Why did Keefe break up Matthews and Marner?

[SeanMoneyHands]

The chemistry between the two is so good, why did he split them up? Is it to get more balance in the top two lines? Though Marner has great chemistry with Tavares and Nylander has great chemistry with Matthews. They’re pretty much interchangeable no?

Will Matthews and Marner be reunited for the playoffs?

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[ZEBROA]

The chemistry between the two is so good, why did he split them up? Is it to get more balance in the top two lines? Though Marner has great chemistry with Tavares and Nylander has great chemistry with Matthews. They’re pretty much interchangeable no?

Will Matthews and Marner be reunited for the playoffs?

I dont remember, but i think they played bad (most Matthews) or the Tavares line was like a forth line. Think people wanted a change 5-10 games before it happened.

Could be interesting with a Nylander/Marner switch. But not yet.

 

[sittler rules!!!]

The chemistry between the two is so good, why did he split them up? Is it to get more balance in the top two lines? Though Marner has great chemistry with Tavares and Nylander has great chemistry with Matthews. They’re pretty much interchangeable no?

Will Matthews and Marner be reunited for the playoffs?

With the arrival of ROR and JT switching to the wing. I can see Marner and Nylander switching. Now if Kniess comes in and looks as good as they say he is, might be worth a nickel to play him with Marner and Matthews for a bit, see if they gel. Move Bunting down to 3rd line, where he really should be.
Kneiss Matthews Marner
JT ROR Nylander
Bunting Engvall Jarnrok
ZAR Kampf Accairi

Trade Kerfoot , Robertson and Sandin for Chychren (if doable)
Just a though

 

[Notsince67]

The chemistry between the two is so good, why did he split them up? Is it to get more balance in the top two lines? Though Marner has great chemistry with Tavares and Nylander has great chemistry with Matthews. They’re pretty much interchangeable no?

Will Matthews and Marner be reunited for the playoffs?

Willy & Tavares were not good defensively. Balance.

 

[ACC1224]

Tavares needed more help than Matthews did.
It'll be Matthews turn for help again soon.

 

[Zybalto]

Keefe also broke them up last season for a while before putting them back together and then couldn't separate them again as they were arguably the best line in hockey the rest of the way.

This season, the Leafs went on that huge winning streak with them on different lines so it didn't make sense to kill that chemistry.

Pretty much the standard juggle lines if the team isn't winning and roll with them if they are flying high.

 

[ER89]

Tavares needed more help than Matthews did.
It'll be Matthews turn for help again soon.

The fact that any of our 11m players need help boggles my mind.

 

[DarkKnight]

I thought Matthews was off and they needed to mix it up.

 

[Dekes For Days]

It seems they wanted to give the top two lines a bit more balance in quality. It was likely going to be temporary, but we started winning a bunch.
I imagine they'll still go back at some point, as Bunting-Matthews-Marner is probably the best line in hockey, and safer to match against Tampa's top line, but we know that works, so may as well build chemistry through the season with other combinations.

 

[LeafEgo]

Tavares needed more help than Matthews did.
It'll be Matthews turn for help again soon.

Basically this. It looks like Marner is what ROR needed to get going this season as well. He's really got his work cut out for him.

 

[Peasy]

Beginning of the season Matthews and Marner weren't clicking, neither were jt and Willy. Keefe switched them up and the team started playing better

 

[hotpaws]

Mitch was switched to carry Tavares .

 

[TakeTheBody]

Matthews has brought the best out of Styles. Marner brings out the best in JT. Let it go.

 

[ShaneFalco]

They need to do something when this line fails to clcik in the playoffs. I think it's wise to try other combinations

 

[cupcrazyman2]

With the arrival of ROR and JT switching to the wing. I can see Marner and Nylander switching. Now if Kniess comes in and looks as good as they say he is, might be worth a nickel to play him with Marner and Matthews for a bit, see if they gel. Move Bunting down to 3rd line, where he really should be.
Kneiss Matthews Marner
JT ROR Nylander
Bunting Engvall Jarnrok
ZAR Kampf Accairi

Trade Kerfoot , Robertson and Sandin for Chychren (if doable)
Just a though

Moving Bunting to the 3rd line makes too much sense.lol
I have always thought that 's where he should be.

 

[sxvnert]

It forces both players to play a 200ft game. Together they act/play like they're auditioning for the globetrotters.

 

[Craig Button]

Because Matthews needs to learn how to be like Marner and be able to make everyone play better

 

[Mess]

The answer lies in the +/- stats for Matthews and Tavares.

Tavares is not a responsible 2-way centre and his +/- sinks below Zero when not accompanied by Marner to both assist him offensively and insulate him defensive, so Leafs are not pulling as many pucks out of their own net as a result of the switch.

Even with Marner, Tavares is still just a +1 while Matthews without him is still a +21.

 

[Craig Button]

Matthews has brought the best out of Styles. Marner brings out the best in JT. Let it go.

No no no.

Will Ny the Stylin’ Guy did that all by himself. If anything Matthews has been bringing him down.

 

[Dekes For Days]

The answer lies in the +/- stats for Matthews and Tavares.

The answer never lies with +/-. It's a horrible stat that often paints an inaccurate picture - as it does here.

 

[michi510]

I love Matthews but for me, it shouldn’t matter who he plays with, Marner or not.

He should have enough talent to be able to drive a line himself. You get paid to be a top performer and want to be paid amongst the best on your next contract, go be a difference maker and carry your line.

He does seem off this year, maybe from the injury. I can give him the benefit of the doubt regular season.

However, he needs to be a difference maker come playoffs. Willy is on his line… No excuses

 

[Oscar Peterson]

The answer never lies with +/-. It's a horrible stat that often paints an inaccurate picture - as it does here.

+/- is a bad stat, but no way that you think Matthews and Tavares are in the same echelon as defensive players?

Matthews and Marner are far superior defensively to Tavares and Nylander.

 

[Dekes For Days]

+/- is a bad stat, but no way that you think Matthews and Tavares are in the same echelon as defensive players?
Matthews and Marner are far superior defensively to Tavares and Nylander.

Defensively, Matthews = Marner > Tavares > Nylander.

 

[Oscar Peterson]

Defensively, Matthews = Marner > Tavares > Nylander.

Agreed.
I wouldn't make the point using +/- but I'm pretty sure Mess was just saying that we're spreading out the players this way so that we don't have a defensively liable 2nd line.

 

[acrobaticgoalie]

The answer never lies with +/-. It's a horrible stat that often paints an inaccurate picture - as it does here.

The answer never lies with +/-. It's a horrible stat that often paints an inaccurate picture - as it does here.

I agree that +/- isn't the most useful stat but I would say it's pretty telling when both years that Marner and Tavares were together that they've been a plus and 2 out of the 3 yrs that Tavares was with Willy, they were a minus.