I had lines done up before but WCOH has me changing my mind, and maybe Babcock too but I can't see Matthews on a 3rd line for long
Komarov-Kadri-Brown
JVR-Matthews-Nylander
Leivo-Bozak-Marner
Martin-Laich-Hyman
Michalek, Greening
Rielly-Marincin
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Hunwick-Carrick
Polak
Andersen
Enroth
Soshnikov, Lupul, Rychel, Holland looking on the outside for me. Rychel and Sosh gonna need to wait for injuries or trade to get back up.
I'd personally go with:
JvR - Kadri - Nylander
Komarov - Matthews - Marner
Michalek - Bozak - Brown
Hyman - Laich - Martin
Holland, Sosh, Leivo all close. I think Sosh could make the team over one of Brown/Marner, hard to call, and Laich/Holland are probably competing for the same spot too. I do think the Martin signing means one of Marner/Sosh/Brown gets cut, while before that signing we had room for all 3. IMO Lupul and Greening don't have much of a shot to make the team.
Greening has an excellent shot to make the team. He was one of the Leafs best forwards post deadline.
I don't think Soshnikov has much of a chance. Leivo, Rychel, Hyman and Holland are all ahead of him on the depth chart for the spot that he'd be fighting for. Plus, it's probably better to have him in a top 6 role than a 4th line role next year anyways. Hyman, Leivo or Rychel would excel beside Laich and Martin, and may even be able to help the line produce some points. I still think trading Holland would be the best course of action, and should happen in the next few weeks.
Greening has an excellent shot to make the team. He was one of the Leafs best forwards post deadline.
I don't think Soshnikov has much of a chance. Leivo, Rychel, Hyman and Holland are all ahead of him on the depth chart for the spot that he'd be fighting for. Plus, it's probably better to have him in a top 6 role than a 4th line role next year anyways. Hyman, Leivo or Rychel would excel beside Laich and Martin, and may even be able to help the line produce some points. I still think trading Holland would be the best course of action, and should happen in the next few weeks.
The thing that sticks out to me is: Leafs knew signing guys like Hopland and Levio they knew they'd be under a crunch to create space in the roster, because if they thought they'd likely end up waiving Holland I doubt they'd go through the trouble of inking him. Same goes for trading for a near ready for prime time Rychel who was unhappy with his icetime with the Blue Jackets organization.
Which makes me assume management have a plan to clear up roster spots.
Way too many forwards on the Leafs need jobs. Someone gotta give....
I'd personally go with:
JvR - Kadri - Nylander
Komarov - Matthews - Marner
Michalek - Bozak - Brown
Hyman - Laich - Martin
Holland, Sosh, Leivo all close. I think Sosh could make the team over one of Brown/Marner, hard to call, and Laich/Holland are probably competing for the same spot too. I do think the Martin signing means one of Marner/Sosh/Brown gets cut, while before that signing we had room for all 3. IMO Lupul and Greening don't have much of a shot to make the team.
The thing that sticks out to me is: Leafs knew signing guys like Hopland and Levio they knew they'd be under a crunch to create space in the roster, because if they thought they'd likely end up waiving Holland I doubt they'd go through the trouble of inking him. Same goes for trading for a near ready for prime time Rychel who was unhappy with his icetime with the Blue Jackets organization.
Which makes me assume management have a plan to clear up roster spots.
Way too many forwards on the Leafs need jobs. Someone gotta give....
or they wanted competition (like Shanahan said), and have a full stocked roster/marlies squad like last year?
Probably a lot to do with it - but I'd say there's a pretty high chance the Leafs make a contract clearing trade before the home opener.
Did so last year to clear up the Marlies with that Grabner trade, may see it again for the Leafs.
Pre-season is going to be super fun this year. If we do a split squad game, we could see almost 2 full rosters full of NHL ready forwards!
JVR, Matthews, Kadri, Bozak, Holland, Komarov, Greening, Laich, Michalek, Lupul, Martin, Nylander, Soshnikov, Hyman, Brown, Rychel, Leipsic, Leivo, Kapenan, Marner, and Gauthier.
Thats 21 guys.
Did so last year to clear up the Marlies with that Grabner trade, may see it again for the Leafs.
... You're almost identical with my thoughts on this. Only difference is I'd switch JVR and Komarov.I'd personally go with:
JvR - Kadri - Nylander
Komarov - Matthews - Marner
Michalek - Bozak - Brown
Hyman - Laich - Martin
Holland, Sosh, Leivo all close. I think Sosh could make the team over one of Brown/Marner, hard to call, and Laich/Holland are probably competing for the same spot too. I do think the Martin signing means one of Marner/Sosh/Brown gets cut, while before that signing we had room for all 3. IMO Lupul and Greening don't have much of a shot to make the team.
I'd personally go with:
JvR - Kadri - Nylander
Komarov - Matthews - Marner
Michalek - Bozak - Brown
Hyman - Laich - Martin
Holland, Sosh, Leivo all close. I think Sosh could make the team over one of Brown/Marner, hard to call, and Laich/Holland are probably competing for the same spot too. I do think the Martin signing means one of Marner/Sosh/Brown gets cut, while before that signing we had room for all 3. IMO Lupul and Greening don't have much of a shot to make the team.
I think it's definitely Sosh over Brown, going by Babcock's statements on Soshnikov and Hyman being NHLers.
Holland is either in minors or dealt. And I have this feeling that it might be Lupul instead of Michalek ... but yeah. One of them at the very least has to get dealt or buried.
It's so difficult though! I know every time I try making a lineup, I leave out a player or two who should be there ...something's gotta give before the season starts. Whoever comes out to camp playing a bit flat or lifeless is going to find themselves without a spot!
Babcock on Brown
“He was our best kid in training camp,†Babcock said. “He has elite hockey sense and he’ll be an NHLer for a long time.
If this is based on merit. Connor Brown's done far more to earn his spot than either Sosh or Hyman.
Babcock on Brown
“He was our best kid in training camp,” Babcock said. “He has elite hockey sense and he’ll be an NHLer for a long time.
If this is based on merit. Connor Brown's done far more to earn his spot than either Sosh or Hyman.
There is plenty of optimism surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs, despite having the worst record in the NHL. The team has won just two of their last 10 games, but a pair of young forward prospects has caught the attention of head coach Mike Babcock
“(Zack) Hyman and (Nikita Soshnikov) are here to stay,” Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said in a scrum with local reporters after a 4-3 shootout win over the New York Islanders on Wednesday. “They’re real players. They’re going to play. They’re just too good, too hard, and too fast with too much work ethic so those guys will play.”
Hyman logged 15:10 minutes of ice time Wednesday night and scored his second goal of the season while Soshnikov netted the lone goal of the shootout to seal the win over the Islanders.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-babcock-hyman-soshnikov-real-players/
Thats a given.