Svanstrom
Registered User
I like it but I would probably switch Hyman and Leivo. But at the same time I would love to see Hyman and Brown on the same line. If Leivo doesn't work out maybe Grunström might be a fit on that line.
Line Combos: Leafs Lines Going Into Next Season (2018-2019)
- Thread starter SHANNYPLAN
- Start date
- Status
I like it but I would probably switch Hyman and Leivo. But at the same time I would love to see Hyman and Brown on the same line. If Leivo doesn't work out maybe Grunström might be a fit on that line.
what i got so far...
- Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
- Marleau - Tavares - Marner
- Johnsson - Kadri - Brown
- ? - ? - Kapanen
- ?
19 minutes - Johnsson-Matthews-Marner (two-way, Shooter, Playmaker) Marner might be the best playmaker winger on the planet; Matthews is the best goal scoring center on the planet. I still think it makes a ton of sense to have them together. Give Marner two guys who can finish! Johnson is rewarded for his impressive season by playing with two world class playmakers. 24 points in 16 AHL playoff games. Reward him! Johnson can finish and all 3 will boost their point totals. Johnsson could end up with 70 points...
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19 minutes - Nylander-Tavares-Brown (playmaker-two-way-two-way) Tavares signed here to win Stanley cups and play with great players. Nylander isn't Marner; but I think he compliments him beautifully. Tavares and Nylander in theory should work really well with each other. Tavares does it all; and I think we get the most out of him if he's driving his own line. Tavares and Nylander team up to scoring 75-80 points each and in theory; they should be matching up against second line match ups which is scary. Brown is the two-way winger who finishes scoring oppurtunies but can also retrieve pucks for his line.
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17 minutes - Marleau-Kadri-Kapanen (two-way, shooter, playmaker) We forget that Kadri can dish it as well as he can shoot it. This is a very balanced line that has playmaking, scoring, mentorship for Kapanen and defensive awareness.
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5 minutes - Ennis-Lindholm-Hyman (checker, two-way, playmaker) Hyman would actually be a great 4th liner. Lindholm and Ennis should be compotent NHL players with Grundstrom, Leivo knocking on the door.
Identifying who needs what...
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The elite 5: (they can do it all)
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Marner needs goal scoring wingers on his line so he can wrack up 60 + assists.
Matthews needs people who will get him the puck and get him scoring opportunities.
Tavares is a hybrid of Matthews/Marner; complete player...
Kadri can snipe all day and does great with playmaking wingers. He can also create for him self.
Nylander is a playmaking winger who can finish (Hoping for 25 goals)
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The two way finishers:
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Marleau, Brown, Johnsson - They are all two-way wingers who can essentially finish scoring chances (25 goals)
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Finding him a role:
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Kapanen - I haven't watched him enough but seems like a guy who can create and finish as well. I want to see him in a top 9 role; and he could get the last top 9 role unless Leivo or Ennis has a great camp.
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The checker Babcock loves, who is really just a glorified 4th liner :
Hyman
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The 4th lines, extras:
Leivo, Lindholm, Ennis
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You could spread the talent among 4 lines or 3; but I know Matthews want ice time; and I think we can still have a competent 4th line if we stack 3. But you could literally spread the talent across 4 lines if you wanted too.
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19 minutes - Nylander-Tavares-Brown (playmaker-two-way-two-way) Tavares signed here to win Stanley cups and play with great players. Nylander isn't Marner; but I think he compliments him beautifully. Tavares and Nylander in theory should work really well with each other. Tavares does it all; and I think we get the most out of him if he's driving his own line. Tavares and Nylander team up to scoring 75-80 points each and in theory; they should be matching up against second line match ups which is scary. Brown is the two-way winger who finishes scoring oppurtunies but can also retrieve pucks for his line.
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17 minutes - Marleau-Kadri-Kapanen (two-way, shooter, playmaker) We forget that Kadri can dish it as well as he can shoot it. This is a very balanced line that has playmaking, scoring, mentorship for Kapanen and defensive awareness.
-
5 minutes - Ennis-Lindholm-Hyman (checker, two-way, playmaker) Hyman would actually be a great 4th liner. Lindholm and Ennis should be compotent NHL players with Grundstrom, Leivo knocking on the door.
Identifying who needs what...
