Line Combos: The Powerplay. What to do?

[Rielly4]

Great.

The question was "what to do" and I provided my solution.

I meant with our current group...Not anyone outside the org.

 

[Rielly4]

Stacking the unit is not a bad option. Kadri net front wouldn't necessarily be a bad option. It would definitely be fun to watch.

Kadri would probably have more balls then JVR when it comes to taking beatings out front and he definitely has the same soft hands to tip pucks and would be a great option donwlow when Marner wants to pass to him.

 

[The Iceman]

Stacking the unit is not a bad option. Kadri net front wouldn't necessarily be a bad option. It would definitely be fun to watch.

Kadri would probably have more balls then JVR when it comes to taking beatings out front and he definitely has the same soft hands to tip pucks and would be a great option donwlow when Marner wants to pass to him.

JVR didn't/doesn't lack any courage in front of the net. Dude is a beast in the crease. As good as any in the NHL.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

Brown will be given PP time ahead of Kap or AJ I think. He is a better playmaker and managment are going to want to see how he produces at an NHL level if given proper offensive usage before his next contract.

I feel like Brown will play one of the walls on the 2nd unit with Nylander on the other. Don't think Babcock will stack the 1st unit

 

[diceman934]

Our first unit will see Mathews in for Bozak on the left side and perhaps a net front presence of kappy in an umbrella spread like we played last year. If we move to a more umbrella stacked set up we will need a bigger body net front.

Our first pp unit starts with Marner and Mathews this coming season as Mathews is a pure shooter and Marner controls the Pp from the right wall adding Mathews on the left wall will open up our options more then with Bozak as Mathews is a shooter who can also pass. The last player who is the low man on the right side is the only position to fill.

 

[deletethis]

Just having Komarov off of it will help

9th in PP ice time per game among forwards (51:41, , 42 seconds PP per game), 11th in PP ice time per game among forwards. Higher "PP team goal for" per minute of ice time than Matthews, Marleau, Nylander, Brown, even Gardiner.

Go figure, Komarov wasn't an issue with the PP after all.

 

[deletethis]

A threatening shot from the point.

That's all.

That pretty much doesn't exist any longer as a major threat on the PP. No defenseman in the NHL had more than 7 PPG this past season.

 

[deletethis]

Brown will get more PP time but it's Johnsson who will be promoted to major PP time over Brown. If Leivo stays and gets in the lineup, he'll play more on the PP than Brown because the PP plays to Leivo's strengths as a player.

 

[Mess]

Even Hyman will be an upgrade over Komarov, so even in the worst case, we improve.

I really hope Babcock uses Kapanen & Johnsson on the powerplay.

Johnsson - Matthews - Marner
Rielly - Nylander

Marleau - Kadri - Hyman?/Brown?
Gardiner - Kapanen

Kadri has lead the Leafs in PPG with 12 goals in both 2016-17 and 2017-18 so the likelihood he is demoted to the 2nd PP unit with limited ice time is not very likely a move Babcock would make. IMO

Kadri -- Marner and Rielly would remain from last years PP#1 unit with Matthews replacing Bozak and Marleau likely replacing JVR. This particularly makes sense if Marleau -- Kadri and Marner continue as an ES line as they did last year so they all come out as a PP unit as well so Babs only has to impact 1 other ES line by tossing Matthews out there with them.

If Willie is moved to C and he plays the same PP position as Marner then his 3rd line Johnsson -- Nylander and Kapanen would be tossed out on the #2PP unit together with a Dman (Gardiner) and 1 more forward likely Brown/Leivo.

 

[Mess]

Leafs PP units will depend on primarily how Nylander is used next year as #1RW with Matthews or #3C on his own line, because 5v5 ES lines will determine availability of players.

If its
Hyman -- Matthews --Brown
Marleau -- Kadri -- Marner
Johnsson -- Nylander -- Kapanen

Then Kadri trio will form PP unit #1 and Nylander trio will form PP unit #2 with Matthews added to either as desired with his linemates Hyman and Brown being #1PK unit players.

 

[BM14]

That pretty much doesn't exist any longer as a major threat on the PP. No defenseman in the NHL had more than 7 PPG this past season.

I don't think you understand what the threat of that shot does for the the rest of the PP.