Decisions, decisions

[Kin]

 
Okay, so admittedly having only looked at where he was listed at season's end and not going as far as into finding TOI over the last nine games, McDavid did see some sheltered ice to start his rookie season up until (or near) the end of it.  We all knew where he was headed, but he certainly didn't start there is my point.

Well, looking at the game logs it's pretty easy to see what happened. RNH started the year as the #1 guy, then McDavid got hurt and kept at it until RNH got hurt. Then McDavid came back with RNH still out of the line-up and he was the #1 guy and then RNH came back and...McDavid was still the #1 guy.

As to the notion of being "sheltered" if that's true it was only true at the very beginning of the year. McDavid was over 20 minutes a night by his 4th game and when he got hurt he was coming off of three 20+ minute games in a row(including, in the 10th game of the season, his first game with more ice-time than RNH).

So yeah, I think you might want to ease Matthews into the top line in a similar way playing him behind Kadri but that shouldn't last for more than a month or so if he's capable of filling that role right away. 

 

[TBLeafer]

 
Okay, so admittedly having only looked at where he was listed at season's end and not going as far as into finding TOI over the last nine games, McDavid did see some sheltered ice to start his rookie season up until (or near) the end of it.  We all knew where he was headed, but he certainly didn't start there is my point.

Well, looking at the game logs it's pretty easy to see what happened. RNH started the year as the #1 guy, then McDavid got hurt and kept at it until RNH got hurt. Then McDavid came back with RNH still out of the line-up and he was the #1 guy and then RNH came back and...McDavid was still the #1 guy.

As to the notion of being "sheltered" if that's true it was only true at the very beginning of the year. McDavid was over 20 minutes a night by his 4th game and when he got hurt he was coming off of three 20+ minute games in a row(including, in the 10th game of the season, his first game with more ice-time than RNH).

So yeah, I think you might want to ease Matthews into the top line in a similar way playing him behind Kadri but that shouldn't last for more than a month or so if he's capable of filling that role right away.

No it comes to the point.  Yeah a month or two is what was thinking as well, unless Stamkos signs.  Then there really is some MAJOR options to play with.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

If Matthews is as good as people say he is it's not entirely unreasonable to say that he'll probably be our best player in his rookie season. Maybe not on day 1, but at some point he'll take that title. His "sheltering" will really only come in the form of the Kadri line taking the toughest assignments, but he'll still play a lot and in key moments.

 

[Kin]

It's also important to note that while you can "shelter" a player by dictating his ice-time and linemates, there's really only so much you can do in terms of who he plays against which is probably the more important thing.

 

[Tigger]

JvR - Kadri - Komarov
Michalek/Hyman - Nylander - Brown
Greening/Holland - Matthews - Marner
Laich/Leivo - Bozak/S. Carrick/C. Smith - Soshnikov

Sosh played on the left side with the Leafs, so assuming that's something that will carry over I could see:

JVR-Matthews-PAP
Soshnikov-Kadri-Komarov
Hyman-Nylander-Brown
Laich-Bozak/Holland-Marner

That leaves you with a lot of veteran presence in the top-6, and one kid line that would get very favourable minutes. And it's probably important to note that those 3 kids on that line aren't exactly coming straight from junior.

One of Bozak or Holland would have to go. 2 of Greening/Michalek/Lupul would have to disappear with the other being used as the 13th forward.

JVR          Kadri      Nylander
Michalek  Matthews  Hyman
Soshnikov  Bozak    Brown
Komarov    Laich    Marner
Greening Lupul

If Bozak is kept I could see them trying something like this to at least start the season. Doesn't bode well for Leivo or Holland if Lupul is healthy enough to suit up. I don't really see a place for PAP, though I didn't mind him.

