Marleau is engaging in puck battles and playing both ends of the ice at least. Not quite the same as last year but then also Kadri seems utterly confused and lost a bit in his game from last year too. I think the thing there is the Marleau-Kadri-Kap line works the best because Marleau covers defensively well and is sort of the vet presence. Kap though right now especially needs to be up with Matthews line and Nylander just is not engaged at all right now which sucks. Kadri struggling is not going to help get Nylander going either.

Thinking Babs just needs to bagskate Willy for a while and ride him hard, piss him off.
- Roadrunner75

... I'm perhaps confused by what's expected. Nylander has never been a D first guy. He rushed the puck. Skated well. Had a couple of decent chances. He was mildly interfered with and didn't fight through it, but if he does, he's likely penalized.

I guess I didn't feel he was not engaged.

AHL?
- PatC80

Traded for another prospect?

Matthews sucked tonight.
















(kidding, I thought he looked fantastic out there this evening, even if he didn't get on the scoresheet)

Matthews sucked tonight.
















(kidding, I thought he looked fantastic out there this evening, even if he didn't get on the scoresheet)
- Aetherial

He needs to not be playing with Kapanen and Johnsson as I don't think they compliment his game very well.

Hopefully as we head into March and April Nylander and Hyman are back with him. Johnsson and Kapanen need to be further down the lineup. This idea that Kapanen can easily replace Nylander in future is incorrect imo.

He needs to not be playing with Kapanen and Johnsson as I don't think they compliment his game very well.

Hopefully as we head into March and April Nylander and Hyman are back with him. Johnsson and Kapanen need to be further down the lineup. This idea that Kapanen can easily replace Nylander in future is incorrect imo.
- walshyleafsfan

I like the idea of Matthews playing with Hyman and Nylander again.
Move Marleau to the Tavares-Marner line and put Kapanen with Kadri and Johnsson.

I think we need all players firing at once, even once this season, before we pass judgement:

October: best players awesome, Johnsson's poop, Nylander hold-out, Kapanen big surprise. Kadri decent.

November: Matthews hurt, Johnsson better, Nylander still a hold-out, Kapanen playing well. Kadri poop.

December: Matthews back, on a tear, Johnsson solid, Nylander back and poop, Kapanen cooling off. Hyman hurt. Ennis hurt. Kadri poop.

January: Matthews cooled off a bit, Johnsson cooled off, Kapanen cooled off, Nylander still poop, Hyman back. Kadri poop.

Basically, only Marner and Tavares have been really dangerous consistently all year (and Rielly too), with Matthews a short distance behind.

Asking for all lines to be hot at once is a bit much, but can we at least have two going before we trade everyone?

People who have given up on Willy make me lol. If Weirdoh were here, he'd lol too.
- Zezel

Hyman making more of an impact tonight than overpaid-ander has in the past several weeks

I've been a practicing patience, but Nylander is demoted to the 4th? I've thought he had looked good.
- Monkeypunk

Nope.

It’s amazing how a 4-0 game can look so close, and a 4-2 game can be so one-sided.

Hyman making more of an impact tonight than overpaid-ander has in the past several weeks
- Fakepartofme

I love Hyman but lol

I love Hyman but lol
- Zezel

Hyman was affective on the ice tonight.
Overpaid-ander hasnt been.

Thats all.

Hyman was affective on the ice tonight.
Overpaid-ander hasnt been.

Thats all.
- Fakepartofme

Nylander will be fine. He just needs to watch some hunting channel with Babs.

Nylander will be fine. He just needs to watch some hunting channel with Babs.
- Zezel

And listen to country music apparently

And listen to country music apparently
- Fakepartofme

They should tell him he has to watch hunting and listen to country in Babs truck during all of his free time until he starts scoring, he'll light it up.

Matthews still injured, or needs another LW to play with him?
I guess it's better that he is going through his annual 10 game slump now instead of during the playoffs..
- plantheparade

He had a goal and two assists the game before Nashville....

