Line Combos: Lines and D-Pairings

[Mattavarner]

When healthy

Johnsson - Matthews - Marner
Hyman - Tavares - Kapanen
Marleau - Kadri - Nylander
Moore - Lindholm - Brown

Rielly - Muzzin
Gardiner - Zaitsev
Dermott - Hainsey

 

[GodEmperor]

Now that Muzzin has been acquired my thinking is trade Zaitsev + 3rd(?) to Vancouver for Tanev (if it can be done for a reasonable price) as I feel he is better defensively than Gudas!

Zaitsev being signed for five more seasons after this one could help Vancouver through their rebuild years and Tanev could help Toronto tighten up the back end until Sandin makes the big club!

This is atrocious for Vancouver, Vancouver is asking for Kapanen minimum back and probably at least a 2nd too. Zaitsev isn't as bad as some other people make him out to be, but he's overpaid and the 3rd does nothing for Vancouver.

 

[saffronleaf]

Johnsson - Tavares - Marner
Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Brown - Kadri - Kapanen
Marleau - Lindholm - Ennis

Rielly - - - Muzzin
Gardiner - Hainsey
Dermott - Zaitsev

Andersen
Sparks
​

 

[Phion Keneuf]

I’m hoping for:

Muzzin-Rielly
Gardiner-Hainsey
Dermott-Zaitsev
/Oz

Our defence looks much much better.

 

[NJG]

KADRI - TAVARES - MARNER
MARLEAU - MATTHEWS - NYLANDER
HYMAN - GAUTHIER - KAPANEN
JOHNSSON - GREENING - LINDHOLM

RIELLY - MUZZIN
HAINSEY - ZAITSEV
GARDINER - OZHIGANOV

ANDERSON
SPARKS​

 

[hobarth]

Gardiner/Rielly
Muzzin/Zaitsev
Dermott/Hainsey

 

[kk87]

When Hainsey’s playing sheltered minutes, he’s actually not half bad. This should help basically everyone on the back end by reducing their minutes. Can’t wait to see Rielly with a legit 2/3 dman.

 

[Mr Hockey]

When Hainsey’s playing sheltered minutes, he’s actually not half bad. This should help basically everyone on the back end by reducing their minutes. Can’t wait to see Rielly with a legit 2/3 dman.

when have you ever seen him play sheltered minutes, on the Leafs?

 

[kk87]

when have you ever seen him play sheltered minutes, on the Leafs?

Fair point, moreso meant when he’s not absolutely gassed and being skated directly into the ground every night. On nights when he seems fresh, he’s actually decent - in a 3rd pairing, PK role I think he’ll be fine.

 

[TorontoTrades]

Now that Muzzin has been acquired my thinking is trade Zaitsev + 3rd(?) to Vancouver for Tanev (if it can be done for a reasonable price) as I feel he is better defensively than Gudas!

Zaitsev being signed for five more seasons after this one could help Vancouver through their rebuild years and Tanev could help Toronto tighten up the back end until Sandin makes the big club!

Vancouver laughs at that one.

 

[I am Canadian]

Zaitsev, Bracco, 2nd for Radko Gudas

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Rielly and Muzzin will eat up most of the hard minutes.

This bodes well for the other defencemen.

 

[sittler rules!!!]

Marleau - Matthews - Marner
Hyman - Tavares - Kapanen
Johnsson - Kadri - Nylander
Lindholm - Gauthier - Brown

Rielly - - - Muzzin
Gardiner - Zaitsev
Dermott - Hainsey

Andersen
Sparks

Things are Looking Good!
​

Still think there is another move coing. Like a Gudas from Philly. Plus a Gardiner dump.

 

[BodaciousBeefBazooka]

Still think there is another move coing. Like a Gudas from Philly. Plus a Gardiner dump.

Gudas is a psychopath with a terrible reputation for making stupid plays and actually trying to harm other players. Are you crazy?

 

[sittler rules!!!]

Gudas is a psychopath with a terrible reputation for making stupid plays and actually trying to harm other players. Are you crazy?

Did not say I was in favor. Just that he can play D and is crazy. Will make the Leafs bigger!!!

 

[A1LeafNation]

I think we might see a Rielly Gardiner top pair for a bit:

Rielly Gardiner
Muzzin Hainsey
Dermott Zaitsev
Marincin Ozhiganov

Everyone but Gardiner slots nicely. Rielly Gardiner pair can play offence and defence and play well together.

