I thought he played pretty decent for his first game of the season. No worse than some have displayed so far in the early goings.

The Holl injury is a blessing in disguise as it's early days and gives Lilybust a chance to prove his quality.
- mjones242

I didn’t think he was great but it does give him some time to prove he’s better. I haven’t ever seen it yet tbh.

Amadio? He’s a center, and where is Muzzin? He’s not hurt too is he?
- Dozzer

Maintenance day for Muzzin

Leafs lines at practice:

Ritchie-Matthews-Marner
Bunting-Tavares-Nylander
Kerfoot-Kampf-Kase
Spezza/Engvall-Simmonds

Rielly-Brodie
Dermott-Sandin
Amadio-Liljegren

Campbell
Hutchinson
- jribout

OH OH

Maintenance day for Muzzin
- jribout

Oh man, that’s a tad early in the season to need one of those already

OH OH
- .OHOH.

Leafs trying to expand their fanbase in the southern US.

Amadio? He’s a center, and where is Muzzin? He’s not hurt too is he?
- Dozzer

Amadio is 1st guy out when AM is back. IMO

After that I guess it’s Engvall even though I think he’s better then most of our bottom 6.

A good article showing why comparing JTs UFA contract (which was the norm at the time) to Marner’s which was trend setting and has led to many more RFAs getting paid is like comparing apples to oranges.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...ntract-resets-rfa-market/

Not a shot at Marner. I would probably take his over JTs as the last couple of years of JTs contract scare me.
- jribout

Tampa despite their cap shenanigans last year have some team friendly deals, Avs another top team have some team friendly deals - Leafs not so much, Rielly but that is the only one. Marner as a player that is likely to be with the Leafs a long time, didn't need to be the one to set the rfa market. Not from any perspective. The cost of his contract is either losing a $3.5 contract like Kerfoot or saying goodbye to Rielly next summer. In Dubas' defense, no one could have predicted the pandemic and the stagnation of the Cap that has followed. But moving forward, Leafs need to be tougher at creating cap space and holding onto picks that could inject low cost talent into the lineup.

If it’s based on lines then why is JT and Nylander wearing the same colour as Matthews?

I’m wondering if it’s maybe more about something like the PP

I sincerely don’t know tho
- Dozzer

Whatever the case Ritchie is not long for the top line. Not enough pace, even with Tavares at C, let alone AM34.

Amadio is 1st guy out when AM is back. IMO

After that I guess it’s Engvall even though I think he’s better then most of our bottom 6.
- Garnie

Agree on the order, some healthy competition for the giraffe is ok. There will be injuries so they will need him.

Amadio is 1st guy out when AM is back. IMO

After that I guess it’s Engvall even though I think he’s better then most of our bottom 6.
- Garnie

I know, Amadio and Liljegren will likely get sent down when both Matthews and Mikheyev are back in the lineup (barring other injuries) however I think it will be Bunting and Kase who flip back and forth in the lineup. They need a guy who can play C on the 4th line so Spezza can play the wing outside of the faceoffs. So Engvall will stay in the lineup for that and that alone.

I didn’t think he was great but it does give him some time to prove he’s better. I haven’t ever seen it yet tbh.
- Garnie

Never said he was great but I think he puts pressure on Dermott and Holl which is a good thing.

He looked markedly better than his first 13 games and one play by him lead directly to a Leaf goal.

I'm pretty satisfied but the microscope will be, fairly or unfairly, on him for every shift he takes. Here's hoping he continues to grow and is afforded more chances!

Whatever the case Ritchie is not long for the top line. Not enough pace, even with Tavares.
- fifty__missions

Not anytime soon. They want someone capable of parking themselves in front of the net especially once Matthews is back.

Hate to say this but the lack of production on that line falls on JT and Marner, not Ritchie. His job is to do the dirty work so they can produce, he’s done his job just fine but they haven’t done theirs worth a poop.

Whatever the case Ritchie is not long for the top line. Not enough pace, even with Tavares at C, let alone AM34.
- fifty__missions

He hasn't had a chance to play with AM34 at all so let's see what he can do before we jettison him into the sun.

Tavares finally woke up last night and had some chances but hasn't been playing near his top level. But yes, let's rag on Ritchie.

Never said he was great but I think he puts pressure on Dermott and Holl which is a good thing.

He looked markedly better than his first 13 games and one play by him lead directly to a Leaf goal.

I'm pretty satisfied but the microscope will be, fairly or unfairly, on him for every shift he takes. Here's hoping he continues to grow and is afforded more chances!
- mjones242

The other big thing here is the leafs can’t afford to have an extra d man and an extra forward when everyone is healthy (cap wise). So they’ll send Liljegren down and bring him back up when they need him since he’s the one they won’t be risking losing on waivers. Unless they make a trade to give them a bit more cap flexibility of course.

Not anytime soon. They want someone capable of parking themselves in front of the net especially once Matthews is back.

Hate to say this but the lack of production on that line falls on JT and Marner, not Ritchie. His job is to do the dirty work so they can produce, he’s done his job just fine but they haven’t done theirs worth a poop.
- Dozzer

The job of F1 is to be first on the forecheck and separate the D from the puck. Neither Marner or Matthews are doing that job, and Ritchie does not have the footspeed to get there. This is why Zach Hyman was so valuable on this line, and why he got paid. Also, Hyman brings it every single night. It's not enough to park yourself in front of the net as a top line winger and do literally nothing else. Because that is all Ritchie has done. It will be Bunting, in short order, with Ritchie in the bottom 6. Yep, there's a reason he's been a bottom six winger his whole career.