... I'm perhaps confused by what's expected. Nylander has never been a D first guy. He rushed the puck. Skated well. Had a couple of decent chances. He was mildly interfered with and didn't fight through it, but if he does, he's likely penalized.

I guess I didn't feel he was not engaged.
- Monkeypunk

He didn't get points and since most people on here don't pay enough attention to notice the little things that happen during a game and only remember the one bad play they seem to think some players are just always bad.

Maybe wouldn't be a bad idea to sit William down for a game?
- PatC80

someone (that would me) suggested this after the last game against the Preds ... and was ridiculed (I didn't cry though )

4th line or pressbox

...

and please stop trying to trade Kapanen...

the logical to move is Holdoutlander... go for Paryako or Hamilton who are COST CONTROLLED for a period of time.

Nylander cant be traded till his 3rd year because of the $20 mil upfront pay.

Gardiner needs to be traded for a 1st rounder. Not worth repeating the JvR mistake.

Kapanen might be kept but if a team offer sheets him 4 mil or so, Leafs will sht the bed and only get a 2nd rounder as a return. Trading him might be the thing to do, if he doesnt sign before the deadline.

This has more to do with asset and cap management, little with team performance. Also frees up space for a top 2 Dman if Dubas wants to pull that trigger.

There needs to be two trades for defenseman to improve this lineup and they are

To toronto: Pietrangelo
To St Louis: Johnsson, liligren and a 1st

To carolina: kappinen
To toronto: brett pesce

Both kap and johnsson are both UFAs, and will likely not be affordable for toronto in the off season. This makes the leafs blue line much deeper

Rielly-Pietrangelo
Gardnier-Pesce
Dermont-Hainsey

When Jake and Hainsey dont resign in the off season, the two Sweeds, Holl, Sandin and Igor can all battle it out for the final spot

Up front there would be 3 deep lines, then for the love of god add some muscle on the 4th line

JT-Marner-Hyman
Matthews-Kap-marleau
Kadri-brown-lindholm

Make it happen Dubas!!
- Bradbaker17

you misspelled “nylander”

Nylander cant be traded till his 3rd year because of the $20 mil upfront pay.

Gardiner needs to be traded for a 1st rounder. Not worth repeating the JvR mistake.

Kapanen might be kept but if a team offer sheets him 4 mil or so, Leafs will sht the bed and only get a 2nd rounder as a return. Trading him might be the thing to do, if he doesnt sign before the deadline.

This has more to do with asset and cap management, little with team performance. Also frees up space for a top 2 Dman if Dubas wants to pull that trigger.
- Buggy166

They can't sell at the deadline though, can't trade Gardiner unless he is being replaced. Otherwise they have to keep him even if he leaves in UFA because they have a legit shot at a Cup this year.

They can't sell at the deadline though, can't trade Gardiner unless he is being replaced. Otherwise they have to keep him even if he leaves in UFA because they have a legit shot at a Cup this year.
- Zezel

This

Deserves it right now. Pregame they were showing how he was not engaging, skating or being at all effective. He is struggling and honestly you want to have the guys going who are up to speed at this point. He has to earn his spot and pay at this point. Can't be coasting and not engaged like he has been.
- Roadrunner75

Melander spent plenty of time floating the past couple seasons too, only difference is the points showed up because he would get them in bunches.

This slump isn't unprecedented for him. It's just extra glaring because he sat out so long. If he signed 6x6 in September and started the season like this, it would simply be a slow start.

Man, I thought Nylander had a pretty damn good game last night.

Boy do you over-value the Leafs players, Neither of these trades would cause the Blues and Hurricanes to make those lopsided trades.
- islansjet

Yeah that's what everyone said when they found out karlsson was traded he returned less than either one of those trades.

Man, I thought Nylander had a pretty damn good game last night.
- Feeling Glucky?

But that doesn't fit the narrative.