-
The elite 5: (they can do it all)
-
Marner needs goal scoring wingers on his line so he can wrack up 60 + assists.
Matthews needs people who will get him the puck and get him scoring opportunities.
Tavares is a hybrid of Matthews/Marner; complete player...
Kadri can snipe all day and does great with playmaking wingers. He can also create for him self.
Nylander is a playmaking winger who can finish (Hoping for 25 goals)
-
The two way finishers:
-
Marleau, Brown, Johnsson - They are all two-way wingers who can essentially finish scoring chances (25 goals)
-
Finding him a role:
-
Kapanen - I haven't watched him enough but seems like a guy who can create and finish as well. I want to see him in a top 9 role; and he could get the last top 9 role unless Leivo or Ennis has a great camp.
-
The checker Babcock loves, who is really just a glorified 4th liner :
Hyman
-
The 4th lines, extras:
Leivo, Lindholm, Ennis
-
You could spread the talent among 4 lines or 3; but I know Matthews want ice time; and I think we can still have a competent 4th line if we stack 3. But you could literally spread the talent across 4 lines if you wanted too.
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Coachcorner
Senor Martinez
- Sep 28, 2017
- 6,285
- 4,989
I can't draw our lines yet because I don't know who we play with. I still think that dubas and our maple leafs will have to make this identity true and getting a bigger heavier meaner guy who can push that thang up real hard. I mean real hard. That player will make the cut and play big time baby. There is no man in our lineup now who could fight and or push with guys like lucic, byfuglien, tom wilson, reaves or breashear period. We needs to get that thang. Real hard. Or ain't drawing this thang up at all. Get it already.
man when you guys making these lines, your really thinking about forward offensive production, which is great but sometimes the puck goes in the middle and to andys end of the ice too, you also gotta consider forward defense along with your forward offense, cause ya we got talent and skills and speed, but other teams got a lot of skill and talent and speed too
My predictions for roster movements/ who will win spots come training camp
Leivo gets dealt for a 3rd after being beat out by Grundstrom for the 4LW spot
Mcelhienny gets picked off waivers
Pickard,Marincin,Cracknell,Mueller and Loverde all pass through waivers
Holl steals job as #6 defenceman out of camp, Ozhiganov elects to stay in North America and play with Marlies after being sent down (since he has European clause)
Leafs lines 5 on 5
Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Marleau-Matthews-Nylander
Johnsson-Kadri-Brown
Grundstrom-Lindholm-Kapanen
Ennis-Jooris
Rielly-Hainsey
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Demott-Holl
Carrick
Andersen-Sparks
I think both units will be switched as PP1 or PP2 throughout the season
PP1:
Brown
Marleau-Matthews-Nylander
Rielly
PP 2:
Tavares
Johnsson-Kadri-Marner
Gardiner
PK 1:
Lindholm-Kapanen
Hainsey-Zaitsev
PK 2:
Hyman-Grundstrom
Rielly-Holl
Leivo gets dealt for a 3rd after being beat out by Grundstrom for the 4LW spot
Mcelhienny gets picked off waivers
Pickard,Marincin,Cracknell,Mueller and Loverde all pass through waivers
Holl steals job as #6 defenceman out of camp, Ozhiganov elects to stay in North America and play with Marlies after being sent down (since he has European clause)
Leafs lines 5 on 5
Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Marleau-Matthews-Nylander
Johnsson-Kadri-Brown
Grundstrom-Lindholm-Kapanen
Ennis-Jooris
Rielly-Hainsey
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Demott-Holl
Carrick
Andersen-Sparks
I think both units will be switched as PP1 or PP2 throughout the season
PP1:
Brown
Marleau-Matthews-Nylander
Rielly
PP 2:
Tavares
Johnsson-Kadri-Marner
Gardiner
PK 1:
Lindholm-Kapanen
Hainsey-Zaitsev
PK 2:
Hyman-Grundstrom
Rielly-Holl
thusk
Registered User
Babcock like couple
1st couple Hyman/Matthews
Matthews playin all his career with Hyman, so Babcock will probably keep both of them together again this season. Nylander will probably be the 3rd one or maybe marner depend how chemistry with tavares is going on
2nd couple Tavares/Marner ou nylander
Depend how the chemistry with both of them during training camp is going on. I see a guy like Andreas Johnsson complete those guys.
