Speculation: Kapanen vs. Johnsson

[Go4soda]

I love kappy’s speed. But Matthews needs a higher IQ guy who is more of a playmaker to play with in order to maximize him. Matthews, being a lethal goal scorer, isn’t a great playmaker, and kappy isn’t either. I find them redundant together.

 

[DougGilmour93]

Keep both.

Trade Nylander.

 

[The CyNick]

When Matthews is on he was scoring at a 50/50+ pace with elite defense. When he's cold he's still scoring at a 35/75 pace with good defense. Even if Matthews was cold for the entire year, he should still be getting top ice time. No other team would play a 35/75 guy 17 minutes a night, he'd most likely be on their top line with 1st unit PP minutes.

Again it's about earning ice at both ends

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Again it's about earning ice at both ends

Matthews isn't bad defensively though. Just need to put him with wingers that can move the puck at his level.

Its why its crucial that you play a guy like Nylander as much as possible with him. He keeps possession and gets Matthews the puck back when he distributes it.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Again it's about earning ice at both ends

There aren't 6+ guys earning ice more than he is to justify the minutes. At one point it's just hamstringing him to prove a point. That or maybe Babcock already feels he's losing the room and this is the last thing he has control over.

 

[AreBe]

We’re Leafs Nation trade them both with zaitsev
Get an aging Patrick O’Thuggo with his torn ACLs
We need a penalty box sitting specialist to satisfy our ill-conceived thinking so regressive
We could celebrate high ranking first round picks but this time avoid this excessive ability and revisit many Maple Leafs hells!

 

[The CyNick]

There aren't 6+ guys earning ice more than he is to justify the minutes. At one point it's just hamstringing him to prove a point. That or maybe Babcock already feels he's losing the room and this is the last thing he has control over.

As a coach if you feel you can't trust a player in their own end it's tough top hand them more and more ice. Doesn't matter how good they are offensively. And this is a player who tends to disappear for stretches even in the offensive zone.

There's this narrative about his ice time, but in reality, most of the yeast he was on the number one PP unit that went into the tank.

He was also caught up in his projected running mate had his season cut off at the knees by the young GMs lack of negotiating skills.

 

[The CyNick]

Matthews isn't bad defensively though. Just need to put him with wingers that can move the puck at his level.

Its why its crucial that you play a guy like Nylander as much as possible with him. He keeps possession and gets Matthews the puck back when he distributes it.

A guy making nearly $12M a year should be able to elevate his linemates, not the other way around.

This is the problem I have with this topic. People make excuses for Matthews. But if he really is the elite of the elite, he should produce no matter what the circumstances.

 

[Warden of the North]

A guy making nearly $12M a year should be able to elevate his linemates, not the other way around.

This is the problem I have with this topic. People make excuses for Matthews. But if he really is the elite of the elite, he should produce no matter what the circumstances.

He does produce with the very best. His goal scoring rate is amongst the very best in the league since he entered.

 

[The CyNick]

He does produce with the very best. His goal scoring rate is amongst the very best in the league since he entered.

Yes, true. How is he in his own zone though? How often does he go through stretches where he's not an impact player? What do his assist numbers look like? Why has Marner turned himself into a player who can be put in any situation and Matthews hasn't?

 

[mapleleaf979]

Id choose Kapanen. Here is a couple very fair question's that cant be answered clearly.

What is Kapanen? He doesnt look like a Top 6 point producer moving forward. He doesnt look like a grinder/worker either. He is a combination of both, imo.

Where does Kapanen fit? For me its with Matthews-Nylander playing a worker/forechecking role but his numbers will inflate because of his line-mates and he will be destined to be overpaid. Also, will Kapanen completely defer to his line-mates and take that role on like Moore or Hyman would.

If Kapanen is with Kadri, that line badly needs a playmaker on that line. I dont like Kapanen with Kadri. Johnsson fits better with Kadri but they would need size, imo on the other wing.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

We need LW.

So Mango.

 

[Ryan Michaels]

Keep both.

Trade Nylander.

Some day, in the near future, we'll look back on these takes and laugh. Don't get me wrong it's a bad post now, it's just likely to age even worse.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Some day, in the near future, we'll look back on these takes and laugh. Don't get me wrong it's a bad post now, it's just likely to age even worse.

