Line Combos: It's that time again ...

[AuraSphere]

I'm just thinking about the past, if we actually won some trades, we'd be a great team.

JVR - Antropov - Kessel
Lupul - Kadri - Clarkson
Tlusty - Bozak- Stempniak
Orr - McClement - Kulemin

Phaneuf - Gunnarsson
Rielly - Franson
Gardiner - Liles

Rask
Reimer

Dawm

 

[holden57]

I'm just thinking about the past, if we actually won some trades, we'd be a great team.

JVR - Antropov - Kessel
Lupul - Kadri - Clarkson
Tlusty - Bozak- Stempniak
Orr - McClement - Kulemin

Phaneuf - Gunnarsson
Rielly - Franson
Gardiner - Liles

Rask
Reimer

Dawm

Nothing too great about that team other than Rask... Defence still isn't great. Antropov first line center? And you'd rather have Stempniak than Steen?

 

[Avec Fromage*]

Nothing too great about that team other than Rask... Defence still isn't great. Antropov first line center? And you'd rather have Stempniak than Steen?

Agree with this. Bozak > Antropov at this point, and the big man was my favourite Leaf post-Sundin.

 

[frankthetank91]

I'm just thinking about the past, if we actually won some trades, we'd be a great team.

JVR - Antropov - Kessel
Lupul - Kadri - Clarkson
Tlusty - Bozak- Stempniak
Orr - McClement - Kulemin

Phaneuf - Gunnarsson
Rielly - Franson
Gardiner - Liles

Rask
Reimer

Dawm

What the ****? Antropov? Really? I wouldn't even want Antropov centering the 4th line. Bozak,Kadri,Bolland and McClement are all much better.

The line up we have now is better than what you posted.

 

[Neil Hamburger]

I'll take a look at some potential PP & PK units that I think could be interesting, as our even strength lines and D-pairings have been beaten to death:

PP1:

Lupul-Bozak-Kessel
Phaneuf-Franson

The classic Lupul-Bozak-Kessel combo pairs our two most skilled wingers with our best face-off man who happens to have very good chemistry with both. Phaneuf and Franson were very dangerous together last season as the opposing team had to respect both point shots.

PP2:

JVR-Kadri-Clarkson
Gardiner-Rielly/Liles/Gunnarson/Ranger

Let Kadri work the half-boards with one of JVR/Clarkson in the corner while the other big winger provides a strong net-presence. Gardiner will be the QB at the point paired with whichever defender impresses Carlyle the most.

PK1:

McClement-Kulemin
Gunnarson-Phaneuf

Our two best two-way forwards playing alongside our top-pairing, common sense # 1 PK unit.

PK2:

Bolland/Bozak-D'amigo
Fraser-Ranger/Franson

Bozak can go out for key draws, but we'd prefer to have him well rested so as to keep our top-line intact.

 

[WilliamNylander]

Really looking forward to a Rielly-Fraser pairing and Rielly/Gardiner on the 2nd PP unit.

Going to be beautiful

 

[leafobserver]

Antropov?! Can i try what you've got?

You don't think Antropov at a modest deal is a good 4th liner with the ability to spot duty on other lines if necessary? Do you have an argument to validate your claim?

 

[p.l.f.]

Our most dangerous looking lineup was when we had scoring balance on 3 lines
Macarthur and Frattin will be missed - and they came in handy when Lupul got hurt

Thus working Colborne to a 3rd line center role 'almost' makes sense with his size and skill potential. And we could see him on the 3rd line once 1 or 2 get hurt anyway. We could use his size down the middle. Can Bolland play a decent LW?
You don't want to see the 4 to 5 million a yr guys playing 3rd line (Clarkson Bozak etc)

Bolland Colborne Kulemin
Orr McClement McLaren

Then flip Colborne-McClement for D late in periods with a lead

 

[RoyalGremlin]

You don't think Antropov at a modest deal is a good 4th liner with the ability to spot duty on other lines if necessary? Do you have an argument to validate your claim?

I watched enough of him while he was with us. I don't have an argument, I simply do not care.

 

[RoyalGremlin]

Cause its a stupid idea. Antropov is slow, he would cramp our identity as a speedy team.

