I'd like to see JVR on a line with Matthews. He could hang around the crease and pick up the trash, like John Leclaire did, when playing with Lindros. We just need another talented, shooter on the other side. Legion of Doom 2.0. Connor Brown?
- PrinceLH

It seems to me like it's probably inevitable that Matthews will end up playing a bunch with JVR, although the line combos and PP units will change. I could just see Matthews and JVR being the defacto top line centre and winger sooner than later...I really like the idea of that combo a lot, a lot of skill and size there.

People say JVR doesn't crash and bang for a big man, but imo he's great at parking himself in the crease, protecting the puck and using his size and skill that way. Then you add Matthews who is some freak beast at 19.

what i would like to see as an opening day lineup (keep in mind I dont expect the leafs to be competitive his year and I am trying to emphasize deadline sell offs)

JVR Kadri Komarov
Michalek Matthews Nylander
Greening Bozak Marner
Martin Laich Leivo

Rielly Zaitsev
Gardiner Marincin
Hunwick Polak

Andersen

You think team USA wouldn't take Kessel over some of their scrubs if he was ready to play?
Surgery, even minor is booked at least a couple months prior, they knew he was a risk of not competing.
- sloppyseconds2

First round of players named long before that.

listen

kessel has a right to feel snubbed.. he was.

but instead of taking the high road.. maybe making the joke to some close friends privately for instance ... he put it out there... doesnt matter if he was right or wrong... putting it out there was just the wrong thing to do. it was in bad taste.

cliched as (frank) but two wrongs do not make a right.
- Dozzer

I have no problem with it. Tortarella said "they don't have enough skill" but that's not a slap in the face to the player that were there apparently, the sledge hockey guy rips them and nothing. Hull and modano?


Loved it. It was well deserved.

Matthews
Nylander
Marner
Rielly
Tim


Pretty damn excited

Matthews
Nylander
Marner
Rielly
Tim


Pretty damn excited
- weirdoh

Connolly?

what i would like to see as an opening day lineup (keep in mind I dont expect the leafs to be competitive his year and I am trying to emphasize deadline sell offs)

JVR Kadri Komarov
Michalek Matthews Nylander
Greening Bozak Marner
Martin Laich Leivo

Rielly Zaitsev
Gardiner Marincin
Hunwick Polak

Andersen
- Dozzer

Mackenzie say sosh and hyman and holland there for sure. Not all of mihalek laich and greening gonna make it.

I think zietzev and marincin switch (Rielly marinicin familiar with each other)

Carrick is without a doubt in the top six on day one.

Connolly?
- Dozzer

No clue, just seemed out of coincidence that the names went down in length rather nice

Matthews
Nylander
Marner
Rielly
Tim


Pretty damn excited
- weirdoh

It feels alien to be to looking forward to watching the Leafs with optimism rather than cringing and hoping somehow it works out, or cheering for them to lose.

It's been since the Sundin/Quinn years that the Leafs have really had something going on.

Also Andersen/Enroth...I trust ShannaLouCock on this one and some solid goaltending would be truly bizarre to have night in and night out. Imagine nights where Andersen stops the first shot of the game, and then Matthews scores. How (frank)ed up will that be?

Mackenzie say sosh and hyman and holland there for sure. Not all of mihalek laich and greening gonna make it.

I think zietzev and marincin switch (Rielly marinicin familiar with each other)

Carrick is without a doubt in the top six on day one.
- burn

i saw that... i just dont think babs will put that may rookies in the lineup at once

No clue, just seemed out of coincidence that the names went down in length rather nice
- weirdoh

i like the idea that the amount of letters in your name is what determines your importance

then again

that would be a lot of euro/russian top line players

lets get on topic here (or a topic lol)

JVR... predictions.. if healthy i see 70P as a very real possibility
- Dozzer

Seriously overrated.

i saw that... i just dont think babs will put that may rookies in the lineup at once
- Dozzer

I think the best players play. They ones that are going to adapt and excel in his system.... And I don't think that's polak hunwick laich mihalek

i like the idea that the amount of letters in your name is what determines your importance

then again

that would be a lot of euro/russian top line players
- Dozzer

If it was vowels, the fins would have won the tournament.

Seriously overrated.
- Aetherial

you dont think a 60P player can hit 70 with quality linemates for a full season?

he was on pace for 60 last year playing with scrubs

It feels alien to be to looking forward to watching the Leafs with optimism rather than cringing and hoping somehow it works out, or cheering for them to lose.

It's been since the Sundin/Quinn years that the Leafs have really had something going on.

Also Andersen/Enroth...I trust ShannaLouCock on this one and some solid goaltending would be truly bizarre to have night in and night out. Imagine nights where Andersen stops the first shot of the game, and then Matthews scores. How (frank)ed up will that be?
- Zezel

Marner has to be here right? I mean, he can't learn a damn thing being in O for another year. He'd learn more by practising and watching 70 games in the box then playing against kids. I mean, he goes back and all of sudden he turns into Vesey.

Goalie is all Lou. You can't not trust what that shady (frank) does in that aspect.

i like the idea that the amount of letters in your name is what determines your importance

then again

that would be a lot of euro/russian top line players
- Dozzer

Nope, not what I said at all. Stop using your powers as a "mod" to put words in my mouth.


Typical

you dont think a 60P player can hit 70 with quality linemates for a full season?

he was on pace for 60 last year playing with scrubs
- Dozzer

sadly, no, i don't.

I think the best players play. They ones that are going to adapt and excel in his system.... And I don't think that's polak hunwick laich mihalek
- burn

they wouldnt have signed polak if they didnt want a player like that in the lineup... they are already way to close to the max contract cap... the signing doesnt make sense otherwise

hunwick is a babs favorite

laich is the much needed veteran leadership

michalek could be a huge return if he has a good season

this is not "a compete" year.. this is the transition year... about a year ahead of schedule which is nice.

Nope, not what I said at all. Stop using your powers as a "mod" to put words in my mouth.


Typical
- weirdoh

believe me i have no interest in putting anything in your mouth

Marner has to be here right? I mean, he can't learn a damn thing being in O for another year. He'd learn more by practising and watching 70 games in the box then playing against kids. I mean, he goes back and all of sudden he turns into Vesey.

Goalie is all Lou. You can't not trust what that shady (frank) does in that aspect.
- weirdoh

All I can do is look at what Marner did to the OHL...he basically cut its head off and (frank)ed it in the neck stump with one hand tied behind his back. I know jack poop about junior hockey but holy (frank), I would have to bet five dollars he can handle the NHL in a sheltered role after that display.

believe me i have no interest in putting anything in your mouth
- Dozzer

lies

sadly, no, i don't.
- Aetherial

well... he has proven to be a 60P player... and considering his cap hit... thats (frank)ing great

they wouldnt have signed polak if they didnt want a player like that in the lineup... they are already way to close to the max contract cap... the signing doesnt make sense otherwise

hunwick is a babs favorite

laich is the much needed veteran leadership

michalek could be a huge return if he has a good season

this is not "a compete" year.. this is the transition year... about a year ahead of schedule which is nice.
- Dozzer

Exactly.

They will hope to be better, some young kids will get more of a chance. They may even aim to contend for a playoff spot.

I just don't think they will de-rail the "plan" for how to develop and build a team.

believe me i have no interest in putting anything in your mouth
- Dozzer

One of my favourite things on this site is when you pretend to be a totally different person when there's somebody else posting in here.