Only issue with subbing out Goat is I thought he was going to take faceoffs on the PK?
We all know what happened last year when we couldn't win a PK faceoff. Do you think we bring out Tavares for big PK draws this series?
I don't think it's a big deal. Gauthier was usually a 2nd unit PK'er, and he was only slightly above average on the PK draw at 47.01%. Not much of an upgrade over Hyman's 43.08 and probably not worth him being a detriment on the ice at 5v5. If we have to throw Spezza or Tavares over the boards for an important draw we can.
Spezza as a pker seems like a terrible idea. If he loses the draw he's absolutely a detriment out there.
Spezza has the #2 best wrist shot on the team. He is under used.
Spezza has the #2 best wrist shot on the team. He is under used.
Somebody will get hurt or sick or COVID so it is good we have this kid ready and sounds like he could be helpful. Put him on 2nd 3rd and 4th lines and be ready when our first injury hits. And play him in EX game on 3rd line so he can gain a little experience. But I doubt he knocks off either Goat or Engval for 1st real game. But then again if Keefe thinks he has earned it then more power to him.
Keefe is between the benches. If he likes what he sees I dont see why he would not play the kid. I could see Robertson play on lines 1-4 honestly.
I never got play the heavier players on the 4th line ideal. Your more likely to score with a better player even if hes a "high skilled" one on the 4th line then a plug. If hes solid let him play. Plus hes scrapy and tenacious, should be fine on the 4th line.
I'm almost certain that as a former NHLer, Leaf Alum., and dedicated Leafs reporter, twitter is the last place Mike has to go for infoIsn't he just watching the same twitter clips like the rest of us? I'm not sure how anyone other than the coaching staff can have that kind of opinion.
If Kerfoot is 3C and Spezza is 4C. GOAT is playing wing and Engvall is better than him.
Looks like you nailed the qualifier line up there champColumbus will prove to be a physical challenge for Robertson. But, I get no sense that he'd be one to back down. Does he fit with the needs of the team? Does his inexperience/size prove to be too detrimental? My head says he won't be on the roster for the series against Columbus. My heart disagrees. We know he can score, his addition to the second PP would improve it immensely, he's a buzzsaw, skating all the time, he'd be THE goal scoring threat on our 3rd line - with due respect to Kappy and Kerfoot - lining up against him would be Bemstrom, a player with 56 games of experience. Who's going to be more nervous, less complete? I've always liked Jenner, but this year suggests that his effectiveness is lessening. Does Kerfoot provide adequate measure against him at C? Can Kerfoot hold his own...I think/hope so. And I think Foligno has to pay more attention to Kapanen than Kappy to Foligno: the increasing grit factor since Clifford arrived and the speed, that speed man! So Kap/Foligno I favor Kappy. Jenner/Kerfoot I think/hope a draw. Leaving Bemstrom/Robertson: games mean very little here, it's skill v skill, desire v desire, fear v fear (of success and failure) and unless those who follow our kid more than do I have been lying through their teeth, I can't see how NR doesn't come out on top. 3rd line v 3rd line, the Leafs, on paper, look better to me should Nick make the grade. I'd throw him to the wolves and see what he's got. Double shift Nylander if Robertson begins to go dizzy, giving him a chance to calm down. Nylander/Kerfoot/Kapanen a few shifts a game wouldn't scare me against most 3rd lines in the league, heck, Hyman could go a shift or two as well. There's going to be changes all over the place, if Torts has his way, trying to keep Keefe off balance. So Nick, I raise a glass to your promotion and wish you well, don't let me down (gawd, what a Leafian fan thing to say ).
Nylander/Matthews/Hyman
Mikky/JT/Marner
Robertson/Kerfoot/Kapanen
Clifford/Engvall/Spezza
That doesn't help /effect the pk at all. He's got a good shot /hockey iq for sure :which is why he's still effective on the pp at 40.
Johnsson is 3.4 mil we likely try and move next year. That becomes even more so if Robertson can be what we're all hopingRobertson essentially replaces Johnsson. What an opportunity for him though. I hope he can quickly turn some heads and make some form of difference.
Looks like you nailed the qualifier line up there champ
I don’t know about that. A pretty good educated guess more than luck i thinkBlind, squirrel, nut.
Honestly always should have.Only issue with subbing out Goat is I thought he was going to take faceoffs on the PK?
We all know what happened last year when we couldn't win a PK faceoff. Do you think we bring out Tavares for big PK draws this series?