Never said he was great but I think he puts pressure on Dermott and Holl which is a good thing.

He looked markedly better than his first 13 games and one play by him lead directly to a Leaf goal.

I'm pretty satisfied but the microscope will be, fairly or unfairly, on him for every shift he takes. Here's hoping he continues to grow and is afforded more chances!
- mjones242

I’m not a fan of him but I was only trying to pick out good things he did last night. There were some, hoping more on Monday and then we’ll have some options.

I think Dermott > Sandin last night too.

The other big thing here is the leafs can’t afford to have an extra d man and an extra forward when everyone is healthy (cap wise). So they’ll send Liljegren down and bring him back up when they need him since he’s the one they won’t be risking losing on waivers. Unless they make a trade to give them a bit more cap flexibility of course.
- Dozzer

Yep - his waiver exemption gives the Leafs some cap flexibility. Unfortunately, losing a goalie and a d-man at the same time didn't allow them to take advantage of it.

I know, Amadio and Liljegren will likely get sent down when both Matthews and Mikheyev are back in the lineup (barring other injuries) however I think it will be Bunting and Kase who flip back and forth in the lineup. They need a guy who can play C on the 4th line so Spezza can play the wing outside of the faceoffs. So Engvall will stay in the lineup for that and that alone.
- Dozzer

I'm not convinced that being a C would help Engvall that much. Kampf, Kerfoot and Spezza are all ahead of Engvall. Mikheyev will be back at some point and Robertson should be in this lineup at some point. Engvall can stay in the lineup based on his play and he will be in the lineup while there are injuries. Unless of course he suffers another neck injury (lower body injury)

I know, Amadio and Liljegren will likely get sent down when both Matthews and Mikheyev are back in the lineup (barring other injuries) however I think it will be Bunting and Kase who flip back and forth in the lineup. They need a guy who can play C on the 4th line so Spezza can play the wing outside of the faceoffs. So Engvall will stay in the lineup for that and that alone.
- Dozzer

I don’t think Bunting or Kase go anywhere before Engvall, not that I agree with it…but they have a while to prove their worths as Mikey won’t be back for awhile.

The job of F1 is to be first on the forecheck and separate the D from the puck. Neither Marner or Matthews are doing that job, and Ritchie does not have the footspeed to get there. This is why Zach Hyman was so valuable on this line, and why he got paid. Also, Hyman brings it every single night. It's not enough to park yourself in front of the net as a top line winger and do literally nothing else. Because that is all Ritchie has done. It will be Bunting, in short order, with Ritchie in the bottom 6. Yep, there's a reason he's been a bottom six winger his whole career.
- fifty__missions

So far you’re right, but it’s early. We’ll see how the next couple weeks go.

The job of F1 is to be first on the forecheck and separate the D from the puck. Neither Marner or Matthews are doing that job, and Ritchie does not have the footspeed to get there. This is why Zach Hyman was so valuable on this line, and why he got paid. Also, Hyman brings it every single night. It's not enough to park yourself in front of the net as a top line winger and do literally nothing else. Because that is all Ritchie has done. It will be Bunting, in short order, with Ritchie in the bottom 6. Yep, there's a reason he's been a bottom six winger his whole career.
- fifty__missions

What? Sorry man you’re wrong. Ritchie has been working along the boards against opposition D regularly, has laid out 12 hits, and his plus/minus is still 0 even tho he’s been playing on a line that hasn’t been playing well.

That’s all on top of parking in front of the net.

He’s not the problem, the stars are.

I don’t think Bunting or Kase go anywhere before Engvall, not that I agree with it…but they have a while to prove their worths as Mikey won’t be back for awhile.
- Garnie

Bunting has done nothing to this point to justify keeping him out of the lineup. Looks like a hard worker and someone that goes to the net with a purpose. Also currently the best poop disturber on the team.

Yep - his waiver exemption gives the Leafs some cap flexibility. Unfortunately, losing a goalie and a d-man at the same time didn't allow them to take advantage of it.
- mjones242

They aren’t long term so their salary still counted against the cap

Send Liljegren down and let him play top minutes and bring him up as you need him.

Bunting has done nothing to this point to justify keeping him out of the lineup. Looks like a hard worker and someone that goes to the net with a purpose. Also currently the best poop disturber on the team.
- winsix

I agree a little but he just scored and he played for the Soo.

The end

I'm not convinced that being a C would help Engvall that much. Kampf, Kerfoot and Spezza are all ahead of Engvall. Mikheyev will be back at some point and Robertson should be in this lineup at some point. Engvall can stay in the lineup based on his play and he will be in the lineup while there are injuries. Unless of course he suffers another neck injury (lower body injury)
- winsix

Spezza no longer plays C

He’s on the wing cause at his age he can’t skate well enough to compete in a center position.

So yes, it will be a winger who can’t play C that gets sat, unless they drop bunting to the 3rd line and have kerfoot play C on the 4th which is extremely unlikely.