He is one of those players who will play all of his best games against the Leafs.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

2 career assists Kapanen plays with Matthews and brought his assists/60 up to the point he tied Connor Brown this season.
Glad to have him on my 3rd or 4th line any day as long as he's not getting paid more then Brown. Not that Johnsson hit
as many primary assists as Connor Brown either, but think he could be a top six player.

I think both Kap & AJ are capable middle of the lineup type forwards. I think we value them a little too highly though as they are "our guys". I don't see them as enough on their own to land a solid, legit, good top-4 defender. Hope I'm wrong and some GM ponies up.

 

[PemIceKing]

Keep both.

Trade Nylander.

Nope

 

[PemIceKing]

Yes, true. How is he in his own zone though? How often does he go through stretches where he's not an impact player? What do his assist numbers look like? Why has Marner turned himself into a player who can be put in any situation and Matthews hasn't?

Marner can’t play in heavy traffic in the playoffs because of his size. Matthews can and will. That’s the difference. Matthews showed up this playoff Marner did not. I do not see that changing.

 

[PemIceKing]

Id choose Kapanen. Here is a couple very fair question's that cant be answered clearly.

What is Kapanen? He doesnt look like a Top 6 point producer moving forward. He doesnt look like a grinder/worker either. He is a combination of both, imo.

Where does Kapanen fit? For me its with Matthews-Nylander playing a worker/forechecking role but his numbers will inflate because of his line-mates and he will be destined to be overpaid. Also, will Kapanen completely defer to his line-mates and take that role on like Moore or Hyman would.

If Kapanen is with Kadri, that line badly needs a playmaker on that line. I dont like Kapanen with Kadri. Johnsson fits better with Kadri but they would need size, imo on the other wing.

Kapanen is a natural RW. Johnsson is a natural LW, where we need depth. Both players need to be top 6 to justify raises. Johnsson fits with Matthews and Nylander nicely. Kapanen can fetch a RHD I believe.

 

[Randy Randerson]

Kapanen is a natural RW. Johnsson is a natural LW, where we need depth. Both players need to be top 6 to justify raises. Johnsson fits with Matthews and Nylander nicely. Kapanen can fetch a RHD I believe.

Kapanen came up playing more LW, unless you're meaning that as that he's right handed

 

[Nylander88]

Torn on this one. Like them both. Part of me says Kapanen because he is the bigger body and 2 years younger than Johnsson. But I also see Johnsson as the guy who will put up bigger offensive totals and we're weaker on the left wing. Either way I've come to grips with we can only keep 1 likely. Just hope it fetches us a top 4 right handed D-man

 

[ToDavid]

IMO you keep Johnsson if you have to choose.

I love Kapanen but I think he's the odd man out here. Putting him on Matthews' right wing over Nylander makes the team worse and we have cheaper options for a third line RW. The biggest thing you lose with him is a great penalty killer, which especially sucks with Hyman out to start the year. But you can always find fourth line wingers that can PK.

 

[67Leafs67]

I love kappy’s speed. But Matthews needs a higher IQ guy who is more of a playmaker to play with in order to maximize him. Matthews, being a lethal goal scorer, isn’t a great playmaker, and kappy isn’t either. I find them redundant together.

That's why, in my mind, it's absolutely necessary that Nylander plays with Matthews. They produce chances together at an insane rate. Kapanen can be his own little offensive producing, 20 goal scoring right winger on the 3rd line against weaker competition. The question is if Babcock will optimize the team this way.

 

[moon111]

I'm not even sure if there's a guarantee that either one of them would beat Moore and Bracco for positions on Matthew's wing.
Honestly if either one of their contact demands are too high, that's a great smoke screen to possibly selling high right now.

 

[m1ker]

Keep both.

Trade Nylander.

That would be an instant regret when you see Nylander playing for not egocock. Stop trying to change the guy and use him where his elite skills will excel. That's what great coaches do, they build a system around the players they have not build the player around the system.

All babs gotta do is flip Marner and Nylander.

imo it solves some past problems
1. matthews + nylander cant be trusted defensively
2. matthews ice time (stop sheltering the guy)
3. marner becoming to predictable with stationary tavares and hyman