K said:
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I get that the top line played kind of like crap the last little while, but I really don't think that was the solution.  More strange lineup changes.  I bet you after the first period without scoring Wilson puts Kessel and Lupul back together. 

On the flip side, I'm intrigued to see what Kadri is capable of with good players on his line with him that should be able to finish or at least continue his playmaking abilities.

I think MacArthur is going to be a horrible fit for Kessel though.  He's soft, and while Lupul certainly isn't a power-forward, Lupul would go to the net that made a lot of Kessel's shots/slap passes far more dangerous.
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I have my doubts most of these changes even make it to game action. Doesn't hurt trying to try new combos in practice, especially when the team has been struggling to produce for a few games, but, I just have my doubts anything comes of it.
 
Sarge said:
L K said:
Sarge said:
jonasTSN1050Jonas Siegel
MacArthur moved onto top line with Kessel and Bozak. Lupul drops to third unit with Connolly and Kadri.
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Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I get that the top line played kind of like crap the last little while, but I really don't think that was the solution.  More strange lineup changes.  I bet you after the first period without scoring Wilson puts Kessel and Lupul back together. 

On the flip side, I'm intrigued to see what Kadri is capable of with good players on his line with him that should be able to finish or at least continue his playmaking abilities.

I think MacArthur is going to be a horrible fit for Kessel though.  He's soft, and while Lupul certainly isn't a power-forward, Lupul would go to the net that made a lot of Kessel's shots/slap passes far more dangerous.
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(sorry - see above edit)... Siegel made a mistake... It's Lombardi on the top line.
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Hmmm...I don't know what to think of that.  Personally I felt Lombardi hasn't really done much this year.  I want to give him the benefit of the doubt for beyond this season, but right here-right now I think he's been invisible (up until last night).  Not sure why one game entitles the guy to time on the #1 line but I guess it's better than watching Joey Crabb get put there.  He certainly has the speed to keep up with Kessel but I really haven't seen him do anything with the puck other than skate really fast and shoot it at the net (or skate so fast that he no longer has an angle on the net so he skates behind the net and subsequently gets knocked off the puck and loses nearly every puck battle to the defender).

He's responsible defensively though and the top line has been a mess in their own zone lately (although I think some of that was Connolly being a terrible fit between Lupul and Kessel too).

 
Lombardi-Bozak-Kessel
Mac-Grabs-Kulemin
Lupul-Connolly-Kadri
Crabb-Steckel-Brown

I like the changes. May as well see what Kessel and Lupul can do on different lines and now is as good a time as any. Before the start of the season I wondered if Lombardi would be a good fit with Kessel because of his speed. Guess we're going to find out
 
Well, one positive is we're going to find out if Kessel and Lupul can keep it going without each other. It'll be nice to know if either guy are capable of producing without the other.

Edit: Jynx, Carlton!
 
Lombardi probably makes the top unit less of a defensive liability too.

Still strange to split Phil and Lupes, their goal last night might have been the catalyst for them to go on another tear.
 
Sarge said:
jonasTSN1050 Jonas Siegel
New D-pairings today as well: Phaneuf-Schenn. Gunnarsson-Komisarek. Gardiner-Franson. Aulie.
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So Phaneuf moves to the left. Hope he can make a smooth transition there. Our defence certainly lines up a little better if he can play that side.

Also forces Schenn to step up a little though.
 
Yeah, I like Gunnar and Komi together... Phaneuf/Schenn could be interesting... Lots of hitting, lots of boo-boos around their own net.  :-\ ... Hope it works. Franson/Gardiner has the makings of McCabe/Kaberle type duo. Not to put too much pressure on the two but I'm thinking big shot/slick skater type thing...
 
L K said:
Busta Reims said:
CarltonTheBear said:
I really don't see the big deal. Odds are, unless Rosehill completely overachieves, this is just a 1-game thing anyway.
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Exactly. Unless Rosehill really earns another game, this will be a 1 game thing, and, we're being totally honest, Kadri was pretty invisible over the last few games. Sticking him the press box for a night can also serve as a subtle reminder that he needs to keep working hard and contributing if he wants to stay in the line up every night.
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As was mentioned above, you bench Kadri, but Joey Crabb can go silent and Lombardi can do nothing but skate into turnovers.  I would have removed both of them before removing Kadri from the lineup.  Especially with Bozak back that would have Kadri setting up with Connolly again.  Kadri's hardly perfect but I thought he was making some quality passes/shots that were either being fumbled, hit posts or were stopped by the goalie.
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x 2. The standard is not the same. What Crabb et al are supposed to be doing - they're not right now but they seem to hold a player like Naz - who has more creativity than most - to a far higher standard.
 
