Tribute Ryan O'Reilly welcome to the Toronto Maple Leafs appreciation thread

[LeafsNation75]

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[Macallan18]

Wow wow wow, Kyle pulled the trigger big time!!!!!!

 

[LeafsNation75]

 

[Puckstuff]

So do we play him 3 C or top 6 wing?

If the leafs play O'Reilly in the top 6 it would drop Jarnkrok out of the top 6 which would help a lot. I feel like O'Reilly is the perfect fit with Matthews and Bunting can really help Marner and Tavares.

But we could also use a 3C and more balance.

 

[LeafsNation75]

So do we play him 3 C or top 6 wing?

If the leafs play O'Reilly in the top 6 it would drop Jarnkrok out of the top 6 which would help a lot. I feel like O'Reilly is the perfect fit with Matthews and Bunting can really help Marner and Tavares.

But we could also use a 3C and more balance.

I think #3 Centre would be great because he can play against other team's top lines, which makes it an easier matchup for Matthews and Tavares.

However, if Keefe needed to move him into the top 6 on the wing during a game, I won't be surprised if that happens.

 

[kb]

So do we play him 3 C or top 6 wing?

If the leafs play O'Reilly in the top 6 it would drop Jarnkrok out of the top 6 which would help a lot. I feel like O'Reilly is the perfect fit with Matthews and Bunting can really help Marner and Tavares.

But we could also use a 3C and more balance.

IMO this move makes a top 6 wing far less important. Keep ROR at #3C, and spot him in the top 6. It lengthens the Leafs lineup, and creates a matchup nightmare for other teams

 

[DarkKnight]

Can I just say, I’ve loved ROR as a player for years, always wanted him on my team, going back to Colorado days. Gives it his all, plays a 201 foot game, grit, desire, talent, character and leadership.

 

[GrizzLeaf]

Pretty sure he slots in at 3C. Will probably see him bumped into top 6 once in a while but 3C makes most sense.

This takes the pressure off Matthews, since RoR can match the opponent's top line.

 

[Fogelhund]

Welcome to Toronto. Hope to see you in the Blue and White in June and October this year. Thanks.

 

[MAB1]

So do we play him 3 C or top 6 wing?

If the leafs play O'Reilly in the top 6 it would drop Jarnkrok out of the top 6 which would help a lot. I feel like O'Reilly is the perfect fit with Matthews and Bunting can really help Marner and Tavares.

But we could also use a 3C and more balance.

The Bergeron line and Kucherov are about to have nightmares after what ROR does to them these playoffs. I don't think a lot of Leaf fans recall just how badly ROR shutdown the Bergeron line in the 2019 SCF.

 

[Leafsfan74]

Just enter the dressing room with the attitude that it is your team and you are a core leader. Be business-like and demanding results from others is important.

Being from Ontario, he knows how big it would be if the Leafs win. Hell, with his Cup and Conn Smythe, a Leafs Cup probbaly puts lands hum in the HOF...that's how impressive it would be in T.O and to the league.

 

[ToneDog]

Our special teams units just go a lot better.

 

[Buds17]

Stanley Cup...Conn Smythe...Selke...has worn the 'C' and can play C(entre)...Welcome to Toronto, ROR!

 

[BayStBullies]

They nailed this. Good job Dubas. A proven winner who is a playoff warrior and Acciari is further depth. Now they just need to shuffle a few more pieces.

 

[Buds17]

So do we play him 3 C or top 6 wing?

If the leafs play O'Reilly in the top 6 it would drop Jarnkrok out of the top 6 which would help a lot. I feel like O'Reilly is the perfect fit with Matthews and Bunting can really help Marner and Tavares.

But we could also use a 3C and more balance.

I'd prefer ROR playing in the top six (C or W). I don't see either him or Tavares moving to the wing on a full-time basis though.

 

[Rob Brown]

He looks good in Leaf blue.

Honestly this trade just gives us a lot of flexibility.

- ROR can easily slide into 3C and get 'easier' minutes, or play in more of a shutdown role, including the PK.
- Can also slide him up into a LW position, or have him and JT rotate LW/C as needed.
- Acciari is going to really help the 4th line, and can play C if needed and he's good on the draw.

 

[MAB1]

Another underrated aspect they haven't had since Kadri. If Tavares/Matthews miss time in the regular season, they can still trot out Tavares/Matthews-ROR for the top 6.

I hope they can keep him ala Giordano. I was pissed when they traded Kadri but this is a better fit than Kadri for the 3C.

 

[BlueBaron]

So do we play him 3 C or top 6 wing?

If the leafs play O'Reilly in the top 6 it would drop Jarnkrok out of the top 6 which would help a lot. I feel like O'Reilly is the perfect fit with Matthews and Bunting can really help Marner and Tavares.

But we could also use a 3C and more balance.

My guess is 3c. He's too slow to play with JT.

 

[TheGreatOne11]

Also.

He only JUST turned 32 and him and his wife chose Toronto. I think this looks good for a hometown discount in the future personally .

Watch out league, we're coming.

 

[hamzarocks]

He looks good in Leaf blue.

Honestly this trade just gives us a lot of flexibility.

- ROR can easily slide into 3C and get 'easier' minutes, or play in more of a shutdown role, including the PK.
- Can also slide him up into a LW position, or have him and JT rotate LW/C as needed.
- Acciari is going to really help the 4th line, and can play C if needed and he's good on the draw.

Kerfoots 3.5M can basically go right to RoR if he's serious about being in Toronto for a few years

 

[Puckstuff]

My guess is 3c. He's too slow to play with JT.

I think that too... but I like this a lot:

O'Reilly-Matthews-Nylander
Bunting-Tavares-Marner

however I'm good with him at 3C as well because we can leverage his face-off skills.

 

[Puckstuff]

Kerfoots 3.5M can basically go right to RoR if he's serious about being in Toronto for a few years

I was playing around with the cap and we can absolutely afford O'Reilly at around 3.5-4.0 per. Depending on performance and chemistry I think something like 3 years, 12 million would make sense. 4 x 4 might be ok but when it gets to the 5 x 5 range is where it gets scary for me as a decline is likely near.

 

[DopeyFish]

Another underrated aspect they haven't had since Kadri. If Tavares/Matthews misses time in the regular season, they can still trot out Tavares/Matthews-ROR for the top 6.

I hope they can keep him ala Giodano. I was pissed when they traded Kadri but this is a better fit than Kadri for the 3C.

yeah

Kadri was a bit more finesse as a forward despite being grindy. ROR is more of a power forward and that aligns with JT and Matthews who both just kind of power their way around the zone.

leafs now thicc down the middle

 

[BlueBaron]

I think that too... but I like this a lot:

O'Reilly-Matthews-Nylander
Bunting-Tavares-Marner

however I'm good with him at 3C as well because we can leverage his face-off skills.

I guess we need to see if Knies can claim that spot or if it will amount to chemistry. I like the idea of him being focused on shutting down the Kucherovs and the Pastas of the world.

 

[usernamezrhardtodo]

Can I just say, I’ve loved ROR as a player for years, always wanted him on my team, going back to Colorado days. Gives it his all, plays a 201 foot game, grit, desire, talent, character and leadership.

I hope he can show our current players that what they thought was 100% effort in previous playoffs was not even close. He can show them what it takes to get over the hump (hopefully) and break this mental block we have as a team. I would have preferred Toews over Kane for that reason had we gone back to the Chicago scenario. We just seem to wait for the shoe to drop instead of kicking the shins of whomever is holding the shoe. Maybe there is hope....maybe.