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

And they lost because they lacked depth.

And they lost because they lacked depth.
- Zezel

Right...they didn't have 2 centers that could play 22 min a night...and another one that could play 18.

And they lost because they lacked depth.
- Zezel

Depth is overrated, aaand injuries never happens in the playoffs

Depth is overrated, aaand injuries never happens in the playoffs
- 21peter

Glendenning couldn't replace our big 3 if they got injured.

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.
- VT001

Agreed.

This "we need to upgrade the fourth line or we're screwed in the playoffs" narrative is way overblown. It's like we're the only team that has a 4th line or something.

Do people honestly think our 4th line is that much worse than most other good teams?

If we can get an upgrade that doesn't cost much and won't hurt us down the line, then sure, go for it, but is it a huge deal and the make or break for this team's chances at success? (frank) no.

Oh no, our fourth line isn't perfect... Well our third line is likely one of the most dangerous in the league, and only a couple other teams can match our "2nd line", whichever you choose to label as such. This is much more important than the 4th line.

Agreed.

This "we need to upgrade the fourth line or we're screwed in the playoffs" narrative is way overblown. It's like we're the only team that has a 4th line or something.

Do people honestly think our 4th line is that much worse than most other good teams?

If we can get an upgrade that doesn't cost much and won't hurt us down the line, then sure, go for it, but is it a huge deal and the make or break for this team's chances at success? (frank) no.

Oh no, our fourth line isn't perfect... Well our third line is likely one of the most dangerous in the league, and only a couple other teams can match our "2nd line", whichever you choose to label as such. This is much more important than the 4th line.
- Thecakeisalie

I cant wait to see Moore on it permanently. I really do think he's going to score a really big goal in the playoffs.

Depth is overrated, aaand injuries never happens in the playoffs
- 21peter

I don't understand why you wouldn't want to upgrade a weakness for the sake of a middling pick at this point.

Depth is overrated, aaand injuries never happens in the playoffs
- 21peter

But that mid round pick will do so well for the Growlers on their 3rd line in 2025

Glendenning couldn't replace our big 3 if they got injured.
- mykokes

That's obviously someone else's job. The depth fill in when the 4th liners and 3rd pairing guys needs to move up...

I don't understand why you wouldn't want to upgrade a weakness for the sake of a middling pick at this point.
- Zezel

2nd round picks arent middling though. We used two to get muzzin...and dermott is one of our top 4 dmen.

Ugh, let's not cough up second round picks for replacement level 4Cs, please and thank you.

Ennis is off IR now, Moore has played well enough that he could play 8 minutes a night and not cause any ulcers to the coaching staff.

So for center depth we have:

Tavares
Matthews
Kadri
Gauthier
Lindholm

And if we're totally desperate:
Marleau (3/4C)
Nylander (3/4C)

But that mid round pick will do so well for the Growlers on their 3rd line in 2025
- Santo_44

by a ~98.5% certainty, you're right

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

Why don't you take a look at other teams top lines that have won the cup the last couple of years before talking like you know everything.

Ovechkin over 20 minutes
Crosby 1st of the back to back over 20 minutes, 2nd 19.24
Toews over 20 minutes
Kopitar well over 20 minutes
Krejci over 20 minutes

The majority of teams have their top lines averaging over 20 minutes a night. I guess all those NHL coaches should stop playing XBOX and listen you.

Kadri is already averaging 16 minutes a game, Matthews over 18, and Tavares 19. Do you honestly believe that their time will go down in the playoffs?

Tonight the Habs heighteen wheeler go off a le cliff
- Zezel

I love you, Zez. You're simply the best.

oh

by a ~98.5% certainty, you're right
- 21peter

Some people act like a mid round pick is gold.

It’s poop. The loneliness that player is ever going to be usefully is so damn low.

Who cares if they deal a 4th round pick for depth. They will still have their 3rd,5th,6th,7th to pick from the garbage rounds

5-2 Habs..

Out of town scoreboard doing us no favours.

Some people act like a mid round pick is gold.

It’s poop. The loneliness that player is ever going to be usefully is so damn low.

Who cares if they deal a 4th round pick for depth. They will still have their 3rd,5th,6th,7th to pick from the garbage rounds
- Santo_44

And Dubas will turn that 3rd round pick into two 4th round picks.

Some people act like a mid round pick is gold.

It’s poop. The loneliness that player is ever going to be usefully is so damn low.

Who cares if they deal a 4th round pick for depth. They will still have their 3rd,5th,6th,7th to pick from the garbage rounds
- Santo_44

aaand you've got both your own and the Blues' 4th

Why don't you take a look at other teams top lines that have won the cup the last couple of years before talking like you know everything.

Ovechkin over 20 minutes
Crosby 1st of the back to back over 20 minutes, 2nd 19.24
Toews over 20 minutes
Kopitar well over 20 minutes
Krejci over 20 minutes

The majority of teams have their top lines averaging over 20 minutes a night. I guess all those NHL coaches should stop playing XBOX and listen you.

Kadri is already averaging 16 minutes a game, Matthews over 18, and Tavares 19. Do you honestly believe that their time will go down in the playoffs?
- VT001

Ovi played over 20 mins. That’s fine and dandy. Completely irrelevant to what is being argued here. And that’s how much the 4th line will play.

Their 3 lowest played players(who played
more than 3 games)

12 mins
11 mins
9 mins

Enough with this 4th line players will play 6 mins in the playoffs crap. Get off your Xbox.

Hutchinson.

Some people act like a mid round pick is gold.

It’s poop. The loneliness that player is ever going to be usefully is so damn low.

Who cares if they deal a 4th round pick for depth. They will still have their 3rd,5th,6th,7th to pick from the garbage rounds
- Santo_44

Trade the lot of them..Screw the draft time to go for cup..

Hutchin8on.
- GreatGigInTheSky

And Dubas will turn that 3rd round pick into two 4th round picks.
- Atomic Wedgie

Seriously...when has he done that...and how has it hurt us if he did?