What happens when Simmonds comes back?

[Leaftors]

Thornton(Hyman) - matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - nylander
Hyman(simmonds) - engvall - mikheyev
Simmonds - Spezza - boyd

that’s what I’d roll with

 

[budzz]

Simmonds was playing pretty well before he got injured. Definitely missing his net-front on the pp. (Can't remember the stat, but isn't he like 2nd overall in PP goals in the league the last 5-6 years or something crazy?). I don't mind trying him with Tavares and Nylander.. makes some room for them. Also in last nights game they seemed to be targetting Tavares quite a bit, he got roughed up a few times. That doesn't happen with Simmonds on that line.

 

[hockeynorth]

Our power play gets even better!

 

[budzz]

Simmonds was playing pretty well before he got injured. Definitely missing his net-front on the pp. (Can't remember the stat, but isn't he like 2nd overall in PP goals in the league the last 5-6 years or something crazy?). I don't mind trying him with Tavares and Nylander.. makes some room for them. Also in last nights game they seemed to be targetting Tavares quite a bit, he got roughed up a few times. That doesn't happen with Simmonds on that line.

Sorry just checked my own stat - 4 overall in PP goals the past 7-10 years...
NHL Player Stats in Last 7 Seasons

 

[JT AM da real deal]

In playoffs Simmonds value will be completely obvious ... he will be on 1st team PP and he will help on one of our tope 2 lines to drive play ... but you will only see his value when ice shrinks and every inch of ice is tough tough tough ... guys like Kerfoot can't play in those environments ... i still think you will see Hyman on 1 line and Simmonds on other line when it counts ... you may even see Willy get move down lineup if he decides to float this year in playoffs ... hopefully we can add another big fast tough winger to mix and a VET depth defender for playoff flexibility

 

[zeke]

I'm guessing the playoffs lineup looks like:

Thornton - Matthews - Marner
XXXXXXXX - Tavares - Nylander
Mikheyev - Engvall - Hyman
Simmonds - Kerfoot - Spezza
​

With XXXXXXX = trade deadline add.

 

[Twine Tickler]

At this point the 2 lines you cannot break up are the Matthews line and this new 3rd line. So i'd go with this once simmer comes back

Thornton - Matthews - Marner
Kerf - JT - Styles
Soup - Envall - Hyman
Simmonds - Boyd - Spezza

the boys are absolutely buzzing right now, not sure I'd bring in a big name at the TDL. More likely just a better 13th forward swap in and out for injury or bad play

 

[therealkoho]

This is the lineup I'm thinking. Only change I'd make is switching Spezza and Boyd. The nice thing is, you have 3 guys on the 4th line who are centers and you could pretty easily swap out Kerfoot for any one of them and look fine. I know Vesey scored a few times tonight but he's been useless outside of killing penalties this year.

I'm partial to that line-up as well

Yeah for sure the 4th line is pretty much interchangeable, I've really liked Spezza on the wall, he's got such a hi IQ and has mastered how to disappear in the Ozone they cycle the puck, he also doesn't mind being 1st in on the forecheck and winning possession, when he sets up in the Gretzky position he creates some real tension for the D and the chances that will arise.

 

[cipher]

He likely gets his legs back on the 4th line and PP before eventually moving back to replace Kerfoot on the second line. If the 3rd line is still going as it did in Edmonton then Kerfoot has to be on the 4th line, although I wouldn't be surprised if Kerfoot has been traded by then.

Thornton - Matthews - Marner
Simmonds - Tavares - Nylander
Mikheyev - Engvall - Hyman
Kerfoot - Boyd - Spezza

 

[TorontoTrades]

I'm guessing the playoffs lineup looks like:

Thornton - Matthews - Marner
XXXXXXXX - Tavares - Nylander
Mikheyev - Engvall - Hyman
Simmonds - Kerfoot - Spezza
​

With XXXXXXX = trade deadline add.

Dont think we can afford anyone without moving anyone the other way.. unless its Dermott or somebody but financially it would be tough.

 

[Cecithepylon]

He likely gets his legs back on the 4th line and PP before eventually moving back to replace Kerfoot on the second line. If the 3rd line is still going as it did in Edmonton then Kerfoot has to be on the 4th line, although I wouldn't be surprised if Kerfoot has been traded by then.

Thornton - Matthews - Marner
Simmonds - Tavares - Nylander
Mikheyev - Engvall - Hyman
Kerfoot - Boyd - Spezza

That honestly looks like such a balanced lineup

 

[Aashir Mallik]

We become even guuder

 

[Critical13]

I'm guessing the playoffs lineup looks like:

Thornton - Matthews - Marner
XXXXXXXX - Tavares - Nylander
Mikheyev - Engvall - Hyman
Simmonds - Kerfoot - Spezza
​

With XXXXXXX = trade deadline add.

That line up is sexy. Kerfoot is much better than a 4th liner which just makes it all the more sweet.

 

[grapes55]

Just swap him and Vesey for now, he's been out of games for a while so it's probably best to ease him in there. I don't think I would put him on the Tavares line, he's great in front and a workhorse on the puck but he hasn't been too great 5-on-5 this year

 

[Carltons Cup]

Looking forward to get some additional grit back in the lineup.