3nd couple
Marleau-Kadri
Playing the hole season together last year and will be the same this season. Can see Connor Brown complete that line on a shutdown role again this year.
Johsson/Tavares/Marner
Hyman/Matthews/Nylander
Marleau/Kadri/Brown
Ennis/Lindholm/Kapanen
i don't think we will see a lot of change in offence
In defence... for me Dermott with have a bigger role next season and maybe playing with rielly like he did couple of time last season
I don't think Zaitsev is a good complement to Gardiner. Gardiner is an offensive minded D and he need a defensive minded D like Hainsey to cover him when he's taking risk.
Rosen needed time to adapt to the north american hockey style but at the end of regular season and playoff in AHL, his game raised up and he's maybe ready for the next step in the NHL.
Rielly/Dermott
Gardiner/Hainsey
Rosen/Zaitsev
1st couple Hyman/Matthews
Matthews playin all his career with Hyman, so Babcock will probably keep both of them together again this season. Nylander will probably be the 3rd one or maybe marner depend how chemistry with tavares is going on
2nd couple Tavares/Marner ou nylander
Depend how the chemistry with both of them during training camp is going on. I see a guy like Andreas Johnsson complete those guys.
3nd couple
Marleau-Kadri
Playing the hole season together last year and will be the same this season. Can see Connor Brown complete that line on a shutdown role again this year.
Johsson/Tavares/Marner
Hyman/Matthews/Nylander
Marleau/Kadri/Brown
Ennis/Lindholm/Kapanen
i don't think we will see a lot of change in offence
In defence... for me Dermott with have a bigger role next season and maybe playing with rielly like he did couple of time last season
I don't think Zaitsev is a good complement to Gardiner. Gardiner is an offensive minded D and he need a defensive minded D like Hainsey to cover him when he's taking risk.
Rosen needed time to adapt to the north american hockey style but at the end of regular season and playoff in AHL, his game raised up and he's maybe ready for the next step in the NHL.
Rielly/Dermott
Gardiner/Hainsey
Rosen/Zaitsev
I’m really interested in seeing a couple things:
1. Will Babcock deploy the lines differently at home vs the road
2. Whether this year he's more willing to explore different options with the line combinations given the centre depth we now have
Something like this could be interesting:
Home
Hyman-Tavares-Marner against top lines
Marleau-Matthews-Nylander against 2nd pairings
Johnson-Kadri-Kap/Brown against 3rd pairings
If he matches up the Kadri line against top lines, then I suspect he's going Johnson-Kadri-Brown. Even if I would love to see Kappy be given more of a chance in the top 9 this year. But can you imagine, that would mean one of the Tavares-Marner or Matthews-Nylander line would go up against another team's 3rd line
Away
This is where it gets more interesting, I'm hoping the focus here of line matching is less given we won't have last change and our new found depth. Could he potentially deploy lines this way:
Hyman-Matthews-Nylander (great existing chemistry and can match up against any line)
Marleau-Kadri-Marner (same as above)
Johnson-Tavares-Kappy (could potentially develop great chemistry and match up against any line)
In any case, will be interesting to see, exciting times ahead!
1. Will Babcock deploy the lines differently at home vs the road
2. Whether this year he's more willing to explore different options with the line combinations given the centre depth we now have
Something like this could be interesting:
Home
Hyman-Tavares-Marner against top lines
Marleau-Matthews-Nylander against 2nd pairings
Johnson-Kadri-Kap/Brown against 3rd pairings
If he matches up the Kadri line against top lines, then I suspect he's going Johnson-Kadri-Brown. Even if I would love to see Kappy be given more of a chance in the top 9 this year. But can you imagine, that would mean one of the Tavares-Marner or Matthews-Nylander line would go up against another team's 3rd line
Away
This is where it gets more interesting, I'm hoping the focus here of line matching is less given we won't have last change and our new found depth. Could he potentially deploy lines this way:
Hyman-Matthews-Nylander (great existing chemistry and can match up against any line)
Marleau-Kadri-Marner (same as above)
Johnson-Tavares-Kappy (could potentially develop great chemistry and match up against any line)
In any case, will be interesting to see, exciting times ahead!
LeafalCrusader
Registered User
So what are the PK units going to be? Komarov and Polak are gone so some new guys will be getting some ice time.