 

[freer]

JvR - Kadri - Komarov
Michalek/Hyman - Nylander - Brown
Greening/Holland - Matthews - Marner
Laich/Leivo - Bozak/S. Carrick/C. Smith - Soshnikov

Sosh played on the left side with the Leafs, so assuming that's something that will carry over I could see:

JVR-Matthews-PAP
Soshnikov-Kadri-Komarov
Hyman-Nylander-Brown
Laich-Bozak/Holland-Marner

That leaves you with a lot of veteran presence in the top-6, and one kid line that would get very favourable minutes. And it's probably important to note that those 3 kids on that line aren't exactly coming straight from junior.

One of Bozak or Holland would have to go. 2 of Greening/Michalek/Lupul would have to disappear with the other being used as the 13th forward.

JVR          Kadri      Nylander
Michalek  Matthews  Hyman
Soshnikov  Bozak    Brown
Komarov    Laich    Marner
Greening Lupul

If Bozak is kept I could see them trying something like this to at least start the season. Doesn't bode well for Leivo or Holland if Lupul is healthy enough to suit up. I don't really see a place for PAP, though I didn't mind him.

I honestly like the third line

I think that everyone underestimated Bozak playing with out Kessel. Last season he was pretty much the same point % as he was while playing with  Kessel.

Soshnikov  Bozak    Brown - if it happens will be the leafs most exciting line IMO

 

[Al14]

JvR - Kadri - Komarov
Michalek/Hyman - Nylander - Brown
Greening/Holland - Matthews - Marner
Laich/Leivo - Bozak/S. Carrick/C. Smith - Soshnikov

Sosh played on the left side with the Leafs, so assuming that's something that will carry over I could see:

JVR-Matthews-PAP
Soshnikov-Kadri-Komarov
Hyman-Nylander-Brown
Laich-Bozak/Holland-Marner

That leaves you with a lot of veteran presence in the top-6, and one kid line that would get very favourable minutes. And it's probably important to note that those 3 kids on that line aren't exactly coming straight from junior.

One of Bozak or Holland would have to go. 2 of Greening/Michalek/Lupul would have to disappear with the other being used as the 13th forward.

JVR          Kadri      Nylander
Michalek  Matthews  Hyman
Soshnikov  Bozak    Brown
Komarov    Laich    Marner
Greening Lupul

If Bozak is kept I could see them trying something like this to at least start the season. Doesn't bode well for Leivo or Holland if Lupul is healthy enough to suit up. I don't really see a place for PAP, though I didn't mind him.

If Matthews is as good as everyone seems to say, then, I don't see him as our 2nd line centre.  I don't want to offend the Kadri fans, but, I don't see him as our starting centre with Matthews on board.  Just saying.

 

[herman]

JvR - Kadri - Komarov
Michalek/Hyman - Nylander - Brown
Greening/Holland - Matthews - Marner
Laich/Leivo - Bozak/S. Carrick/C. Smith - Soshnikov

Sosh played on the left side with the Leafs, so assuming that's something that will carry over I could see:

JVR-Matthews-PAP
Soshnikov-Kadri-Komarov
Hyman-Nylander-Brown
Laich-Bozak/Holland-Marner

That leaves you with a lot of veteran presence in the top-6, and one kid line that would get very favourable minutes. And it's probably important to note that those 3 kids on that line aren't exactly coming straight from junior.

One of Bozak or Holland would have to go. 2 of Greening/Michalek/Lupul would have to disappear with the other being used as the 13th forward.

JVR          Kadri      Nylander
Michalek  Matthews  Hyman
Soshnikov  Bozak    Brown
Komarov    Laich    Marner
Greening Lupul

If Bozak is kept I could see them trying something like this to at least start the season. Doesn't bode well for Leivo or Holland if Lupul is healthy enough to suit up. I don't really see a place for PAP, though I didn't mind him.

If Matthews is as good as everyone seems to say, then, I don't see him as our 2nd line centre.  I don't want to offend the Kadri fans, but, I don't see him as our starting centre with Matthews on board.  Just saying.

