Line Combos: Leafs Practice Lines Today

[coupe93]

What of the possibility of Brown going up to the Bozak, JVR line and they still throw up a minus night? I think the pressure is placed on Bozak and JVR more so than Marner. Babcock is a pretty smart coach...

 

[Mess]

If Brown does well in his new role and helps stabilize the 3rd line particularly defensively, what does that mean for Marner?

 

[Trapper]

What of the possibility of Brown going up to the Bozak, JVR line and they still throw up a minus night? I think the pressure is placed on Bozak and JVR more so than Marner. Babcock is a pretty smart coach...

Very nice take. The ball is certainly in there court as much as it is in Marner's.

 

[coupe93]

If Brown does well in his new role and helps stabilize the 3rd line particularly defensively, what does that mean for Marner?

Means the demotion was earned. No lose situation for Babcock. Good coaching IMO.

 

[showtime8]

This just proves that people will see what they want to see, regardless of what actually happened on ice. May want to watch that play again, and try to figure out whose man Alzner was supposed to be.

In general cases I would agree that the defenseman should be covered by the winger. That makes sense right?

But if you watch the play, the puck comes around the boards from a Morgan Rielly clearing attempt where Mitch Marner was tied up by Pacioretty. Pacioretty closes him off and Bozak comes in to support the play but the puck is already with Alzner. Bozak swings at the puck and then does a little joy ride back to the centre of the ice while Alzner went a foot to his left.
Alzner's slap pass to an uncovered Drouin. Watch where Morgan Rielly is on that play as well. He's covering no one and in the middle of the ice for a screen.

What did you see on that play?

 

[Rogie]

Its a shot at the whole line. From my perspective Mitch is the last one that should be blamed for this. He is going to have alot of jump Tuesday night. JVR needs to be moved out of town , same with Bozak. The effort they give along the wall or sacrificing themselves is embarrassing and out of place on this team which is comprised of high compete players.

The system only allows to give ONE like and I wanted to give more than one like.
So - here's another like on this post.


LIKE

 

[Mess]

I know that. I am just saying he was stunned in a game in FEB as well I think. I believe I remember him being hit hard as well. He did have a fine worlds though so, either way his timing being this off is strange.

It seemed you were implying that Marner's illness (strep throat) was involved here, but I was just talking about Washington being among the Teams that successfully limited Marner in the playoffs because of how physical they were with him.

Since the Bozak's 3rd line often goes up against opposition 3rd and 4th lines regular that is where the Caps more physical players reside and as such having Martin on the same line as Marner today might be Babcock's way of putting a pitbull (Martin) out there to help protect Marner tonight as his bodyguard riding shotgun. So there might be more method to what some see as madness by demoting Marner to the 4th line today than just the defensive struggles of the Bozak line.

Marner struggled against Washington in the playoffs so the rematch today has the coach proactively addressing things that went wrong in the past.

 

[ULF_55]

I wouldn't compare these two situations at all. I agree Kadri was handled badly, if the organization was in the shape it's in now when he was drafted he would likely have become a star a few years earlier. Mitch on the 4th line for a bit is nothing and as many have said, it's a shot at his line mates just as much as it is a shot at him.

The team and Kadri weren't good and when Shanahan came in and made adjustments to both team and player things turned.
We don't have to revisit, but we can't rewrite history. “If this were just a case of Nazem being 15 minutes late for a meeting one time, yes, then you could probably sweep this under the rug..."

It seemed you were implying that Marner's illness (strep throat) was involved here, but I was just talking about Washington being among the Teams that successfully limited Marner in the playoffs because of how physical they were with him.

Since the Bozak's 3rd line often goes up against opposition 3rd and 4th lines regular that is where the Caps more physical players reside and as such having Martin on the same line as Marner today might be Babcock's way of putting a pitbull (Martin) out there to help protect Marner tonight as his bodyguard riding shotgun. So there might be more method to what some see as madness by demoting Marner to the 4th line today than just the defensive struggles of the Bozak line.

Marner struggled against Washington in the playoffs so the rematch today has the coach proactively addressing things that went wrong in the past.

You know you do have a point.
If Babcock uses Hyman on the first line with 2 offensive players ...
Martin-Bozak-Marner

 

[Gary Nylund]

The team and Kadri weren't good and when Shanahan came in and made adjustments to both team and player things turned.
We don't have to revisit, but we can't rewrite history. “If this were just a case of Nazem being 15 minutes late for a meeting one time, yes, then you could probably sweep this under the rug..."

Kadri wasn't handled well, that's not rewriting history, it's stating an opinion and it's one shared by many. That doesn't mean Kadri did everything right and I never said that either.

 

[Trapper]

Kadri wasn't handled well, that's not rewriting history, it's stating an opinion and it's one shared by many. That doesn't mean Kadri did everything right and I never said that either.

There was a lack of stability and organization direction for Kadri. It wasn't a good time. The same for Gardiner.
It's like night and day with Babcock. That doesn't mean there won't be lessons but not the dysfunction that plagued us before.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Maybe what's actually happened is Martin and Fehr/Moore have been moved up to the 2nd or 3rd line - lol.

I like it.

There was a lack of stability and organization direction for Kadri. It wasn't a good time. The same for Gardiner.
It's like night and day with Babcock. That doesn't mean there won't be lessons but not the dysfunction that plagued us before.

Yup, that was exactly my point - the organization being in the state it was had a negative effect on player development.

 

[Mess]

The team and Kadri weren't good and when Shanahan came in and made adjustments to both team and player things turned.
We don't have to revisit, but we can't rewrite history. “If this were just a case of Nazem being 15 minutes late for a meeting one time, yes, then you could probably sweep this under the rug..."


