Fits Babs model for constructing a line. Skill/Possession, skill/possession, grinder.

I got no issues with Hyman - he's a workhorse, although I do agree there may be better choices for the top 2 lines. Changes things up a bit as the Leafs higher % of attack is now off the rush, but who gets the puck when teams get sick of their stoopid possession game and force the dump in? Nylander is pretty adept at retrieving the puck with smarts and an active stick, but I don't mind more of a physical presence up front.

We sure are nitpicking this team before the team is even set, and before a reg season game.

Nice change.
- Woderwick

It is, and I love it.

There's so much depth now it's almost silly.

McDavid and Barzal suck.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

A little...

Bridge deal coming,

Nylander to Agent "so I have to pay you a commission for (frank)ing me out of money?"



- winsix

I can see a bridge deal too. Nylander wants to play... and if he doesn't get his money this year he'll play a couple more seasons and gain more leverage

Makes sense to me

He didn't benefit from him when he led Sweden to gold at the WHC and won tourney MVP.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

he made the Nhl, so i hope he can hockey.....im talking contact talks - with a little humour

new blog everyone

Then nylanders agent shakes his head and realizes "ha, its ennis and an ahler, nowhere near the talent of my player, this wont last long. Have a seat willie, theyll be calling"
- Fakepartofme

Worked out great for Trouba, he could have had a Long term deal at better money, now he's looking at a third bridge deal for less money and still under Jet control. Really smart financial planning.

They benefit from eachother.
- Fakepartofme

Bettman just read this...it's now a Pay Per View event.
- Woderwick

salary cap about to go up 20 million thanks to that revenue alone

Then nylanders agent shakes his head and realizes "ha, its ennis and an ahler, nowhere near the talent of my player, this wont last long. Have a seat willie, theyll be calling"
- Fakepartofme

Kap or Johnsson would look pretty nifty up there. I think there's more choices. Willy doesn't look to be on the "Power" side of this...at least not from where I'm sitting.

Only thing the Leafs may be thinking..."Are we going to hurt Willy's little feeling?"

salary cap about to go up 20 million thanks to that revenue alone
- daeth

Do you actually believe the leafs will have trouble scoring without him?
- Dozzer

No one said that.
But the leafs arent as good with ennis on the top line and nylander not playing.
Its thats simple.

Worked out great for Trouba, he could have had a Long term deal at better money, now he's looking at a third bridge deal for less money and still under Jet control. Really smart financial planning.
- winsix

Uh? Trouba will be getting a big pay raise and long contract after this.
You have no idea what nylander wants, dont pretend you do. None of us do. All we know is that nylander wanted a long term deal. Thats it.
So forget the nonsense about "smart financial planning". This could all be on the leafs for all we know.

I can see a bridge deal too. Nylander wants to play... and if he doesn't get his money this year he'll play a couple more seasons and gain more leverage

Makes sense to me
- Dozzer

Thats what i think will occur, nykander wanted long term, leafs wanted bridge to fit him in, until Marleau is gone.

Kap or Johnsson would look pretty nifty up there. I think there's more choices. Willy doesn't look to be on the "Power" side of this...at least not from where I'm sitting.

Only thing the Leafs may be thinking..."Are we going to hurt Willy's little feeling?"
- Woderwick

They could look good, but then it weakens our depth.

How important is retreving pucks when you can't finish and keep missing easy goals?
Hyman lacks the talent for a top 6 role on a team as deep as this.
- RogerRoeper

How improtant is puck retrieval when up you didn't retrieve

After game one Babcock was asked about chemistry of marner Tavares and Babcock makes a point to downplay that and pump hyman saying thre is a 3rd player on that line and he's doing all the retrieval. Except of the 3 goals scored by that line he literally had zero part in, wasn't even on ice for one of them.

How improtant is puck retrieval when up you didn't retrieve

After game one Babcock was asked about chemistry of marner Tavares and Babcock makes a point to downplay that and pump hyman saying thre is a 3rd player on that line and he's doing all the retrieval. Except of the 3 goals scored by that line he literally had zero part in, wasn't even on ice for one of them.
- burn

babcock is frustrating as (frank) sometimes

like, you don't even need to retrieve the puck if you control your zone entries properly. you simply have the puck and you keep it.

babcock is frustrating as (frank) sometimes
- daeth

Indeed.

I'm glad he's our coach, but that doesn't mean everything he does or says is gospel.

like, you don't even need to retrieve the puck if you control your zone entries properly. you simply have the puck and you keep it.
- daeth

This

How improtant is puck retrieval when up you didn't retrieve

After game one Babcock was asked about chemistry of marner Tavares and Babcock makes a point to downplay that and pump hyman saying thre is a 3rd player on that line and he's doing all the retrieval. Except of the 3 goals scored by that line he literally had zero part in, wasn't even on ice for one of them.
- burn

Hyman must have (frank)ed your wife.....man you're a tool.

Hyman must have (frank)ed your wife.....man you're a tool.
- Garnie

To hell with the facts.

To hell with the facts.
- burn

Fact: Hyman scored more goals 5v5 then Nylander last year, does all the dirty work and Willie shys away from the corners? Yet all you do is female dog about how he should be on line 4

Fact is youre a tool.

Fact: Hyman scored more goals 5v5 then Nylander last year, does all the dirty work and Willie shys away from the corners? Yet all you do is female dog about how he should be on line 4

Fact is youre a tool.
- Garnie

Babcock said he does the dirty work (except for fact he never touched the puck on any of the 3 goals his line scored) but because babs said so, so sheep lap it up.

I'm at the game right now, I don't have time for your nonsense

Babcock said he does the dirty work (except for fact he never touched the puck on any of the 3 goals his line scored) but because babs said so, so sheep lap it up.

I'm at the game right now, I don't have time for your nonsense
- burn

I"m not even talking about preseason...

You're the only 1 that talks nonsense. Matthews / Hyman / Nylander had a pretty good year but all you did was bash him...talk about nonsense.

I know you watch the games but you comment like you never watched a second.

How was the game?

I"m not even talking about preseason...

You're the only 1 that talks nonsense. Matthews / Hyman / Nylander had a pretty good year but all you did was bash him...talk about nonsense.

I know you watch the games but you comment like you never watched a second.

How was the game?
- Garnie

It was back and forth, kinda closer than the previous 3 which imo made it more interesting.