 

[ToneDog]

Muzzin Rielly
Gards Z
Dermott Hainsey

 

[Brock Radunske]

I'm as excited as anyone about this but I still don't think this team is a legitimate threat in the playoffs.
I love the acquisition of Muzzin but it's not enough IMO.
Basically it means that either your excellent #1LHD is going to play the right side and take a step back or your new purchase (also a very good LHD) will play on the right side and take a step back.
But like I said, I like the move and it's an overall improvement but it's not what tips the scales.

That being said, if the Leafs could add Gudas, I think they might be able to make some noise. That would give TO a cycle-disputer/checker/crease-clearer on all three lines (Muzzin/Gudas/Zaitsev), not to mention a big injection of grit.

Rielly - Muzzin
Gardiner - Gudas
Dermott/Hainsey - Zaitsev/Hainsey

 

[Nithoniniel]

I'm as excited as anyone about this but I still don't think this team is a legitimate threat in the playoffs.

There's like one team in the league that can boast of a stronger roster. I'm not sure how you can say that we are not a threat in the playoffs. Are we perfect? No, but no team is. Not even Tampa.

 

[Brock Radunske]

There's like one team in the league that can boast of a stronger roster. I'm not sure how you can say that we are not a threat in the playoffs. Are we perfect? No, but no team is. Not even Tampa.

The Leafs are like the Deathstar. An offensive juggarnaut that could potentially roll over anyone. But our vent is the dump and chase/forecheck/cycle.
Team's bottom lines can get major offensive zone time and chances because they're so bad at preventing that.
Muzzin helps, but it's not enough. A team like Boston and maybe even Montreal will expose it.
I don't think Dubas is done. I think he'll add a gritty, bottom-pairing UFA guy to play the Polak role, in which case they get much stronger IMO.

 

[BlueForever75]

Acquire Gudas, trade Gardiner for picks and prospects. Gardiner should be able to acquire something similar to what we gave up for Muzzin. Again nothing off main roster will be dealt for Gudas, and nothing coming back for Gardiner will be in our lineup immediately. If there is a possibility that you can swap Gardiner for a young LW with size, grit and scoring capabilities that would be a coup. But my lines without that player would be as follows:

Marleau-Matthews-Marner
Hyman-Tavares-Kapanen
Brown-Kadri-Nylander
Johnsson-Lindholm-Moore

Reilly-Muzzin
Dermott-Gudas
Hainsey-Zaitsev

Andersen
Sparks

 

[Nithoniniel]

The Leafs are like the Deathstar. An offensive juggarnaut that could potentially roll over anyone. But our vent is the dump and chase/forecheck/cycle.
Team's bottom lines can get major offensive zone time and chances because they're so bad at preventing that.
Muzzin helps, but it's not enough. A team like Boston and maybe even Montreal will expose it.
I don't think Dubas is done. I think he'll add a gritty, bottom-pairing UFA guy to play the Polak role, in which case they get much stronger IMO.

I really wouldn't mind a Gudas, like you mentioned above, but I think our struggles against that kind of teams are a bit overstated. Take Boston as an example, it's an almost even record between two very good teams with a ton of even games. I don't see them owning us, outside of mentally due to the playoff series.

 

[Mugzy97]

I like the Gardiner for Myers move.. it just makes sense.

 

[WilliamNylander]

Johnsson - Tavares - Marner
Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Marleau - Kadri - Kapanen
Moore - GOAT - Brown

Muzzin - Rielly
Dermott - Hainsey
Gardiner - Zaitsev

Andersen
Sparks

 

[Brock Radunske]

I really wouldn't mind a Gudas, like you mentioned above, but I think our struggles against that kind of teams are a bit overstated. Take Boston as an example, it's an almost even record between two very good teams with a ton of even games. I don't see them owning us, outside of mentally due to the playoff series.

I agree but I just hate feeling that momentum swing when they start fore-checking hard. I don't want to pile on the "soft" angle, but they really are.
The thing about offense is that a hot goalie can negate that completely but a strong, heavy forecheck against weak dman will always be effective and will always produce goals. I'd feel a lot better if they had another guy back their who would make guys like Pasta question peeling out of the corner towards the net.