I don't think anyone takes offense to that assertion. It's just that Kadri has earned the trust of Babcock already, fielding the top match up, over the course of last season. It's a safe bet to assume Babcock will continue to develop Kadri in that regard, which will free up Nylander and Matthews to develop their games under less trying circumstances (i.e. against opponents' lines 2, 3, 4). Matthews has yet to play any stretch of games against NHL caliber teams, so while he could very well end up taking the lion's share of top match ups by the end of the season, it's still too early to say anything for sure.

 

[Al14]

JvR - Kadri - Komarov
Michalek/Hyman - Nylander - Brown
Greening/Holland - Matthews - Marner
Laich/Leivo - Bozak/S. Carrick/C. Smith - Soshnikov

Sosh played on the left side with the Leafs, so assuming that's something that will carry over I could see:

JVR-Matthews-PAP
Soshnikov-Kadri-Komarov
Hyman-Nylander-Brown
Laich-Bozak/Holland-Marner

That leaves you with a lot of veteran presence in the top-6, and one kid line that would get very favourable minutes. And it's probably important to note that those 3 kids on that line aren't exactly coming straight from junior.

One of Bozak or Holland would have to go. 2 of Greening/Michalek/Lupul would have to disappear with the other being used as the 13th forward.

JVR          Kadri      Nylander
Michalek  Matthews  Hyman
Soshnikov  Bozak    Brown
Komarov    Laich    Marner
Greening Lupul

If Bozak is kept I could see them trying something like this to at least start the season. Doesn't bode well for Leivo or Holland if Lupul is healthy enough to suit up. I don't really see a place for PAP, though I didn't mind him.

If Matthews is as good as everyone seems to say, then, I don't see him as our 2nd line centre.  I don't want to offend the Kadri fans, but, I don't see him as our starting centre with Matthews on board.  Just saying.

I don't think anyone takes offense to that assertion. It's just that Kadri has earned the trust of Babcock already, fielding the top match up, over the course of last season. It's a safe bet to assume Babcock will continue to develop Kadri in that regard, which will free up Nylander and Matthews to develop their games under less trying circumstances (i.e. against opponents' lines 2, 3, 4). Matthews has yet to play any stretch of games against NHL caliber teams, so while he could very well end up taking the lion's share of top match ups by the end of the season, it's still too early to say anything for sure.

That might be very true, however, I still see the possibility of Kadri being traded in a package for a top defense man.

 

[herman]

That might be very true, however, I still see the possibility of Kadri being traded in a package for a top defense man.

Now you've lost me.

 

[Al14]

That might be very true, however, I still see the possibility of Kadri being traded in a package for a top defense man.

Now you've lost me.

There has been some noise/rumours that Kadri may be traded for help at the D position in the past.  I'm not sure that it can be ignored just yet.

 

[Tigger]

JvR - Kadri - Komarov
Michalek/Hyman - Nylander - Brown
Greening/Holland - Matthews - Marner
Laich/Leivo - Bozak/S. Carrick/C. Smith - Soshnikov

Sosh played on the left side with the Leafs, so assuming that's something that will carry over I could see:

JVR-Matthews-PAP
Soshnikov-Kadri-Komarov
Hyman-Nylander-Brown
Laich-Bozak/Holland-Marner

That leaves you with a lot of veteran presence in the top-6, and one kid line that would get very favourable minutes. And it's probably important to note that those 3 kids on that line aren't exactly coming straight from junior.

One of Bozak or Holland would have to go. 2 of Greening/Michalek/Lupul would have to disappear with the other being used as the 13th forward.

JVR          Kadri      Nylander
Michalek  Matthews  Hyman
Soshnikov  Bozak    Brown
Komarov    Laich    Marner
Greening Lupul

If Bozak is kept I could see them trying something like this to at least start the season. Doesn't bode well for Leivo or Holland if Lupul is healthy enough to suit up. I don't really see a place for PAP, though I didn't mind him.

If Matthews is as good as everyone seems to say, then, I don't see him as our 2nd line centre.  I don't want to offend the Kadri fans, but, I don't see him as our starting centre with Matthews on board.  Just saying.

