Line Combos: 2018 Opening Night Armchair GM

[PhiladelphiaKessel]

Despite everything that’s happened. Keep gardiner and see how the season goes. Let komarov, jvr and bozak walk. Try to sign Tavares or Carlson. We have lots of holes to fill. If we can’t make a big splash via UFA then we need to explore the trade market for a top 4 RHD.

Hyman - Matthews - nylander
Marleau - kadri - Marner
Johnsson - _____ - Kapanen
Leivo - ______ - brown

Rielly - _____
Gardiner - Hainsey
Dermott - Zaitsev

 

[The Best Leafs Ever]

What is this?

 

[wintersej]

Riley Nash 4x4.... just stop.

I don't think Riley Nash would be a bad pickup at all for you guys. He was VERY effective between Marchand and Pastrnak as the "responsible" guy. He could be very very effective between Kapanen and Johnsson (for instance) on a 3rd line that you wouldn't have to protect. Leafs badly need a defensive minded C regardless of who you put Nash with so you can put Matthews, Nylander, and especially Kadri and Marner in more offensive situations.

 

[Yamazaki]

I don't think Riley Nash would be a bad pickup at all for you guys. He was VERY effective between Marchand and Pastrnak as the "responsible" guy. He could be very very effective between Kapanen and Johnsson (for instance) on a 3rd line that you wouldn't have to protect. Leafs badly need a defensive minded C regardless of who you put Nash with so you can put Matthews, Nylander, and especially Kadri and Marner in more offensive situations.

Not knocking him as a player but I wouldn’t give him that much money and term for a career 4th Liner that had a contract year in Boston.

 

[wintersej]

Not knocking him as a player but I wouldn’t give him that much money and term for a career 4th Liner that had a contract year in Boston.

I wouldn't give him that term either. He has always been a positive Corsi kinda guy even from the 4th line. He showed this year that he can play with talent. Someone will overpay him and overpay him more the longer Boston plays this spring. But, a guy like that would be great for the Leafs. Anyway, fun series. Sat next to some real nice and very knowledgeable Leafs fans on Wednesday night and the whole section was commenting when they left how much more civilized and enjoyable they were than Habs or Pens or Flyers fans are. See you next year.

 

[kk87]

Hyman-Matthews-Marner: 30% 5v5 TOI
Marleau-Kadri-Brown: : 25% 5v5 TOI
Grundstrom-Nylander-Kapanen: 25% 5v5 TOI
Johnsson-Aaltonen/UFA/trade-____: 20% 5v5 TOI

Rielly-____: 40% 5v5 TOI
Gardiner-Hainsey: 30% 5v5 TOI
Dermott-Zaitsev: 30% 5v5 TOI

With guys like JVR and Bozak moving on next year, we will likely be able to shift more minutes to star players, who are definitely ready to move into the 18-19 minute range. That top line could wreak havoc on the league, the second line can be used as an all-situations matchup line, and the third line would be a slightly-sheltered offensive line (similar to the Bozak line this year, but more potent). The fourth line should still have a decent mix of speed and skill.

On defence, if we can somehow get another top 4 D it'd have a huge impact for the D corps as a whole; I think a lot of our players (ie Hainsey, Zaitsev, Gardiner) could benefit from a reduced workload, and would thrive with a few less minutes a night.

Despite the free agent losses, I expect to see an improved roster given an added year of experience and (hopefully) an improved D corps.

 

[shelf]

Nylander carrick and kapanen for Tkachuk and andersson

That's a bad one a real bad one...

I'd be fine with it as long as we get Dvorak

Tkachuk-Dvorak-Marner
Marleau-Matthews-Hyman
Johnsson-Kadri-Brown

 

[Yamazaki]

I really really hope we get Kovalchuk. Having his 1 timer would be key for us.

Kovalchuk Matthews Nylander
Johansson Tavares Marner
Kapanen Kadri Marleau
Brown UFA/Marlie Hyman

 

[Magic Man]

Domi - Tavares - Marner
Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Marleau - Kadri - Kapanen
Johnsson - Plekanec - Brown
ex. Komarov

Rielly - Weber
Gardiner - Hainsey
Dermott - Hamhuis
ex. Carrick

Andersen
Sparks

Sign Plekanec 1 year at 4M
Sign Hamhuis 1 year at 4M
Sign Komarov 1 year at 1.25M - Used sparingly, Grundstrom get's lots of reps.
Sign Tavares 7 years at 10.75M
Sign Nylander 8 years at 6M
Sign Gardiner 5 years at 6M
Sign Johnsson 2 years at 800K
Sign Pickard 2 years at 1M
Sign Ozhiganov, Engvall, Lindgren, Middleton to ELC contracts.
Sign McCarron, Aaltonen, Holl, Kaskisuo to qualifying offers.
Sign Carrick 1 year at 900K - Used sparingly, lots of young D to give looks to.
Sign Marincin 1 year at 800K
2018 1st + Josh Leivo + Yegor Korshkov for Max Domi (Sign 3.5M per for 3 years)
2019 1st + Nikita Zaitsev + Andrew Nielsen + Jeremy Bracco + Frederik Gauthier for Shea Weber + Mike McCarron
Curtis McElhinney + Matt Martin to Carolina for a 2019 4th rd. pick
81.927M in 82M cap. Might need to trim some cap on the Plekanec/Hamhuis contracts or lose one in favour of a cheaper player.

