herman said:
Centres (duh): Matthews, Tavares, Kadri, Gauthier, Lindholm
Primary wingers: Nylander, Marner
GwotP: Marleau, Hyman, Brown, Johnsson, Kapanen*, Ennis
* Kapanen is arguably a primary, but Babcock wants him to be a GwotP heavy forechecker; with his speed, I'd say that's not a bad call.
So what will happen when Nylander returns? I'd like to try this:
Kapanen - Matthews - Nylander
Hyman - Tavares - Marner
Marleau - Kadri - Brown
Johnsson/Lindholm - Lindholm/Gauthier - Leivo
I'd like to see Babcock give up on the checking/match-up line and just roll trios that have talent enough to score and enough defensive acumen not get burned going the other way.
So gimme:
Hyman - Tavares - Marner (it's working so far, Hyman's speed and ability to disrupt defensemen is all Tavares and Marner seem to need to work)
Marleau - Matthews - Kapanen (Mathews can do a lot on his own, including (this season) get through the NZ and into the OZ; Kapanen has skill and speed enough to do that, plus the wheels to get to and hands to recover the puck; and Marleau's a fine secondary scoring threat and responsible winger)
Johnsson/Lindholm - Kadri - Nylander (LW options, at least when/if Johnsson gets going, are good without the puck and defensively responsible, while both Kadri and Nylander can enter the zone, pass, and shoot -- a good rush combo)
And a 4th line that can do what the one we had in Dallas did in the 3rd period -- keep it a cycle going in the offensive zone and eat time. Between Lindholm (positionally sound), Ennis, Brown (quick, tenacious on the puck, though not great hands), Gauthier and Leivo (big bodies who showed they could sustain pressure), the Leafs have the players to do that.