 

[Notsince67]

On March 27th, Simmonds will have a chat with Draisaitl, asking whether he likes cheap shotting Marner.

 

[Puckstuff]

Here's what I like to see before the playoffs.

Simmonds back and in a 4th line role. I think he thrives as a utility player that can be a P.P specialist as the net front guy but also be a physical 4th liner as well.

The Hyman-Engvall-Mikheyev line needs to stay together. They can shut down other top lines. They average 6'3 - 215 pounds.... They are dominant, hold possession and all 3 have crazy speed despite being so tall. They are a nightmare for teams top units. They shut down players like Connor McDavid... Engvall has proven he can be a shut down guy and is better then Kerfoot in a couple areas of the game and is just a better fit if we're talking about a pure shutdown type of guy.

Bring up Robertson soon. He is ready and I think his speed will help out this roster. He may be able to give us Granlund type of goal production at 1/4 the cost. While Granlund is the veteran I would take Robertson at 1/4 the cost plus another player via trade. I hypothesis Robertson would be an ideal LW that can swap with Thornton when he gets tired mid game or just sit Thornton out every couple games.

Thornton - As stated above he needs to sit every few games. This is a 41 year old. Playing him 16-17 minutes a night and expecting good results is unrealistic IMO.

Trade for a heavy hitting left winger on retention with grit and scoring to boost the top 6. We really need someone who can cycle the puck and help J.T and William. I think Dustin Brown or Getzlaf at 50 % would be good options that shouldn't break the bank. Brown or Getzlaf would help the top 6 a lot serving as another veteran and be that Hyman type of player in terms of being good at cycling the puck. While their not as young as Hyman they can still throw the body and contribute offensively.


Thornton-Matthews-Marner
Getzlaf-Tavares-Nylander
Hyman-Engvall-Mikheyev
Kerfoot-Spezza-Simmonds
Robertson

With Robertson rotating in with Thornton and Spezza.

 

[Nylander88]

Simmonds gets his feet wet again on the fourth line until he's ready to have a larger role again and feeling his game. He played much better when elevated into the top 9. Based on what I think is realistic and what I'd like to see:

Thornton-Matthews-Marner
Nylander-Tavares-Simmonds
Hyman-Kerfoot-Mikheyev
Vesey/Galchenyuk-Engvall-Spezza

Vesey has recently began contributing again, so I'm not sure they take him out, as they didn't take him out when he was providing little to nothing. Galchenyuk has looked like an NHLer stuck in the AHL since he got there. But this is what I'd go with.

 

[Ciao]

Well, one thing that's almost certain is that when Simmonds comes up someone has to go down -- unless there's another LTIR in the meantime.

Right now, there's no one else left on LTIR, and there's not enough cap room to bring his salary back onto the roster without clearing cap room by sending another player down.

My guess is that Travis Boyd will be the odd-man out. He will now have to clear waivers, and I think he has played well enough that he could possibly be claimed at his salary level.

The only other one I would think of is Vesey, but I think that's a real stretch.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Well, one thing that's almost certain is that when Simmonds comes up someone has to go down -- unless there's another LTIR in the meantime.

Right now, there's no one else left on LTIR, and there's not enough cap room to bring his salary back onto the roster without clearing cap room by sending another player down.

My guess is that Travis Boyd will be the odd-man out. He will now have to clear waivers, and I think he has played well enough that he could possibly be claimed at his salary level.

The only other one I would think of is Vesey, but I think that's a real stretch.

Couldn’t the Leafs just send Sabourin down?

 

[Confucius]

What happens when Simmonds comes back?

It will be time to pay the Piper.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Well, one thing that's almost certain is that when Simmonds comes up someone has to go down -- unless there's another LTIR in the meantime.

Right now, there's no one else left on LTIR, and there's not enough cap room to bring his salary back onto the roster without clearing cap room by sending another player down.

My guess is that Travis Boyd will be the odd-man out. He will now have to clear waivers, and I think he has played well enough that he could possibly be claimed at his salary level.

The only other one I would think of is Vesey, but I think that's a real stretch.

We can run 13 forwards 6 defensemen and 2 goalies and not have to waive Boyd or Vesey.

 

[ShaneFalco]

 

[smitty10]

He'll step in on the 4th line for Vesey and play on the #1 PP as a net front presence like he was before his injury. Like Hyman, he'll funnel through the lineup depending on how other guys are playing.

I believe Kerfoot will be moved as part of a trade to bring in a top 6 winger. He's a guy we can do without while the new player potentially quarantines and fits the bill salary wise to be moved out.

Our lineup come playoff time will be:

Thornton-Matthews-Marner
XXXXX-Tavares-Nylander
Hyman-Engvall-Mikheyev
Simmonds-Spezza-Boyd

 

[Ciao]

He'll step in on the 4th line for Vesey and play on the #1 PP as a net front presence like he was before his injury. Like Hyman, he'll funnel through the lineup depending on how other guys are playing.

I believe Kerfoot will be moved as part of a trade to bring in a top 6 winger. He's a guy we can do without while the new player potentially quarantines and fits the bill salary wise to be moved out.

Our lineup come playoff time will be:

Thornton-Matthews-Marner
XXXXX-Tavares-Nylander
Hyman-Engvall-Mikheyev
Simmonds-Spezza-Boyd

Anyone in mind?