Mike Augello: The never ending pursuit of a 4th line C, Dion’s decline; Leafs vs. Habs

First. Screw the Habs!

Haven't been around much this season. Read through the last thread quickly.

Condolences to Sloppy's family. Sad to hear.

Go Leafs Go. Habs can eat a Costco sized sack of Richards.

Tell them to trade for Nate Thompson. He's a great 4th liner who also kills penalties and is great in the face-off circle. He makes 1.6 mil but only for the remainder of this year and I'm sure he would come for a much later draft pick than a 2nd rounder. Plus I'm sure the Kings don't mind eating some salary since he is only signed through the rest of this season

4th line C should be such a non issue.

Not sure what you were expecting out of Brian Boyle and Tomas Plekanec. I though both did their job. Plekanec was useless during the the season after the trade, but was decent in the playoffs.

4th line C should be such a non issue.
- RogerRoeper

Someone said this before about switching it around..Bring Moore up..

Not sure what you were expecting out of Brian Boyle and Tomas Plekanec. I though both did their job. Plekanec was useless during the the season after the trade, but was decent in the playoffs.
- VT001

It made more sense the past 2 years. Now we have Tavares, 4th line shouln't matter as much.

So much for the Blues selling off...

Tonight the Habs heighteen wheeler go off a le cliff

It made more sense the past 2 years. Now we have Tavares, 4th line shouln't matter as much.
- RogerRoeper

Getting better matters.

Will they spend a 2nd to improve that area this year? Probably not. But it wont take much to improve over the Goat. A mid round pick brings an improvement greatly.

It does matter. Having Kucherov and Stamkos ripping apart the 4th line in TB wont be fun.

4-1 Leafs!

So much for the Blues selling off...
- AdamFrench

I picked them to win the cup, so at least they are making me look better.

That team is way too good to have been a bottom feeder for half a season.

So Johnsson is playing for some reason again on the 4th line. He is also playing his off-wing.
Is Babcock on crack?

Colorado was absolutely killing the Islanders in OT and they lost.

Getting better matters.

Will they spend a 2nd to improve that area this year? Probably not. But it wont take much to improve over the Goat. A mid round pick brings an improvement greatly.

It does matter. Having Kucherov and Stamkos ripping apart the 4th line in TB wont be fun.
- Santo_44

If Kucherov and Stamkos are ripping apart our 4th line, then that is on Babcock. The leafs have 2 top lines, and a 3rd line that many teams would love as their 2nd.

Come playoffs the Matthews/Tavares lines should be eating up 20 minutes each, then Kadri coming in at least at 15. The 4th line should be glued to the bench the majority of the time.

Could they upgrade? Sure, but even with no upgrade, if the leafs lose a series because the other teams top lines rip apart our 4th, then that is major failure on Babcock's part.

If Kucherov and Stamkos are ripping apart our 4th line, then that is on Babcock. The leafs have 2 top lines, and a 3rd line that many teams would love as their 2nd.

Come playoffs the Matthews/Tavares lines should be eating up 20 minutes each, then Kadri coming in at least at 15. The 4th line should be glued to the bench the majority of the time.

Could they upgrade? Sure, but even with no upgrade, if the leafs lose a series because the other teams top lines rip apart our 4th, then that is major failure on Babcock's part.
- VT001

The 4th line has to be played. You don’t just run 3 lines all playoffs...it’s brutal enough on the players to play this long of a season.

If the Leafs make the 2nd round and face TB then when the 4th line goes out Babcock has 0 control over matchups.

Lindholm and the goat are not good. They will get ripped apart and there will be a lot off people on here complaining about Babcock. But the reality is that he has to play them. And when he will they will get ripped to shreds.

Sandin is back for the Marlies today finally.

I picked them to win the cup, so at least they are making me look better.

That team is way too good to have been a bottom feeder for half a season.
- RogerRoeper

Jake Allen has been atrocious. Binnington is saving their season.

Great goaltending can make bad too look good, but a poor goalie can sink a good team.

Remember when the title was more along the lines of the leafs never ending pursuit for a top line center? Come playoff time I'd just want to see all three of our centers getting 20 min of ice time.

Marincin is still terrible with the Marlies.

The 4th line has to be played. You don’t just run 3 lines all playoffs...it’s brutal enough on the players to play this long of a season.

If the Leafs make the 2nd round and face TB then when the 4th line goes out Babcock has 0 control over matchups.

Lindholm and the goat are not good. They will get ripped apart and there will be a lot off people on here complaining about Babcock. But the reality is that he has to play them. And when he will they will get ripped to shreds.
- Santo_44

Top lines play close to if not more then 20 minutes come playoffs. The leafs have 2. Kadri is already averaging 16 minutes. Do you expect that our top players minutes will decrease in the playoffs?

Our 4th line should be on the ice for about 6 minutes, in a regular playoff game with the 3 lines we have. Just because he doesn't have last change, doesn't mean he has no control. He make sure the 4th line is out only with the top pairing d to minimise any damage. He can make sure he is changing them on the fly when the Stamkos line comes off. Will there be times they get caught on, sure. But if that happens enough times then, yes it will be 100% on Babcock.

The 4th line has to be played. You don’t just run 3 lines all playoffs...it’s brutal enough on the players to play this long of a season.

If the Leafs make the 2nd round and face TB then when the 4th line goes out Babcock has 0 control over matchups.

Lindholm and the goat are not good. They will get ripped apart and there will be a lot off people on here complaining about Babcock. But the reality is that he has to play them. And when he will they will get ripped to shreds.
- Santo_44

Serious. People saying like omg brah we have two top centres, just play three lines all playoffs, easy peasy. People need to put down the XBOX controller or put fatigue levels back on when the play. Yeah the Leafs top six is good but it's still a hockey team.

Serious. People saying like omg brah we have two top centres, just play three lines all playoffs, easy peasy. People need to put down the XBOX controller or put fatigue levels back on when the play. Yeah the Leafs top six is good but it's still a hockey team.
- Zezel

Yes and no...gilmour used to play 25 plus min a game..sometimes 30.