Like I said, to at least start the season. I really doubt they're going to throw Matthews into top line minutes immediately, but, ultimately he'll get that look and hopefully there's no looking back at that point.

 

[herman]

That might be very true, however, I still see the possibility of Kadri being traded in a package for a top defense man.

Now you've lost me.

There has been some noise/rumours that Kadri may be traded for help at the D position in the past.  I'm not sure that it can be ignored just yet.

 

[Al14]

That might be very true, however, I still see the possibility of Kadri being traded in a package for a top defense man.

Now you've lost me.

There has been some noise/rumours that Kadri may be traded for help at the D position in the past.  I'm not sure that it can be ignored just yet.

Do I stay, or, do I go?  That is the question!

 

[herman]

That might be very true, however, I still see the possibility of Kadri being traded in a package for a top defense man.

Now you've lost me.

There has been some noise/rumours that Kadri may be traded for help at the D position in the past.  I'm not sure that it can be ignored just yet.

Do I stay, or, do I go?  That is the question!

I'm trying to see this from your perspective and I'm having some difficulty (hence the squinting). Can you help me understand why the Leafs feel the need to trade Kadri for defensive help after signing him very recently to a 4.5M AAV/6 year deal, especially when there are more attractive trade options on the team whose return value would exceed their current value to our rebuilding team?

 

[TBLeafer]

That might be very true, however, I still see the possibility of Kadri being traded in a package for a top defense man.

Now you've lost me.

There has been some noise/rumours that Kadri may be traded for help at the D position in the past.  I'm not sure that it can be ignored just yet.

Do I stay, or, do I go?  That is the question!

I'm trying to see this from your perspective and I'm having some difficulty (hence the squinting). Can you help me understand why the Leafs feel the need to trade Kadri for defensive help after signing him very recently to a 4.5M AAV/6 year deal, especially when there are more attractive trade options on the team whose return value would exceed their current value to our rebuilding team?

Oh look, something we agree on.  I knew it was bound to happen at some point. 

 

[Bullfrog]

I'm trying to see this from your perspective and I'm having some difficulty (hence the squinting). Can you help me understand why the Leafs feel the need to trade Kadri for defensive help after signing him very recently to a 4.5M AAV/6 year deal, especially when there are more attractive trade options on the team whose return value would exceed their current value to our rebuilding team?

I still can't get over how great a contract that is.

 

[herman]

Oh look, something we agree on.  I knew it was bound to happen at some point. 

We're both Leaf fans, so we already agreed to begin with. We have different views about certain situations, and any disagreements over ideas are simply opportunities for each of us to learn from each other and grow.

The Kadri contract basically highlights his destiny on the team: a) he is part of the solution, hence the long term contract; b) he is not going to be relied upon to score all the goals the way he was initially touted by Burke/Wilson, hence the salary; c) he was used very effectively as a defensive match up against opposing top lines and tilt the ice in the Leafs favour possession-wise, so we're going to run him that way and see where it takes us.

If his scoring picks up, he's going to be one of the best 3rd line centres ever, seeing as how he's already a very competent 1st line centre. As we've seen with the Penguins run, when you can roll three lines, you'll be able to match and then overmatch opposing teams one way or another.

Matthews - Nylander - Kadri is going to be ridiculous.

 

[herman]

I'm trying to see this from your perspective and I'm having some difficulty (hence the squinting). Can you help me understand why the Leafs feel the need to trade Kadri for defensive help after signing him very recently to a 4.5M AAV/6 year deal, especially when there are more attractive trade options on the team whose return value would exceed their current value to our rebuilding team?

I still can't get over how great a contract that is.

Top three off-season thingies (so far):
1. 1st overall pick!
2. Rielly and Kadri contracts
3. I don't know yet (because something might happen at the draft/free agency)... but I really love the Winnik trade too.

 

[nutman]

So you agree that its starting to be fun to be a Leaf fan again. ;D