Line Combos: Patrick Marleau playing on Matthews line

[PuckMagi]

The biggest threat to our offense is Babcock putting Hyman in the top 6 (especially on the left wing).

I like Hyman... great player... but Babcock is not utilizing him correctly. I hope he gets put in a bottom 6 spot where he will have a positive impact on the team.

 

[Mess]

The biggest threat to our offense is Babcock putting Hyman in the top 6 (especially on the left wing).

I like Hyman... great player... but Babcock is not utilizing him correctly. I hope he gets put in a bottom 6 spot where he will have a positive impact on the team.

Hyman -- Tavares -- Marner is already the stated plan for next year.

Zach will do for JT and Mitch which he successfully did for Auston and Willie and most importantly provide defensive stability for his new line.

Marleau on Matthews line increases the offensive attack when opponents best players are tasked against the Tavares line.

 

[Cor]

I believe without a doubt Babcocks meeting with Matthews had to do partly with who he has been playing. Matthews hasnt played a 5 on 5 shift in his career without Hyman, and then out of no where in the summer Babs says Marleau will be moved up with Matthews? Hopefully Babs actually does the change.

The reported reason why Matthews was upset was due to how much he played, not who he played with. (Unless you have something that I perhaps missed, which is possible)

Also, Babcock pitched Tavares on playing with Hyman and Marner, as obviously Babcock feels those are the two best players to compliment Tavares.

Hyman potted 40 points between 5v5 and the PK last season, which was very good. We want to see a bit more growth this year into the 45-50 range.

If he starts to get PP time, then you obviously want to see him closer to 60 points

 

[PuckMagi]

Hyman -- Tavares -- Marner is already the stated plan for next year.

Zach will do for JT and Mitch which he successfully did for Auston and Willie and most importantly provide defensive stability for his new line.

Marleau on Matthews line increases the offensive attack when opponents best players are tasked against the Tavares line.

Hyman did not provide defensive stability. Matthews did that.

Hyman was always the first guy in on the boards, and the last one back to defend.

 

[Mess]

Hyman did not provide defensive stability. Matthews did that.

Hyman was always the first guy in on the boards, and the last one back to defend.

A centre has a bigger defensive responsibility as it comes with the position..

Wingers Dzone responsibilities are less and tasked with winning puck battles to get the puck out of the Dzone giving teammates an outlet to and cover tailing attackers including the opposition Dmen and the point.

Hyman wins puck battles all over the ice on the forcheck as well as the backcheck and why do you think Babs puts Hyman on the PK#1 unit while Auston and Willie sit on the bench while killing penalties?.. Its obviously because of Zach's Dzone play that he draws that assignment due to his defensive ablities.

 

[bansheebeat]

Marleau will score close to 30 again this year being a speedy responsible trigger man while Matthews and Nylander toy with 2-3rd line opposition.

I seem to remember Tavares loved playing with Kulemin the first year he went there. Tavares is a beast but I think he really appreciates having a defensive board battling motor on his wing. I think Hyman will be good for 45 points next season and might actually increase the longevity of Tavares's career a bit by doing all his dirty work.

I'm excited to see Johnson's game develop with Kadri and I think learning how to drive offence while playing on a more shut down line will do wonders once Marleau leaves in 1-2 years and he graduates to Matthews' line.

 

[MapleLeafs77]

Don't forget that these lines might shuffle a bit. I'd much prefer Johnsson's tenacity and speed on Matthews wing. I like Marleau and he still has plenty of game left but I think I prefer him with Kadri and maybe a Kapanen.

We'll see. We still have 2 months before training camp.

I completely agree. I dont think Marleau will work with well with matthews and nylander.

Johnsson/Kapanen - Matthews - Nylander
Hyman - Tavares - Marner
Marleau - Kadri - Johnsson/Kapanen

 

[Stephen]

Marleau will score close to 30 again this year being a speedy responsible trigger man while Matthews and Nylander toy with 2-3rd line opposition.

I seem to remember Tavares loved playing with Kulemin the first year he went there. Tavares is a beast but I think he really appreciates having a defensive board battling motor on his wing. I think Hyman will be good for 45 points next season and might actually increase the longevity of Tavares's career a bit by doing all his dirty work.

I'm excited to see Johnson's game develop with Kadri and I think learning how to drive offence while playing on a more shut down line will do wonders once Marleau leaves in 1-2 years and he graduates to Matthews' line.

Tavares is a "high end grinder" like a Sidney Crosby, and he thrives with guys like Kunitz, whom you wouldn't think would be a good line mate.

 

[Aintboutdatlyfe]

Marleau-Matthews-Nylander

Hyman-Tavares-Marner

Johnsson-Kadri-Kapanen

Ennis/Leivo/Grundstrom-Lindholm-Brown


Although I would expect, with both Marleau's chemistry with Kadri and the year I expect Johnsson to have, Johnsson and Marleau would eventually change places.

 

[frog]

I would have liked to see hyman with tavares... Marner and Tavares might be interesting but I think Hyman and Tavares could really be a dynamic duo especially with the tenacity with the puck

 

[Raymoondo]

I would have liked to see hyman with tavares... Marner and Tavares might be interesting but I think Hyman and Tavares could really be a dynamic duo especially with the tenacity with the puck

Why does Marner/Tavares mean that you can't see Hyman/Tavares lol

 

[Clark4Ever]

I just hope Matthews isn't dictating who his linemates will be. Whether we agree with Babs decisions or not, it should be his decision based on what's best for the team.

