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.
- Zezel

Right? Give him a ladle full of minutes a night. Put him on the 2nd pp.

Exactly.

They will hope to be better, some young kids will get more of a chance. They may even want 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.
- Aetherial

I think if they are in the playoff hunt at the deadline, which they possibly could be, they still won't be buyers, they'll sell. And at that point they may have even more young guys from the Marlies who aren't that much of a downgrade to replace the flipped guys anyway. It'll be fun. They'll be a darkhorse team that still won't get ahead of itself. TITS.

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.
- weirdoh

i just have a better feel of some poster's sense of humour is all

in reality i am just an easy going guy who drinks beer and smokes pot.

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.
- Aetherial

thats why i think they will try to turn final year of contract vets into more assets... then give the kids a taste moving into next year

thinking the leafs will compete for a playoff spot is some serious dreaming. i have resigned myself to the fact they are most likely to finish bottom 10 again

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.
- weirdoh

Dozzer...even the crowd at the ACC disagrees with you

Dave Stubbs ‏@Dave_Stubbs 4m4 minutes ago
"We want Kessel!" chant goes up. Briefly. #WCH2016

Really hope there is a way to play Leivo and Brown. Both imo are deserving amd could be good players in this league.

Dozzer...even the crowd at the ACC disagrees with you

Dave Stubbs ‏@Dave_Stubbs 4m4 minutes ago
"We want Kessel!" chant goes up. Briefly. #WCH2016
- Symba007

well... good for them?

i just have a better feel of some poster's sense of humour is all

in reality i am just an easy going guy who drinks beer and smokes pot.
- Dozzer

Most don't get my humour.

As for the bolded part sounds like 90% of regs here.

thats why i think they will try to turn final year of contract vets into more assets... then give the kids a taste moving into next year

thinking the leafs will compete for a playoff spot is some serious dreaming. i have resigned myself to the fact they are most likely to finish bottom 10 again
- Dozzer

It is likely they are bottom 10.

But Zaitsev is a mature player and Rielly will be even better... throw in Matthews, Nylander, healthy JVR, Andersen (??) and another year under Babcock and they might end up pushing for a playoff spot.

I suspect bottom 10, I just really am not sure what will happen.

Most don't get my humour.

As for the billed part sounds like 90% of regs here.
- systemtool

Right now I'm drinking wine and smoking pot, but I have beer in the fridge.

lets get on topic here (or a topic lol)

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

Depends who he is playing with. 60-70 with Bozak or Kadri.

I think JVR, Matthews, Marner could be great line. 70 plus, if healthy, playing on that line for most of the season.

It is likely they are bottom 10.

But Zaitsev is a mature player and Rielly will be even better... throw in Matthews, Nylander, healthy JVR, Andersen (??) and another year under Babcock and they might end up pushing for a playoff spot.

I suspect bottom 10, I just really am not sure what will happen.
- Aetherial

The parity is so great in the NHL that they could be anywhere in there. I learned while cheering for a team to lose that it's actually pretty hard to finish dead last in the NHL, a lot of teams are pretty close from bottom to the wild card. The players they have going into this year might just make it impossible to beat Vancouver for that 30 spot.

It is likely they are bottom 10.

But Zaitsev is a mature player and Rielly will be even better... throw in Matthews, Nylander, healthy JVR, Andersen (??) and another year under Babcock and they might end up pushing for a playoff spot.

I suspect bottom 10, I just really am not sure what will happen.
- Aetherial

thats why i doubt you see as many rookies as some think to start the year... they will want to see how their top prospects perform before bringing in the secondary guys

too many rookies isnt necessarily a good thing... rookies tend to be streaky... and typically arent all that great in checking roles... hence why i see more vets than some assume on the team.

Right now I'm drinking wine and smoking pot, but I have beer in the fridge.
- Zezel

All the bases covered

All the bases covered
- systemtool

Depends who he is playing with. 60-70 with Bozak or Kadri.

I think JVR, Matthews, Marner could be great line. 70 plus, if healthy, playing on that line for most of the season.
- underhill14

i think we get there eventually tbh

just not right off the hop

- Zezel

And you still don't pretend we don't have a thing. That's why I like you and System. You guys know your urges. We's on the Down Low, big whoop?

It is likely they are bottom 10.

But Zaitsev is a mature player and Rielly will be even better... throw in Matthews, Nylander, healthy JVR, Andersen (??) and another year under Babcock and they might end up pushing for a playoff spot.

I suspect bottom 10, I just really am not sure what will happen.
- Aetherial

zaitsev has really impressed me... to the point i can see him jumping into the top pairing

its gonna be an interesting camp once everyone gets there

JvR to be traded for Rielly's partner

And you still don't pretend we don't have a thing. That's why I like you and System. You guys know your urges. We's on the Down Low, big whoop?
- weirdoh

thats why i doubt you see as many rookies as some think to start the year... they will want to see how their top prospects perform before bringing in the secondary guys

too many rookies isnt necessarily a good thing... rookies tend to be streaky... and typically arent all that great in checking roles... hence why i see more vets than some assume on the team.
- Dozzer

But it's a transition year, like you said, could opt to get the young guys some quick experience. Not all of them but a few more than you put in your line up.

Something like:
(This might be filled with some of my biased choices.)

JVR, Kadri, Nylander
Michalek, Matthews, Marner
Hyman, Bozak, Brown
Greening, Laich, Martin

Rielly, Zaitsev
Gardiner, Carrick
Hunwick, Polak
Marincin

Andersen
Enroth

Sub in Sosh/Greening and Leivo/Michalek after the TDD.

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.
- Aetherial

What if the plan is to play the young guys and get them experience?

zaitsev has really impressed me... to the point i can see him jumping into the top pairing

its gonna be an interesting camp once everyone gets there
- Dozzer

He looked very poised and sometimes dangerous on the rush. It was a real pleasant surprise to be honest.

I hope he doesn't have *too* great a season, or it will cost a lot to re-sign him.

Anyone know if he is a RFA or UFA at the end of the season?

He looked very poised and sometimes dangerous on the rush. It was a real pleasant surprise to be honest.

I hope he doesn't have *too* great a season, or it will cost a lot to re-sign him.

Anyone know if he is a RFA or UFA at the end of the season?
- Aetherial

Rfa