You know you do have a point.
If Babcock uses Hyman on the first line with 2 offensive players ...
Martin-Bozak-Marner

That might be next, and thus making it

JVR -- Moore/Fehr -- Brown = 4th line with also 2 offensive players and a mucker/grinder.

Maybe this formation gives the coach 2 X 3rd lines and 0 X 4th lines and he can rotate and play the 3rd line that is playing the bes,t and reward them with more TOI/g on a game by game basis.

 

[Mess]

Means the demotion was earned. No lose situation for Babcock. Good coaching IMO.

So if Brown does well that makes Marner a 4th liner and PP specialist permanently instead of temporarily.

Is that a good or bad outcome?

Leaf fans are not likely to cheer for Brown to fail, nor the 3rd line to continue to struggle, so does that mean Marner becomes the 10th forward and the one out of the top 9 regularly?

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

I know I'm in the minority, but I am kind of looking forward to the Martin-Marner-Fehr line. Yes, that's Marner at centre between a 6"3 and 6"4 dude. We can call it the "MF'ing Magic" line.

 

[Nithoniniel]

Kadri will never be effective as a 2nd line center; hasn't anyone noticed he's most effective as the center of a more defensive line? If Bozak goes, it'll be for a more offensive threat that can support Matthews, not to bump Kadri up.

You misunderstand. You describe the lines based on second being a scoring line and the third a checking line, while I ordered them by ice time. It's also not really how NHL teams are built nowadays. I would suggest getting used to ordering lines differently, nowadays the match up line is most often a teams first or second, while the third is either a sheltered scoring line or a secondary match up line depending on personnel.

By ice time, Kadri is our #2C already and has been for quite some time. So what I'm saying is that we need a center that is third in the depth charts, and who can provide a more well-rounded, versatile game than Bozak.

So if Brown does well that makes Marner a 4th liner and PP specialist permanently instead of temporarily.

If Brown does well, they probably look to move Marner into another position pending his performance. So no, most likely not permanently.

I know I'm in the minority, but I kind of am looking forward to the Martin-Marner-Fehr line. Yes, that's Marner at centre between a 6"3 and 6"4 dude. We can call it the 'MF'ing Magic line.

I very much doubt they move Marner to center for the first time when he's struggling.

 

[Trapper]

So if Brown does well that makes Marner a 4th liner and PP specialist permanently instead of temporarily.

Is that a good or bad outcome?

Leaf fans are not likely to cheer for Brown to fail, nor the 3rd line to continue to struggle, so does that mean Marner becomes the 10th forward and the one out of the top 9 regularly?

I guess it all depends on 1. Winning and 2. How we look while we win.
Again nothing is forever. I know Marner had mono last year but there was probably some burn out due to 82 games. We haven't hit injuries yet (knock on wood). It's a long season, struggle is bound to happen. Babs wasn't happy with the Marleau/Kadri/Komarov line early but fortunately or unfortunately Bozak's line took center stage.

 

[coupe93]

So if Brown does well that makes Marner a 4th liner and PP specialist permanently instead of temporarily.

Is that a good or bad outcome?

Leaf fans are not likely to cheer for Brown to fail, nor the 3rd line to continue to struggle, so does that mean Marner becomes the 10th forward and the one out of the top 9 regularly?

It's simply a coaching tactic which serves as a wake-up call for the entire line, not just Marner. That's it

 

[DarkKnight]

Five on five Babs wasn't giving the Bozak line anymore time than the 4th line, so with PP time not affected, I think Marner sees the exact same ice time he has to start this season.

 

[deletethis]

It's almost unfair to lay at the feet of Connor Brown the defensive destiny of the Bozak line. And any improvement defensively will doubtlessly be lost to a drop in the line's offensive production. I'm going to think of this change more as a reward for slumming it on the 4th line for most of this 2017-18 season. Also regarding the defense of that Bozak line, I'd argue that Marner is the line's most defensively responsible component.

 

[Trapper]

I like it.



Yup, that was exactly my point - the organization being in the state it was had a negative effect on player development.

If you got sent to the 4th line in the days of Carlyle it was because he was done with you.
That's not Babcock. It's just one class is over for today and a new class begins. He is a smart man, he knows his future to win a Cup here and he must prepare those well who will play a big part in it. If you aren't a part of it, he's probably just leaving you alone for now.

 

[1specter]

Kadri will never be effective as a 2nd line center; hasn't anyone noticed he's most effective as the center of a more defensive line? If Bozak goes, it'll be for a more offensive threat that can support Matthews, not to bump Kadri up.

Lmao this is hilarious. Kadri scored 60 points while having some of the toughest usage in the entire league last year. You think he couldn't tear it up against softer competition and with higher offensive zone starts, similar to the way the Bozak line is used? Delusional.

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

I very much doubt they move Marner to center for the first time when he's struggling.

Smile. I want some of you to take a moment to smile. 'Twas a joke.

 

[Gary Nylund]

If you got sent to the 4th line in the days of Carlyle it was because he was done with you.
That's not Babcock. It's just one class is over for today and a new class begins. He is a smart man, he knows his future to win a Cup here and he must prepare those well who will play a big part in it. If you aren't a part of it, he's probably just leaving you alone for now.

Agree 100%, couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[Trapper]

Lmao this is hilarious. Kadri scored 60 points while having some of the toughest usage in the entire league last year. You think he couldn't tear it up against softer competition and with higher offensive zone starts, similar to the way the Bozak line is used? Delusional.

Is it a matter of tearing it up being debated or is it a matter of being -15 or more while doing it?

 

[1specter]

Is it a matter of tearing it up being debated or is it a matter of being -15 or more while doing it?

So you think Kadri would be -15 against easier competition?