 

[WilliamNylander]

No spot for Antropov, we would be a lot worse with him

 

[DLAC16]

Our most dangerous looking lineup was when we had scoring balance on 3 lines
Macarthur and Frattin will be missed - and they came in handy when Lupul got hurt

Thus working Colborne to a 3rd line center role 'almost' makes sense with his size and skill potential. And we could see him on the 3rd line once 1 or 2 get hurt anyway. We could use his size down the middle. Can Bolland play a decent LW?
You don't want to see the 4 to 5 million a yr guys playing 3rd line (Clarkson Bozak etc)

Bolland Colborne Kulemin
Orr McClement McLaren

Then flip Colborne-McClement for D late in periods with a lead

I think it would be a waste to put McClement on the 4th line for the entire game. Hes built for the 3rd line.

 

[StuckOutHere]

Lupul Bozak Kessel
JVR Kadri Clarkson
McClement Bolland Kulemin
McLaren Colborne Orr

Phaneuf Gunnarrson
Gardiner Franson
Liles Ranger
Fraser

Bernier
Reimer

All fits under the cap if Kadri signs for ~$3M, and Franson for ~$2.75M.

 

[Quares27]

I'm just thinking about the past, if we actually won some trades, we'd be a great team.

JVR - Antropov - Kessel
Lupul - Kadri - Clarkson
Tlusty - Bozak- Stempniak
Orr - McClement - Kulemin

Phaneuf - Gunnarsson
Rielly - Franson
Gardiner - Liles

Rask
Reimer

Dawm

It's interesting looking at trades down the line when they turn into actual players... for example Stempniak turned into Granberg and Rupert who i'd probably rather have than Stempniak but at the time seemed like an awful trade

 

[AuraSphere]

Was referring to antropov in his prime obviously lol... he's a UFA now, I'm not stupid. And I just made up a random list XD. It still would've been a better team then we have now, nothing really changes with the D though

 

[p.l.f.]

I think it would be a waste to put McClement on the 4th line for the entire game. Hes built for the 3rd line.

He woudnt
He'd replace Colborne on the 3rd line for defense late in periods, plus lots of pk time

 

[frankthetank91]

Please please trade Liles.

Gunnarsson-Phaneuf
Gardiner-Franson
Ranger-Fraser
Brennan/Holzer as the 7th. Maybe Rielly too. It's way too crowded back there.

 

[frankthetank91]

Was referring to antropov in his prime obviously lol... he's a UFA now, I'm not stupid. And I just made up a random list XD. It still would've been a better team then we have now, nothing really changes with the D though

You make no sense. The line up you are listing would be next season. You can't just say oh Antropov in his prime which was when people like Kessel and JVR were drafted.

Ya the Leafs would be better if we inserted prime Sundin, Salming and Gilmour in it too.

 

[The Podium]

CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Tyler Bozak ($4.200m) / Phil Kessel ($5.400m)
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Nazem Kadri ($0.000m) / David Clarkson ($5.250m)
Joe Colborne ($0.600m) / Dave Bolland ($3.375m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($2.800m)
Frazer McLaren ($0.700m) / Jay McClement ($1.500m) / Colton Orr ($0.925m)
Trevor Smith ($0.550m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Dion Phaneuf ($6.500m) / Carl Gunnarsson ($3.150m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.117m) / Paul Ranger ($1.000m)
Cody Franson ($0.000m) / Mark Fraser ($1.275m)
John-Michael Liles ($3.875m) /
GOALTENDERS
Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)
James Reimer ($1.800m)
OTHER
Buyout: Darcy Tucker ($1.000m)
Buyout: Colby Armstrong ($1.000m)
RETAINED SALARY TRANSACTIONS (0.778% of upper limit)
Matt Frattin ($0.437m—0.5%) Ben Scrivens ($0.062m—0.1%)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $58,916,667; BONUSES: $300,000
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $5,683,333

Were cutting it close but still doable

 

[PuckMagi]

Lupul - Kadri - Kessel
JVR - Bolland - Clarkson
Kulemin - Bozak - McClement
D'Amigo - Colborne - McLaren/Orr

Phaneuf - Gunner
Gardiner - Franson
Rielly - ______

updating mine:

Lupul - Kadri - Kessel
JVR - Bolland - Clarkson
Kulemin - Bozak - McClement
D'Amigo/Ashton - Colborne - McLaren/Orr

Phaneuf - Franson
Gardiner - Ranger
Rielly/Liles - Gunner

7th D = Fraser : he plays on the 3rd pairing left side if we're facing a team with big forwards who Rielly or Liles may not be able to handle as well, or if we just need to add toughness or need him to fight

Reimer
Bernier

OR (without Franson)

Phaneuf - Gunner
Gardiner - Ranger
Rielly/Liles - Fraser

Reasoning:

first line of Lupul - Kadri - Kessel consists of our best 3 forwards. they'll be one of the top lines in the league. a legit first line IMO.

second line of JVR - Bolland - Clarkson will probably bang in a lot of ugly goals. it'll be a tough line for the other team to play against. but I think they'll find a way to score. Carlyle had mentioned that he wanted to give Bolland a bigger role than he had in Chicago.

third line of Kulemin - Bozak - McClement can shut down othe teams' top line. can probably score goals against other teams' 3rd lines because they're probably more skilled. can compete against other teams' second lines. strong on face-offs.

