Opening Forward Lines

[herman]

Not likely to change much while we're winning, but that first line is just too dangerous for us in the long run (see last three years).

In the ideal world, based on who we have:
Lupul - Kadri - Kessel
Kessel automatically makes any line he plays on a transition offense line. Match these guys up against softer secondary/tertiary lines and watch the points pile up. Kadri's bought into team checking play, so that can hopefully even out the possession decline in Kessel's current game.

Winnik - Bozak - Santorelli
With Kadri, Winnik and Santorelli are shutting down top opposition lines. They can do moreorless the same with Bozak.

JvR - Holland - Komarov
Big and fast, with a scoring touch. What's not to like?

Booth - Carrick - Panik
Fast and tenacious. There is quite a bit of finishing skill on this line that hasn't been fully realized.

Clarkson
It's never going to happen due to his contract, but Clarkson is a turnover machine, which is the opposite of possession play. To be fair, he is not voluntarily turning pucks over like an idiot; he just can't pass or receive passes.

 

[2badknees]

I like your lines; particularly carrick, he's had the best callup at a 4th line position imo.

I agree with putting lupul on the first line - for the sole reason of showcasing him for a trade. The leafs have got to move his contract and get space before he gets injured again.

JVR isn't a 3rd liner- he and winnik should switch, and we're good. 

 

[herman]

I like your lines; particularly carrick, he's had the best callup at a 4th line position imo.

I agree with putting lupul on the first line - for the sole reason of showcasing him for a trade. The leafs have got to move his contract and get space before he gets injured again.

JVR isn't a 3rd liner- he and winnik should switch, and we're good.

Thanks!

I agree that JVR is not a third liner, but with the Leafs forward depth, it's more like we have three 2nd lines sometimes. Whoever is going good is getting the minutes. I don't think JVR is cut out for the role opposite Santorelli the way Winnik is, so I put him with Holland to help capitalize on the zone time the grind line sets up.

 

[moon111]

What no Colton Orr?

 

[Highlander]

Or Freezer McLaren?

 

[hobarth]

Not likely to change much while we're winning, but that first line is just too dangerous for us in the long run (see last three years).

In the ideal world, based on who we have:
Lupul - Kadri - Kessel
Kessel automatically makes any line he plays on a transition offense line. Match these guys up against softer secondary/tertiary lines and watch the points pile up. Kadri's bought into team checking play, so that can hopefully even out the possession decline in Kessel's current game.

Winnik - Bozak - Santorelli
With Kadri, Winnik and Santorelli are shutting down top opposition lines. They can do moreorless the same with Bozak.

JvR - Holland - Komarov
Big and fast, with a scoring touch. What's not to like?

Booth - Carrick - Panik
Fast and tenacious. There is quite a bit of finishing skill on this line that hasn't been fully realized.

Clarkson
It's never going to happen due to his contract, but Clarkson is a turnover machine, which is the opposite of possession play. To be fair, he is not voluntarily turning pucks over like an idiot; he just can't pass or receive passes.

My ideal world is a little different:

Santo/Kadri/Kessel
Lupul/Holland/Komarov
JVR/Bozak/Winnik
Panik/Booth/Clarkson

Can't figure out what to do with Clarkson either, I'm hoping Nony get's fired, finds himself another job and he then trades for him.

I'm curious to see how Bozak and JVR can do against other team's 3rd lines because with Kessel they make up 2/3rds of the worst possession lines in hockey 

 

[Highlander]

This is the very same Nonis, that brought in Bernier, Gardiner and Lupul (yes Burke gave total credit to Nonis for that trade), drafted Rielly, Nylander, brought in  Holland, Winnek, Santorelli, personally flew to Russia to bring back the Komrade. Booth and Panik as well.  And of course the Frattin whom will be re released at some point (I hope).
All GM's make terrible gaffes from time to time (remember Schenn for JVR)  and I still don't like Clarkson, but Clarkson will help come playoff time. I will remind you of this in April/May. 

 

[bustaheims]

This is the very same Nonis, that brought in Bernier, Gardiner and Lupul (yes Burke gave total credit to Nonis for that trade), drafted Rielly, Nylander, brought in  Holland, Winnek, Santorelli, personally flew to Russia to bring back the Komrade. Booth and Panik as well.  And of course the Frattin whom will be re released at some point (I hope).
All GM's make terrible gaffes from time to time (remember Schenn for JVR)  and I still don't like Clarkson, but Clarkson will help come playoff time. I will remind you of this in April/May.

Rielly was Burke. I also don't remember Burke giving Nonis all the credit for the Lupul/Gardiner acquisition.

Also, the whole "Clarkson will help in the playoffs" stuff . . . he's never been a playoff performer, and, well, the rest of what he brings could have pretty easily been acquired for a fraction of what Clarkson costs. Even if the Leafs make the playoffs, Clarkson won't come close to being valuable enough to justify anything.

 

[Strangelove]

This is the very same Nonis, that brought in Bernier, Gardiner and Lupul (yes Burke gave total credit to Nonis for that trade), drafted Rielly, Nylander, brought in  Holland, Winnek, Santorelli, personally flew to Russia to bring back the Komrade. Booth and Panik as well.  And of course the Frattin whom will be re released at some point (I hope).
All GM's make terrible gaffes from time to time (remember Schenn for JVR)  and I still don't like Clarkson, but Clarkson will help come playoff time. I will remind you of this in April/May.

The only way he'll help in the playoffs is if he gets in a fight and re-injures himself.