I'd imagine Hyman-Brown Hainsey-Zaitsev will Bab's go to unit again. After that I'm not sure.
I'd imagine Hyman-Brown Hainsey-Zaitsev will Bab's go to unit again. After that I'm not sure.
Alexanderthe89
Registered User
- Apr 29, 2011
- 1,043
- 299
Didn't Matthews come out and say he wanted to play with Marner more?
HandshakeLineRespect
Respect in the Handshake Line
Johnsson-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Tavares-Marner
Leivo-Kadri-Kapanen
Hyman-Lindholm-Brown
Marleau-Tavares-Marner
Leivo-Kadri-Kapanen
Hyman-Lindholm-Brown
man i really hope the 2 wingers that played on the top line with matthews in playoffs, are now our bottom line wingers, that means this team is really really good
Nordiques1979
Registered User
Don't feel like checking back through almost 40 pages, someone may have proposed this already but I think the Leafs should consider rolling 3 centermen & 7 D.
You can mix and match the top 6 any way you want and essentially have 2 first lines, where Matthews and Tavares could each be eating up first line centre minutes, but would leave little left for Kadri and [insert 4th line C].
The trade-off and big plus IMO with the extra Dman would be not having to ride 37 year old Hainsey into the ground like they did last season, where he was doubling as first pair D as well as top PK D. He clearly had nothing left in the tank by playoff time.
You can mix and match the top 6 any way you want and essentially have 2 first lines, where Matthews and Tavares could each be eating up first line centre minutes, but would leave little left for Kadri and [insert 4th line C].
The trade-off and big plus IMO with the extra Dman would be not having to ride 37 year old Hainsey into the ground like they did last season, where he was doubling as first pair D as well as top PK D. He clearly had nothing left in the tank by playoff time.
The battles in camp are between Ennis, Johnsson, and Leivo over the bottom two LW spots and Carrick, Holl, Ozhiganov, Liljegren and Durzi for the bottom RD spot.
Last edited:
Not My Tempo
Registered User
Kapanen will for sure be a PKer too, I still get upset thinking about Andersen and the defense crapping the bed in game 7 after his short handed goal
MyBudJT
Registered User
- Mar 5, 2018
- 7,429
- 4,576
I kind of want to see Hyman play RW. He seemed to be more effective there when he seldom played that side last season.
My preference:
Marleau-Matthews-Nylander
Leivo-Tavares-Marner
Johnsson-Kadri-Hyman
Jooris/Ennis-Lindholm-Kapanen/Brown
Reilly-Top2
Dermott-Zaitsev
Rosen-Ozhiganov
Marincin
(Let Borgman simmer and dominate the AHL)
Andersen
Sparks
My preference:
Marleau-Matthews-Nylander
Leivo-Tavares-Marner
Johnsson-Kadri-Hyman
Jooris/Ennis-Lindholm-Kapanen/Brown
Reilly-Top2
Dermott-Zaitsev
Rosen-Ozhiganov
Marincin
(Let Borgman simmer and dominate the AHL)
Andersen
Sparks
I actually like this idea. You basically give the extra ice time to Matthews and Tavares who could probably both use the extra minutes. The 4th line could end up being
Leivo - Matthews/Tavares - Kapanen
There would be no way for the other team to defend against that 4 line attack. We could even give Nylander a shift in there too. We could have the Goat as our bench guy who can still play some games if Matthews or Tavares need a rest from the double shifting.
We could certainly use an extra defender. Even if the 7th defender was just a PK specialist, that would really help.
Yeah exactly, rotate Nylander in here and there or go with 4 C for 2nd of back to backs. The top centres for ice time in the league are at about 22 minutes a game, about 2 minutes more than Matthews & Tavares were getting this year.
Johnsson-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Tavares-Marner
Leivo-Kadri-Kapanen
Hyman-Lindholm-Brown
Rielly-Hainsey
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Dermott-Carrick/Igor/Liljegren
Andersen
McElhinney/Sparks/Pickard
Marleau-Tavares-Marner
Leivo-Kadri-Kapanen
Hyman-Lindholm-Brown
Rielly-Hainsey
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Dermott-Carrick/Igor/Liljegren
Andersen
McElhinney/Sparks/Pickard
- Status
