The problem as I see it is no matter how you look at it an overloaded powerplay is going to severely underutilize someone who should get #1 PP minutes. For this reason I think we will see a move back to 2 split units.
Tavares with Marner, Rielly and one of Johnsson/Kapanen as the basis of one.
Matthews with Nylander, Barrie and the other of Johnsson/Kapanen as the basis of two
Even time between units.
Pretty concerned with Kerfoot as 3rd line center honestly. His even strength points have been terrible and I don't see him getting much PP time, maybe some on the 2nd unit.
They signed Sparks around the same time they signed Petan. Opinions change. I don't think given his size and offensive production so far that he's tracking to be an NHL player. He seems like the classic all star at the AHL level but not good enough for the top-9 in the NHL or tough/defensive enough for line #4.Will be interesting to see who is the spare forward, and whether that is the player then traded or waived once Hyman returns. I can see where it might not be either Agostino or Petan who gets waived - should it come to that - since they each (reportedly for Agostino) have two year contracts.
If Dermott is out for the start of the season, I'd expect Harpur to figure into the mix (if he already isn't). IIRC, Borgman isn't eligible for waivers like the others he'd be in competition with. If he's with the team, I'd expect him to be in the lineup.
He is a Leaf for sure. His skill set is NHL he will get an opportunity in the top 6 to start the season if he shows well in preseason.Babcock did say that Mihkeyev would have a big role to play with the Leafs, but I wonder if that is more Babcock falling in love with his own voice and it was just verbal diarrhea or if he truly thinks Mihky has a chancy with the Leafs.
It opens up a lot of plays on the first PP, instead of one or two plays. You can use a one timer from the point, you can make a play in the middle, use Tavares as a back door, etc. That's what a loaded PP is. Put your elite talent on the ice at the same time, they should create an elite level PP most of the time. If you give most of your PP time to your top PP line, the 2nd PP won't be needed as much so, it wastes whoever you put there.
The main issue with loading up one PP line is that if they were just on the ice before the penalty, they will be very tired for the PP. So there's likely some juggling to accommodate that to a certain degree.
We just hired the PP coach of the Panthers last season and he did load up on the first PP from what I read. I think we will see a lot more of that.
They signed Sparks around the same time they signed Petan. Opinions change. I don't think given his size and offensive production so far that he's tracking to be an NHL player. He seems like the classic all star at the AHL level but not good enough for the top-9 in the NHL or tough/defensive enough for line #4.
Xavier Laflamme.
I think Sandin and Liljegren are tracking pretty well. To fill in for an injured Dermott over a small sample size I'd prefer to get a look at one of them. The way they're heading they could end the season as a roster players.I'd like to know how many Marlies games Mirtle has seen to say "Liljegren is not ready" when Dubas said himself they were looking to call him up before his injury and before he totally dominated the playoffs
It opens up a lot of plays on the first PP, instead of one or two plays. You can use a one timer from the point, you can make a play in the middle, use Tavares as a back door, etc. That's what a loaded PP is. Put your elite talent on the ice at the same time, they should create an elite level PP most of the time. If you give most of your PP time to your top PP line, the 2nd PP won't be needed as much so, it wastes whoever you put there.
The main issue with loading up one PP line is that if they were just on the ice before the penalty, they will be very tired for the PP. So there's likely some juggling to accommodate that to a certain degree.
We just hired the PP coach of the Panthers last season and he did load up on the first PP from what I read. I think we will see a lot more of that.
He is a Leaf for sure. His skill set is NHL he will get an opportunity in the top 6 to start the season if he shows well in preseason.
Last season Leafs used Matthews Tavares and Kadri on PP1 . C1, C2, C3.
I wonder if Babs was worried to gas those 3 on an extended PP would then leave the team vunerable icing C4 probably against the oppositions top line.
This will not be a problem this season so go for the extended PP1 and don't worry so much about what happens next.
I really want the Leafs to break up that useless top heavy PP1 unit, the game plan was stop the 1st PP unit and you probably will have success on the PK vs the Leafs.
I have no idea if Barrie or Rielly will be the top PP dman so I'm not going to number it #1 and #2. I'm making the assumption that the Leafs will stick with one d on each unit. So that puts Rielly on one unit and Barrie on the other.
If I look at the people we have, I think there are 4 spots open on the PP. I think Kerfoot, Johnsson, Kapanen, Moore, Spezza, Mikheyev, Bracco will all have (might have?) an opportunity to win a spot on the PP.
PP unit
Center - Tavares
Wing - Mitch
Open
Open
D-man - Rielly
PP unit
Center - Matthews
Wing - Nylander
Open
Open
Dman - Barrie
Mikheyev is a a wild card for me. His preseason is the most interesting to watch. He could be a perfect fit in the top 6, providing speed, skill, vision, size. Playing with a Matthews or Tavares is a gift for this guy, he has to run with it though, he has to be at least a Kulemin level player, anything less is a wasted spot to me. Having Mathews/Nylander or Tavares/ Marner on your line, you should get 20/30/50 by default.
pull the goalieIt's a nice problem to have but it's also kinda unfortunate that with Barrie now in the mix we have 6 bonafide #1 powerplay quality guys and only 5 spots.
Matthews, Tavares, Marner, Nylander, Rielly, Barrie
You cannot have them all out on 1 unit. Someone is getting screwed in that setup.
Hoping Marchement & Harpur are given an opportunity early on.
Johnsson - Matthews - Nylander
Micheyev - - Tavares - - Marner
Moore - - - Kerfoot - - - Kapanen
Marchement - Spezza - Gauthier/Petan/Agostino/Shore
Rielly - - - - - Ceci
Muzzin - - - Barrie
Harpur - Borgman/Liljigren/Marincin
Right now I want to see:
Johnsson-Tavares-Marner
Mikheyev-Matthews-Nylander
Petan-Kerfoot-Kapanen
Moore-Spezza-Anybody
To start the year
I really want the Leafs to break up that useless top heavy PP1 unit, the game plan was stop the 1st PP unit and you probably will have success on the PK vs the Leafs.
I have no idea if Barrie or Rielly will be the top PP dman so I'm not going to number it #1 and #2. I'm making the assumption that the Leafs will stick with one d on each unit. So that puts Rielly on one unit and Barrie on the other.
If I look at the people we have, I think there are 4 spots open on the PP. I think Kerfoot, Johnsson, Kapanen, Moore, Spezza, Mikheyev, Bracco will all have (might have?) an opportunity to win a spot on the PP.
PP unit
Center - Tavares
Wing - Mitch
Open
Open
D-man - Rielly
PP unit
Center - Matthews
Wing - Nylander
Open
Open
Dman - Barrie