 

[Redleaf]

This is the very same Nonis, that brought in Bernier, Gardiner and Lupul (yes Burke gave total credit to Nonis for that trade), drafted Rielly, Nylander, brought in  Holland, Winnek, Santorelli, personally flew to Russia to bring back the Komrade. Booth and Panik as well.  And of course the Frattin whom will be re released at some point (I hope).
All GM's make terrible gaffes from time to time (remember Schenn for JVR)  and I still don't like Clarkson, but Clarkson will help come playoff time. I will remind you of this in April/May.

Rielly was Burke. I also don't remember Burke giving Nonis all the credit for the Lupul/Gardiner acquisition.

Also, the whole "Clarkson will help in the playoffs" stuff . . . he's never been a playoff performer, and, well, the rest of what he brings could have pretty easily been acquired for a fraction of what Clarkson costs. Even if the Leafs make the playoffs, Clarkson won't come close to being valuable enough to justify anything.

So, in your opinion, has Nonis done more good for this team or has he made it worse?

 

[bustaheims]

So, in your opinion, has Nonis done more good for this team or has he made it worse?

Hard to say. In general, his higher profile moves as GM have been mostly bad, while his smaller moves have been mostly good. He's made some obvious improvements, but he's also really handicapped the team in terms of significant future moves (as things stand right now). Overall, though, I'm not sure the team is better than when he took over, but I also wouldn't call it worse.

 

[Redleaf]

So, in your opinion, has Nonis done more good for this team or has he made it worse?

Hard to say. In general, his higher profile moves as GM have been mostly bad, while his smaller moves have been mostly good. He's made some obvious improvements, but he's also really handicapped the team in terms of significant future moves (as things stand right now). Overall, though, I'm not sure the team is better than when he took over, but I also wouldn't call it worse.

Well, I'm glad I don't share your mostly pessimistic viewpoint about this team.

While I don't see a Stanley Cup in the works anytime soon, I certianly see improvements in the team across the board, and some hope that Nonis finally has them pointed in the right direction for future success.

 

[herman]

So, in your opinion, has Nonis done more good for this team or has he made it worse?

Hard to say. In general, his higher profile moves as GM have been mostly bad, while his smaller moves have been mostly good. He's made some obvious improvements, but he's also really handicapped the team in terms of significant future moves (as things stand right now). Overall, though, I'm not sure the team is better than when he took over, but I also wouldn't call it worse.

The team looks better to me by virtue of addition by subtraction. Not sure if any of it had much to do with Nonis though, as he greenlit those salary cap albatrosses you referenced.

Apparently Claude Loiselle (or was it Dave Poulin?) was the one that wanted Santorelli and requested the team kick the tires on Santorelli's asking price. I'd like to sign re-sign him as soon as possible and wouldn't mind Komarov numbers.

 

[freer]

So, in your opinion, has Nonis done more good for this team or has he made it worse?

Hard to say. In general, his higher profile moves as GM have been mostly bad, while his smaller moves have been mostly good. He's made some obvious improvements, but he's also really handicapped the team in terms of significant future moves (as things stand right now). Overall, though, I'm not sure the team is better than when he took over, but I also wouldn't call it worse.

The team looks better to me by virtue of addition by subtraction. Not sure if any of it had much to do with Nonis though, as he greenlit those salary cap albatrosses you referenced.

Apparently Claude Loiselle (or was it Dave Poulin?) was the one that wanted Santorelli and requested the team kick the tires on Santorelli's asking price. I'd like to sign re-sign him as soon as possible and wouldn't mind Komarov numbers.

I hope that the numbers are we wee bit lower myself. He has been a pleasant surprise but we are going to be tight with the cap.

 

[Arn]

Nice story on Kadri's recent play and the top two lines:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-beat/kadri-shines-again-as-red-hot-leafs-beat-ducks/article22113047/?cmpid=rss1&click=dlvr.it

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Wherein I try to determine how David Clarkson has a better P/60 at 5v5 than Tyler Bozak: How?

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Wherein I try to determine how David Clarkson has a better P/60 at 5v5 than Tyler Bozak: How?

You will find the answer is intangible.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Wherein I try to determine how David Clarkson has a better P/60 at 5v5 than Tyler Bozak: How?

You will find the answer is intangible.

Think Bob Dylan sang about that once.

 

[Tigger]

Intangibled up in Blue?

 

[Britishbulldog]

Not likely to change much while we're winning, but that first line is just too dangerous for us in the long run (see last three years).

In the ideal world, based on who we have:
Lupul - Kadri - Kessel
Kessel automatically makes any line he plays on a transition offense line. Match these guys up against softer secondary/tertiary lines and watch the points pile up. Kadri's bought into team checking play, so that can hopefully even out the possession decline in Kessel's current game.

Winnik - Bozak - Santorelli
With Kadri, Winnik and Santorelli are shutting down top opposition lines. They can do moreorless the same with Bozak.

JvR - Holland - Komarov
Big and fast, with a scoring touch. What's not to like?

Booth - Carrick - Panik
Fast and tenacious. There is quite a bit of finishing skill on this line that hasn't been fully realized.

Clarkson
It's never going to happen due to his contract, but Clarkson is a turnover machine, which is the opposite of possession play. To be fair, he is not voluntarily turning pucks over like an idiot; he just can't pass or receive passes.

I hate to beat on Clarkson still because he is fitting in better that last year but I find his skill level and hockey sense is below all 3 players on the Leafs 4th line (Booth, Smith and Panik).  I would even keep the lines the same when Komarov comes back and sit Clarkson (if possible):

JVR / Bozak / Kessel
Winnik / Kadri / Santorelli
Lupul / Holland / Komarov
Booth / Smith / Panik