I'd probably just promote Kerfoot to 2nd line centre if it happened in these playoffs, he's played that spot before for the Avalanche. Nylander and Engvall look like they're thinking about what to do whenever they play centre for the Leafs whereas whenever they're at wing, they know, no hesitation or delay & they're far better at it.
If Engvall or Spezza are the 3C next season, there are problems.
Both Nylander and Engvall suck at centre, they're way better at wing.
we are and will,,,it's called internal growth,,,derm,sandin,lilly to name 3 young ones.
10 million 3rd line??? ummm hrmmmm how so?
1. I stated in my quote, Engvall development into a C is key. I don't think he is good enough yet from the games he played at C.
.
I think Engvall will be key in his development into a 3C.
Also, I don't understand why AM, Willie, JT and Marner got to be in the top two lines.
Willie can play C, while Marner can be the line driver on his own line.
Hyman-AM-Willie
Soup-JT-Marner
Robertson-Engvall-Kap
or
Hyman-AM-Willie
Soup-JT-Kap
Robertson-Engvall-Marner
or
Hyman-AM-Marner
Soup-JT-Robertson
Engvall-Willie-Kap
In the lineup where Marner is on a line with Engvall and Robertson, Engvall just needs to win draws and be solid defensively and let Marner do all the offence thing while Robertson just needs to get open. The JT line is pretty much the shutdown line.
The lineup with Willie at 3c, all three lines are solid and can score and skate. Assuming Willie can be a solid C.
By no means, am I suggesting Engvall be at 3C in playoffs. Thats more to do with next season and beyond..and that is the conundrum.... how do you get better, if you don't play that position? If he is at all in their plans, they have to do an extensive amount of work with him during this offseason, and then just run with him to start next year, and give him a real chance... with the understanding that he won't be perfect at first... but if that is a guy that you can convert to a #3C, that would be a huge win for us.
If the leafs lose this series then the they are 100% trading Andersen in the offseason and giving Campbell the reins.
It's entirely possible they trade Andersen under those conditions, or if they do not want to enter into a new contract with him. A contending team replacing him with a goalie that currently has a single season high of 31 GP, and 64 in total for his career, though...
They'll run a tandem. Sign someone like Dell or Broissoit for $2 million or so.
They'll spend the rest of the saved cap on trying to get Mikheyev signed to a 4-5 deal instead of a 1-2 year deal.
Cap wise that would be a smart move as well. If Freddy can't get it done this year then 5M in space might be more useful next year if we can land a cheap tandem vet like Greiss/Dell/Khudobin.If the leafs lose this series then the they are 100% trading Andersen in the offseason and giving Campbell the reins.
I don't think Nylander sucks at C... he's been decent when there, I just think it doesn't make sense to split up our Big four, into three lines. He's been better for sure as a winger, than he is as a C.....
As far as Engvall... his faceoffs haven't been very good, and you'd really hope that to be a strength of a 3c. If he were to be a C for us, I would have thought putting him there, full time with the Marlies, and developing him as C would have been the better route. Keefe has liked him at C though in the past, with the Marlies... and he'd need lots of work there... I wouldn't rule him out yet.
“With Pierre, at times it’s been challenging,” said Keefe. “He wants to be a key guy on the power play, and he wants to do that because that’s what he’s done his whole life. At the same time, he’s embraced the opportunity to develop as a centre-ice man — taking advantage and (embracing) the chance to play against the other team’s best players.
“He’s playing a little bit of both — being a reliable defender, but still playing with offensive people like Korshkov and Timashov. He’s really done that well in terms of adding another layer to his game. The penalty killing is the other thing we think he’s done a real nice job on.”
I'm sort of suggesting Thornton tongue-in-cheek but I see a lot of people commenting on the speed issue playing with Kapanen.
The beauty of having an absolutely elite passer like Thornton is that he's going to be able to find Kapanen in all sorts of open space and spring him for opportunities. Thornton has been just fine playing with young speedy players like Hertl and Meier (and Couture before that).
If he would come to Toronto at around 1 million, it would be insane not to take him. Having him replace Gauthier would be an ungodly upgrade.
If the leafs lose this series then the they are 100% trading Andersen in the offseason and giving Campbell the reins.
They'll run a tandem. Sign someone like Dell or Broissoit for $2 million or so.
They'll spend the rest of the saved cap on trying to get Mikheyev signed to a 4-5 deal instead of a 1-2 year deal.
actually he did not play above AJ but believe what you want(Johnsson 3.4M) (Kerfoot 3.5M) ( Kapanen 3.2M)
3.4 + 3.5 + 3.2 = 10.1M. Mikheyev played above Johnsson the whole year so yes, that is our 3rd line.
the mighty goat ain't going anywhereI'm sort of suggesting Thornton tongue-in-cheek but I see a lot of people commenting on the speed issue playing with Kapanen.
The beauty of having an absolutely elite passer like Thornton is that he's going to be able to find Kapanen in all sorts of open space and spring him for opportunities. Thornton has been just fine playing with young speedy players like Hertl and Meier (and Couture before that).
If he would come to Toronto at around 1 million, it would be insane not to take him. Having him replace Gauthier would be an ungodly upgrade.
I hear you and it definitely helps if we can continue to sign Gauthier for league minimum. I just really want Thornton in a Leafs uniform (if he comes cheap). He's not what he used to be but I think he brings that swag/leadership that this team could really use. A real attitude. Similar to how Kapanen seemed to be sparked when Clifford arrived.We don't want Thornton to replace Gauthier, we want him to a be a #3C, while we either find another, or train Engvall to be comfortable there.
We want Gauthier to continue to improve, because I think he has the possibility to be a very good #4C, and defensively, he has been. If he can only continue to improve in the PK, he'd be a guy we'd be looking to replace once Thornton retires, for many years. People tend to hate on Goat, because he isn't great offensively, but he's pretty good defensively for us, and if that improves, it's also a big win.
no they won'tIf the leafs lose this series then the they are 100% trading Andersen in the offseason and giving Campbell the reins.
I think the Leafs need to make a decent run for that to happen. But if we can fill out the bottom 6 with guys like Thornton and Spezza it would allow us to possibly trade guys like Johnsson/Kerfoot/Kapanen and restock the farm system with some high end cheap talent while we also have the cash to add a d-man or two.If Thornton would be willing to sugn a 1 year cheap deal its a no brianer for the Leafs.
The Leafs apparently made an offer to him the same offseason they signed Marleau too
I think the Leafs need to make a decent run for that to happen. But if we can fill out the bottom 6 with guys like Thornton and Spezza it would allow us to possibly trade guys like Johnsson/Kerfoot/Kapanen and restock the farm system with some high end cheap talent while we also have the cash to add a d-man or two.
Johnsson and Kerfoot would be a couple of mid-round picks probably, but Kapanen would be worth significantly more.
They'll run a tandem. Sign someone like Dell or Broissoit for $2 million or so.
They'll spend the rest of the saved cap on trying to get Mikheyev signed to a 4-5 deal instead of a 1-2 year deal.
Thornton-Spezza would be a nice way to round out centre depth, especially with the amount of speed and skill the Leafs have on the wing to compliment them with.