sneakyray said:
Sarge said:
bustaheims said:
Clearly, all this means is that a trade is about to happen. ;)
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The Pledge = the roster
The Turn = line up changes
The Prestige = Ryan Getzlaf!
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lol...the greatest magic trick ever...the transporting of Ryan Getzlaf to toronto from anaheim
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Technically, the trick in the movie didn't transport the person, it duplicated them. I think you can see where this is going in regards to Getzlaf.

Who wouldn't love a new centreman for all four lines?
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Sarge said:
jonasTSN1050 Jonas Siegel
New D-pairings today as well: Phaneuf-Schenn. Gunnarsson-Komisarek. Gardiner-Franson. Aulie.
Click to expand...

So Phaneuf moves to the left. Hope he can make a smooth transition there. Our defence certainly lines up a little better if he can play that side.

Also forces Schenn to step up a little though.
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I like Franson and everything.  He's certainly much better defensively than advertised, but I'm not sure Franson + Gardiner = a quality pairing.  It's either going to be all-offense-all-the-time or there is going to be a lot of scrambling around in the Leafs end.

I don't actually mind Gunnarsson with Komisarek.  Aside from the last 4 or 5 games where Gunnarsson has struggled, I think he's the most calming defenseman on the team, and if anyone is going to bail Komisarek out, it's probably him. 

That being said, the flip side is that Schenn does not currently provide that calming influence as Phaneuf's partner.  They are both guys who pinch too much, and not always when there is a forward to cover for them.  I think that could be a matchup that might prove to be a little dangerous with Phaneuf's tendency to go wandering, and Schenn's to pretend that he actually has offensive abilities.
 
I thought Gardiner looked an awful lot better last game fwiw, not sure about a pairing with Franson but that at least is encouraging a bit to me.

 
L K said:
CarltonTheBear said:
Sarge said:
jonasTSN1050 Jonas Siegel
New D-pairings today as well: Phaneuf-Schenn. Gunnarsson-Komisarek. Gardiner-Franson. Aulie.
Click to expand...

So Phaneuf moves to the left. Hope he can make a smooth transition there. Our defence certainly lines up a little better if he can play that side.

Also forces Schenn to step up a little though.
Click to expand...

I like Franson and everything.  He's certainly much better defensively than advertised, but I'm not sure Franson + Gardiner = a quality pairing.  It's either going to be all-offense-all-the-time or there is going to be a lot of scrambling around in the Leafs end.

I don't actually mind Gunnarsson with Komisarek.  Aside from the last 4 or 5 games where Gunnarsson has struggled, I think he's the most calming defenseman on the team, and if anyone is going to bail Komisarek out, it's probably him. 

That being said, the flip side is that Schenn does not currently provide that calming influence as Phaneuf's partner.  They are both guys who pinch too much, and not always when there is a forward to cover for them.  I think that could be a matchup that might prove to be a little dangerous with Phaneuf's tendency to go wandering, and Schenn's to pretend that he actually has offensive abilities.
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Also, neither is the fastest of defencemen.
 
DavidAlter590 David Alter
Wilson says these new lines will "last a period, and see if it helps us" suggesting that this split may not last long #Leafs
 
Sarge said:
DavidAlter590 David Alter
Wilson says these new lines will "last a period, and see if it helps us" suggesting that this split may not last long #Leafs
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Also, not to just constantly complain, but this is one of the things that I don't get with Wilson.  He'll make line changes and then kill them before you get a chance to see if they will work.  How does a most 8 minutes of playing time prove that a line is working or not?

To me, you either don't mess with the lines, or you accept that you need last longer than a period.
 
L K said:
Sarge said:
DavidAlter590 David Alter
Wilson says these new lines will "last a period, and see if it helps us" suggesting that this split may not last long #Leafs
Click to expand...

Also, not to just constantly complain, but this is one of the things that I don't get with Wilson.  He'll make line changes and then kill them before you get a chance to see if they will work.  How does a most 8 minutes of playing time prove that a line is working or not?

To me, you either don't mess with the lines, or you accept that you need last longer than a period.
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Meh... I hear you but it doesn't bother me much.
 
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