4th line gives Colborne the chance to see if he's an NHL player (I think he is).

On defense, I think Franson is good enough to play on the top line with Phaneuf. Gardiner and Ranger should be a quality pairing. Gunner will be a solid 3rd line defensemen either playing with Rielly, Liles or Fraser.

I think we make Reimer the starter. But give Bernier some games too. Go with whoever is playing better.

 

[StuckOutHere]

CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Tyler Bozak ($4.200m) / Phil Kessel ($5.400m)
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Nazem Kadri ($3.000m) / David Clarkson ($5.250m)
Joe Colborne ($0.600m) / Dave Bolland ($3.375m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($2.800m)
Frazer McLaren ($0.700m) / Jay McClement ($1.500m) / Colton Orr ($0.925m)
DEFENSEMEN
Carl Gunnarsson ($3.150m) / Dion Phaneuf ($6.500m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.117m) / Cody Franson ($3.000m)
Morgan Rielly ($1.744m) / Paul Ranger ($1.000m)
John-Michael Liles ($3.875m) /
GOALTENDERS
Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)
James Reimer ($1.800m)
OTHER
Buyout: Darcy Tucker ($1.000m)
Buyout: Colby Armstrong ($1.000m)
Buried: Mark Fraser ($0.350m)
RETAINED SALARY TRANSACTIONS (0.778% of upper limit)
Matt Frattin ($0.437m—0.5%) Ben Scrivens ($0.062m—0.1%)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $65,185,833; BONUSES: $1,150,000
CAP SPACE (21-man roster): $264,167

Use this to open the season. Get Rielly some games in, if he sticks cool, if not call Fraser back up. If he gets claimed on the way down, then pop in Liles and call up Holzer to be the 7th D.

 

[Terrence]

CAPGEEK.COM USER GENERATED ROSTER
My Custom Lineup
FORWARDS
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Tyler Bozak ($4.200m) / Phil Kessel ($5.400m)
Joffrey Lupul ($5.250m) / Nazem Kadri ($3.000m) / David Clarkson ($5.250m)
Jay McClement ($1.500m) / Dave Bolland ($3.375m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($2.800m)
Frazer McLaren ($0.700m) / Joe Colborne ($0.600m) / Carter Ashton ($1.040m)
Trevor Smith ($0.550m) /
DEFENSEMEN
Carl Gunnarsson ($3.150m) / Dion Phaneuf ($6.500m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.117m) / Cody Franson ($3.000m)
John-Michael Liles ($3.875m) / Paul Ranger ($1.000m)
T.J. Brennan ($0.600m) /
GOALTENDERS
James Reimer ($1.800m)
Jonathan Bernier ($2.900m)
OTHER
Buyout: Darcy Tucker ($1.000m)
Buyout: Colby Armstrong ($1.000m)
Buried: Mark Fraser ($0.350m)
RETAINED SALARY TRANSACTIONS (0.778% of upper limit)
Matt Frattin ($0.437m—0.5%) Ben Scrivens ($0.062m—0.1%)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled with the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $64,706,667; BONUSES: $500,000
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $93,333

 

[PuckMagi]

Balanced Forward Configuration:

Lupul - Bozak - Kessel
JVR - Bolland - Clarkson
Kulemin - Kadri - McClement
Ashton - Colborne - McLaren

 

[Visnovsky]

I would do something like this:

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson
Kulemin-McClement-Bolland
d'Amigo-Colborne-Orr
McLaren/Ashton

Phaneuf-Franson
Gardiner-Gunnarsson
Fraser/Rielly-Ranger
Brennan

Reimer
Bernier

And this assuming we are able to get Kadri and Franson signed at reasonable prices & Liles would be traded. Although, that line-up might be a bit of a stretch, but it would be sweet.

 

[GardinerExpressway]

Balanced Forward Configuration:

Lupul - Bozak - Kessel
JVR - Bolland - Clarkson
Kulemin - Kadri - McClement
Ashton - Colborne - McLaren

I really hate these configurations. I want two lines that scare the other teams' defenders instead.