Pre-Game Talk: Music City here we come. Feb. 14

[Belial]

This is true. There's nothing wrong with the two transactions. I didn't say the transactions weren't good. I said I don't think this 4th line will be a good one. It will probably be better than the other 4th lines we've had, but I'm not projecting them to be adequate. I could be wrong of course. I've been wrong in questioning Bergevin/Julien moves before, but I've also been right.

Ultimately, because it's done 15 days before the deadline, there is still a little time to upgrade if need be. I'd rather a 4th line still have speed and skill, in addition to being defensively responsible. A little toughness is good, but still secondary to speed, and even secondary to skill. One fourth line I liked from the time we knocked top seeded Boston out of the playoffs was Bournival-Briere-Weise (younger Weise and Weise suited for the old NHL). I hope we're getting the same Weise. But I just don't know how his game would translate.

My ideal 4th line would be Marcus Johansson-Derrick Brassar-Weise/Shaw/Lehkonen/Byron. To me that's like a 2nd third line and adds good depth in case of injury. But those two MAY be too expensive. We'll see what they end up going for. I have a feeling they're under-valued in the market.

Those players you listed would require decent assets in return and I don't think Bergevin is willing to play that game.

Our 3 top lines are able to generate a good amount of offense so far this year.

The problem was the 4th line, they were generating nothing and getting scored on constantly.

The moves made were more to stop the bleeding than to actually help the offense.

But Weise can still skate and he has a decent shot , Thompson has some skill in him as he was playing on the PP in LA this year... And if Byron is on the left wing of that line I wouldn't be surprised if they actually generate offense and not just neutralizing the opposition.

 

[Runner77]

Whether or not the 4th line lasts, it comes with an anomaly. The players in it are wearing nos. 22, 21 and 20.

So, what will it be?

The Black Jack line

The roaring twenties

Cakes?

The Countdown Line?

Dollarama Dumpsters?

The Closers?

 

[Runner77]

And so it begins ...

 

[peate]

Players have got to be getting frustrated from not playing, I know I am.

 

[overlords]

God I hate NHL scheduling.

 

[EveryDay]

And so it begins ...

WTF? Deslauriers instead of Armia???? This can't be true....Deslauriers is bad defensively!

 

[angusyoung]

My ideal 4th line would be Marcus Johansson-Derrick Brassar-Weise/Shaw/Lehkonen/Byron. To me that's like a 2nd third line and adds good depth in case of injury. But those two MAY be too expensive. We'll see what they end up going for. I have a feeling they're under-valued in the market.[/QUOTE]

Would be more than fine for a 4th line,but it's not free! the asking for those players are a hell of a lot more than a 5th or a throw in.

 

[JianYang]

And so it begins ...

Deslauriers shouldn't be killing penalties

 

[TannedBum]

WTF? Deslauriers instead of Armia???? This can't be true....Deslauriers is bad defensively!

Yeah, that sounds weird. Armia is the only forward who can slow down the opponent's game while shorthanded, and his PK stats are by far the best on the team. Danault&Lehkonen are leaking badly.

 

[OldCraig71]

Deslauriers shouldn't be killing penalties

He should be doing it in Laval but not in the NHL. He needs to go, he brings nothing.

 

[Habaneros]

Whether or not the 4th line lasts, it comes with an anomaly. The players in it are wearing nos. 22, 21 and 20.

So, what will it be?





Cakes?

The Countdown Line?

Dollarama Dumpsters?

The Closers?

 

[Rapala]

I will never understand those who are complaining about the last two moves BargainBin made. Literally gave up nothing, so if they don't pan out we are no worse than we were yesterday.

Not gonna be a huge impact either way. We can see where MB is going after players noted for comraderie.
DW was well liked when he was here and Thompson had that same reputation in LA. I do get the harping however because most know these deals won't amount to a hill of beans and some fans want more than that.

 

[Habs]

God I hate NHL scheduling.

No kidding. And yet another Sat Sunday this weekend. Do the Leafs ever play B2B? Doesn't seem like it.

 

[JianYang]

No kidding. And yet another Sat Sunday this weekend. Do the Leafs ever play B2B? Doesn't seem like it.

A b2b spanning 2 time zones. Lovely.

 

[peate]

A b2b spanning 2 time zones. Lovely.

I didn't know Florida was that big.

 

[LeHab]

Montreal can match Nashville 71pts with a win and maintain 3 games in hand.

 

[KKWG11]

24Hrs until Dale Debut.... Or Redebut

 

[japhi]

The 4th line in Boston was great in 2011. This isn't 2011.

So whats changed so significantly?

Caps rolled beagle, stephenson and DSP last year. Thats the 4th line that won the cup.

I could go back every year and show you that 4th lines are usually built around a bit of speed, grind, posession and the ability to chip in the odd goal. We might have that now, we didn’t a week ago

 

[Positive Vibes]

i like that 4th line,hope it lasts think we squeak this win out, we wont beat the bolts

 

[Forum93]

No kidding. And yet another Sat Sunday this weekend. Do the Leafs ever play B2B? Doesn't seem like it.

I'm sure they have. They just played one - Saturday against us then crapped the bed Sunday against the Rangers.

 

[David Suzuki]

Imagine taking time out of your day to hate Dlo.

 

[dinodebino]

When's the last time we won there?

 

[sharks9]

When's the last time we won there?

Not long ago, Pacioretty scored an OT winner to beat them in January 2017

 

[The Great Weal]

WTF? Deslauriers instead of Armia???? This can't be true....Deslauriers is bad defensively!

Armia is likely on the 1st unit. I do find it odd that Deslauriers is on the PK. There are better options.

 

[Rapala]

I was expecting the GDT to be up given this *&^&*&^$$^^ layoff.