I find it somewhat odd that after being stapled to Hyman for 2 years, that he's suddenly going to play with Marleau. I can't help but wonder if Babs recent meeting with Matthews has anything to do with it.

For what it's worth, I would have left the first line intact, as they were dominant most nights when Matthews was healthy.

 

[ACC1224]

I just hope Matthews isn't dictating who his linemates will be. Whether we agree with Babs decisions or not, it should be his decision based on what's best for the team.

I find it somewhat odd that after being stapled to Hyman for 2 years, that he's suddenly going to play with Marleau. I can't help but wonder if Babs recent meeting with Matthews has anything to do with it.

For what it's worth, I would have left the first line intact, as they were dominant most nights when Matthews was healthy.

I can't see that. He may have offered some input but there can only be one coach.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I just hope Matthews isn't dictating who his linemates will be. Whether we agree with Babs decisions or not, it should be his decision based on what's best for the team.

I find it somewhat odd that after being stapled to Hyman for 2 years, that he's suddenly going to play with Marleau. I can't help but wonder if Babs recent meeting with Matthews has anything to do with it.

For what it's worth, I would have left the first line intact, as they were dominant most nights when Matthews was healthy.

If it was up to Matthews I suspect he'd be on a line with Marner

 

[Aintboutdatlyfe]

The biggest threat to our offense is Babcock putting Hyman in the top 6 (especially on the left wing).

I like Hyman... great player... but Babcock is not utilizing him correctly. I hope he gets put in a bottom 6 spot where he will have a positive impact on the team.

Hyman's production for the minutes given, and taking into consideration that he actually should have had MORE secondary assists than he ended up with last year, was actually quite good.

 

[Walshy7]

If it was up to Matthews I suspect he'd be on a line with Marner

could be a compromise between babcock and Matthews, cant have marner but ill move marleau up and hyman down

 

[Menzinger]

Just noticed he had like 5 empty net goals, might be hard to hit 30 this coming year if that was the case (hard to repeat that).

His assist total should jump up though getting to set up Matthe s

 

[Makaveli]

Marleau-Matthews-Nylander
Kapanen-Tavares-Marner
Hyman-Kadri-Brown
Johnsson-Goat-Leivo

 

[glue]

I think its an interesting potential move by Babcock. Given Babcocks history for line matching, he's obviously got something in mind, what also is interesting is will he deploy differently at home vs the road and whether this year he's more willing to explore different options with the line combinations given the centre depth we now have. Something like this could be interesting:

Home
Hyman-Tavares-Marner against top lines
Marleau-Matthews-Nylander against 2nd pairings
Johnson-Kadri-Kap/Brown against 3rd pairings

If he matches up the Kadri line against top lines, then I suspect he's going Johnson-Kadri-Brown. Even if I would love to see Kappy given more of a chance there. But can you imagine, that would mean one of the Tavares-Marner or Matthews-Nylander line would go up against another team's 3rd line

Away
This is where it gets more interesting, I'm hoping the focus here of line matching is less given we won't have last change and our new found depth. Could he potentially deploy lines this way:

Hyman-Matthews-Nylander (great existing chemistry and can match up against any line)
Marleau-Kadri-Marner (same as above)
Johnson-Tavares-Kappy (could potentially develop great chemistry and match up against any line)

In any case, will be interesting to see, exciting times ahead!

 

[LeafShark]

How about some experimentation with a Reilly - Gardiner pairing?

Dermott - Zeitsev/Hainsey can slot in as the second pairing.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

How about some experimentation with a Reilly - Gardiner pairing?

Dermott - Zeitsev/Hainsey can slot in as the second pairing.

This is a thread about Marleau playing on the top line lol

 

[Goldenhands]

Do you know if Babcock intend to boost a first PP unit made of Matthews Tavares Nylander Marner and Reilly like Pittsburg and some other teams do and play almost the full 2 minutes, or he rather plan to roll 2 PP units with about 1 min each?

 

[BTP]

Where did Babcock say he's taking Hyman away from Matthews?

Link??

 

[kindalaidback]

Where did Babcock say he's taking Hyman away from Matthews?

Link??

Babcock has coached Tavares twice before, at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and the 2016 World Cup, and said that if he was icing a team today, he’d have Tavares centering Mitch Marner and Zach Hyman, with Auston Matthews between William Nylander and Patrick Marleau.

https://www.tsn.ca/coming-home-maple-leafs-win-the-tavares-sweepstakes-1.1128197

I have not seen any video (if there is any), but other reporters posted the same on Twitter.

 

[Morbo]

A centre has a bigger defensive responsibility as it comes with the position..

Wingers Dzone responsibilities are less and tasked with winning puck battles to get the puck out of the Dzone giving teammates an outlet to and cover tailing attackers including the opposition Dmen and the point.

Hyman wins puck battles all over the ice on the forcheck as well as the backcheck and why do you think Babs puts Hyman on the PK#1 unit while Auston and Willie sit on the bench while killing penalties?.. Its obviously because of Zach's Dzone play that he draws that assignment due to his defensive ablities.

This is pretty much a load of bullcorn right here.

The guy winning the puck battles and getting it back on that line isn't Hyman, it's Auston Matthews. you don't put a 3rd line mucker with your franchise centreman just because he's so good he can make it work. enough is enough.

having said that it's way too early to worry about line combos. I think the progress of Johnsson and Kapanen will something to say about the top 6.