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

he and Dermott played great together- hopefully more than one of polak, gardiner, carrick, hainsey is gone. In with the youth and speed and smarts. I believe he is also not super young. He looked great in his few games.

 

[Rielly4]

gonna assume Tavares doesnt work out...
Sign Nash 1 year 5 mil
Sign Schaller 2 years 3 mil per(unlikely but replace with whomever for cheaper)

Hyman-Matthews-Brown
Marleau-Kadri-Marner
Nash-Nylander-Kapanen
Grundstrom-Schaller-Johnson

Gardiner-Rielly
Dermott-Hainsey
Borgman-Zaitsev

Simple and effective solution. Room to grow, spots to be won and a little more size injected as well as a better all around D core and a much deeper forward lineup especially up the middle. Tons of speed and forechecking/back checking ability as well as heavy guys down low to spend time in the o zone.
Grundstrom Nash and Schaller make us tougher to handle downlow and also make our forecheck heavier. Gardiner Rielly top pair will be dominant in puck possesion. 2nd Pair will be strong defensively and will have clean exits with Dermott continuing to develop with a veteran helping him out. Bottom pair can really skate and is very heavy and strong...They are also lefty righty combo so they can make simple off the wall plays.

 

[dubplatepressure]

If only there was a thread where you could post all your thoughts on what moves we should make...

 

[shaner8989]

Despite everything that’s happened. Keep gardiner and see how the season goes. Let komarov, jvr and bozak walk. Try to sign Tavares or Carlson. We have lots of holes to fill. If we can’t make a big splash via UFA then we need to explore the trade market for a top 4 RHD.

Hyman - Matthews - nylander
Marleau - kadri - Marner
Johnsson - _____ - Kapanen
Leivo - ______ - brown

Rielly - _____
Gardiner - Hainsey
Dermott - Zaitsev

This

 

[dangomon]

There is no way we get Braun for anything close to that.

 

[glucker]

Sign Carlsson- 7.5M
Sign Tavares - 10M
Re-sign Bozak or Pleks max 2M, or some other 4th line option
Re-sign Nylander, 6M
Let JVR, Komarov, Polak, and one or both of Bozak/Pleks walk.
Bury Martin

Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Tavares-Marner
Johnsson-Kadri-Kapanen
Grundstrom/Leivo-Pleks-Brown

Rielly-Carlsson
Gardiner-Hainsey
Dermott-Zaitsev

Once Hainsey and Gardiner are up, Borgman and Liljergen step in.

 

[OVO16]

Boston had a team filled with skill, but with grit/energy players mixed in. Their roster was simply better suited for playoff games. The leafs right now are all skill but not playoff material.

Say what you want about Pittsburgh, but they have just enough Hustle/Grit players to go along with their skill. The mission for this management team will be to find the right mix of players to put beside Mathews/Nylander/Marner/Hyman/Brown/Rielly/Dermott, etc...

Trade Johnnsson for Nick Ritchie
Acquire Edmundson for Borgman +

Sign Tavares
Re-Sign Komarov

Hyman-Mathews-Nylander
Marleau-Tavares-Marner
Ritchie-Kadri-Brown
Komarov-Gauthier-Kapanen

Rielly-Edmundson
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Dermott-Hainsey

 

[PuckMagi]

Marleau - Matthews - Marner
Johnsson - Nylander - Kapanen
Leivo - Kadri - Brown
Grundstrom - _____ - Hyman

Dermott - Rielly
Gardiner - Hainsey
Borgman - Zaitsev

Just need to get a #4 center who is good defensively and can PK.

I don't think our forwards need to be upgraded. We should still try to get a really good RHD. We can trade Hainsey, Zaitsev, or Gardiner (if we trade Gardiner, Rielly can go back to the left). Would also like to see Holl get another look. He may end up being better than Hainsey and/or Zaitsev by next year.

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

2nd, Josh Leivo for Boone Jenner

1st, Connor Carrick, Jeremy Bracco
for
Chris Tanev

Sign J.T. 7 x 9

JENNER - - MATTHEWS - - MARNER
HYMAN- - -TAVARES- - -NYLANDER
MARLEAU - - - KADRI - - - KAPANEN
JOHNSSON - -GAUTHIER- - BROWN

RIELLY - - - - - TANEV
GARDINER - ZAITSEV
BORGMAN - DERMOTT

FredEx
McBackup