I agree with this. I think Engvall is either shipped out of town before opening night or he's our 13th forward and they take the risk of someone claiming Brooks (who I think has been solid and I actually prefer).
- mjones242

He was a scratch mostly through last years playoffs...That says enough about him.

They brought in Ritchie, Bunting, Kase, Kampf as UFA's...No way he plays over these guys to start at least.

Kampf is our 3C until he proves he can't hack it.

Kerf-Kampf-Kase
- mjones242

Then move Kerfy to the 4th line with Spezza and Simmonds.

I like Bunting and think he can play a Hyman type game. Which is better suited for the 3rd line

i agree👍🏿

engvall and souperman are rare commodities👍

big, fast, sound hockey players without the “greatest hands”👍

the entire team is not supposed to be specializing in ice dancing🤦🏿‍♂️

plus, neither is necessarily a pencil neck 👍

could be thicker but not bad 👍🏿
- Skalapy

Fast players with stone hands are anything but rare commodities in this league.

Then move Kerfy to the 4th line with Spezza and Simmonds.

I like Bunting and think he can play a Hyman type game. Which is better suited for the 3rd line
- PatC80

I'm actually not opposed to this at all. Obviously Kerf's salary is obscene for 4th line duty, but who cares?

It's about line synergy at this point and you have to work with what you've got. I think Bunting would be good as 3LW if they want to continue the Soup experiment on 2LW (which, I'm guessing, won't last long).

Yes well being good enough doesn't mean it's all about talent, it's mostly about being more useful to the team than whatever other option is out there.

So when a rookie shows enough so that's how you feel, you play them.
- Scabeh

Agreed.
Having two rookies on a team over one rookie wont affect your "cup aspirations" at all. Specially at the beginning of the season.
This has more to do with volume, cap and giving Robertson better quality minutes.
We have enough forwards to play top 6 right now, which is where I believe the leafs want Robertson playing. He wont see enough time in the bottom 6, but he'll get lots of 1st line mins in the AHL. The leafs also have some other players who played well enough for the top 6 spots.
As for Sandin, the leafs dont have that many extra quality D and there may be spot available at times in the bottom D ranks. Hence why we'll see Sandin start with the leafs. Plus I think he's earned a look.

I'm actually not opposed to this at all. Obviously Kerf's salary is obscene for 4th line duty, but who cares?

It's about line synergy at this point and you have to work with what you've got. I think Bunting would be good as 3LW if they want to continue the Soup experiment on 2LW (which, I'm guessing, won't last long).
- mjones242

If they see Kampf as the 3C, then Kerfy becomes expendable.

Agreed.
Having two rookies on a team over one rookie wont affect your "cup aspirations" at all. Specially at the beginning of the season.
This has more to do with volume, cap and giving Robertson better quality minutes.
We have enough forwards to play top 6 right now, which is where I believe the leafs want Robertson playing. He wont see enough time in the bottom 6, but he'll get lots of 1st line mins in the AHL. The leafs also have some other players who played well enough for the top 6 spots.
As for Sandin, the leafs dont have that many extra quality D and there may be spot available at times in the bottom D ranks. Hence why we'll see Sandin start with the leafs. Plus I think he's earned a look.
- Fakepartofme

If they do go with two rookie defenseman, don't play them together

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Liljegren
Sandin- Holl
Dermott

If they do go with two rookie defenseman, don't play them together

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Liljegren
Sandin- Holl
Dermott
- PatC80

Who do they get rid of to get Liljegren up here?

They don’t have the cap space.

And they’re not going to put Liljegren in a shut down role which is what the second pairing is.

With all these definitive answers and bets, I don't know what to believe anymore.
- Scabeh

LOL

Who do they get rid of to get Liljegren up here?

They don’t have the cap space.

And they’re not going to put Liljegren in a shut down role which is what the second pairing is.
- Dozzer

just saying it's a possibility. If both Liljegren and Sandin make the team and Keefe isn't comfortable playing them together.. Lily has looked good in the pre-season, I think he's ready.

If they do go with two rookie defenseman, don't play them together

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Liljegren
Sandin- Holl
Dermott
- PatC80

I dont think they'll start this way.
I think they'll wait to see how lili does in the AHL and whether Dermott is crap again.
Then make a move in November.
Push out Dermott and move lili or keep Dermott and make cap space elsewhere.

If they see Kampf as the 3C, then Kerfy becomes expendable.
- PatC80

I think they prefer Kerfoot on the wing

Fast players with stone hands are anything but rare commodities in this league.
- mjones242

well us fans think of them as having stone hands because they don’t get a lot of points but they’re good hockey players and relative bargains 👍

why not make them happy and useful there for years instead a revolving door with the bottom six?🤦🏿‍♂️

this isn’t nhl 22🤦‍♂️

I dont think they'll start this way.
I think they'll wait to see how lili does in the AHL and whether Dermott is crap again.
Then make a move in November.
Push out Dermott and move lili or keep Dermott and make cap space elsewhere.
- Fakepartofme

you are likely right, I just don't want Dermott playing important minutes again..

If they see Kampf as the 3C, then Kerfy becomes expendable.
- PatC80

That makes us one injury away from Kampf being our second line center.

No thanks.

you are likely right, I just don't want Dermott playing important minutes again..
- PatC80

Oh I hear ya.

just saying it's a possibility. If both Liljegren and Sandin make the team and Keefe isn't comfortable playing them together.. Lily has looked good in the pre-season, I think he's ready.
- PatC80

I’ve watched all the games and Liljegren has not played well enough to push an NHL d man out of the lineup. 2 games and 0 points and is just plus 1

I think they prefer Kerfoot on the wing
- Canada Cup

He’s a better winger than center 100%

I think they prefer Kerfoot on the wing
- Canada Cup

even then, if he's not playing LW on the 2nd line, where does he play? the 4th line?
Kerfoot is a smart, responsible player, but he's not a shutdown guy and is anything but physical... Playing him on the 3rd line, means nothing really changes from last season.

Kampf can be a really good shut down C, but he still needs help from his wingers.

Keefe has a lot of decisions to make no doubt, I don't see where Kerfoot fits.. I like Kerfoot, I think he's a smart, safe hockey player.. Just not sure where he fits

even then, if he's not playing LW on the 2nd line, where does he play? the 4th line?
Kerfoot is a smart, responsible player, but he's not a shutdown guy and is anything but physical... Playing him on the 3rd line, means nothing really changes from last season.

Kampf can be a really good shut down C, but he still needs help from his wingers.

Keefe has a lot of decisions to make no doubt, I don't see where Kerfoot fits.. I like Kerfoot, I think he's a smart, safe hockey player.. Just not sure where he fits
- PatC80

Kerfoot is already guaranteed to be a 3rd line winger

Him Kampf Bunting/Kase

Just wait and see.

Kerfoot is already guaranteed to be a 3rd line winger

Him Kampf Bunting/Kase

Just wait and see.
- Dozzer

Already guaranteed, eh?

Ok..

No they didn’t.

They see him as a bottom pairing guy. Get used to him.
- Dozzer

I am pretty sure that it is not really Dermott out there. It is none other than, wily vet Carl Brewer! wearing Dermott's sweater.

Already guaranteed, eh?

Ok..
- PatC80

Just wait and see.

I am pretty sure that it is not really Dermott out there. It is none other than, wily vet Carl Brewer! wearing Dermott's sweater.
- Aetherial

Back to life is he? Lol

I just checked… that guy played 23 years… from 67’ to 80’

Maybe he’s the reason the leafs never won a cup again