Since when do AM34 and Mitch play a speed, north/south game? They're pure possession players who make plays with nifty skill plays in the oZone.

Ritchie doesn't need to be a speed demon on the top line. He needs to win puck battles in corners and be a big body in front of the net that creates a distraction to the goalie and fits to the d-men.

I don't give a (frank) about other top lines in the league and I'm not going to waste my time trying to refute your claim.
- mjones242

A lot of times they’d dump it in behind the net and Hyman would race in and bang the boards and try and get the puck back to Da Boys. Regardless he’ll help if it’s top 6 or gets moved to line 3.

Still early, don't pick Engvall next week
- winsix

You shut your mouth.

Edit: I picked Ritchie this week, what a mistake that was.

Should have picked the 🦒

A lot of times they’d dump it in behind the net and Hyman would race in and bang the boards and try and get the puck back to Da Boys. Regardless he’ll help if it’s top 6 or gets moved to line 3.
- Garnie

I don't think that was very often.

I don't think that was very often.
- mjones242

I do, not every time but the coach certainly doesn’t like a turn over at the blue line…so in deep it went.

This is how it sorts out after 20ish games

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

Rielly-Brodie
Dermott-Sandin
Muzin-Liljegren

I think there is/was a trade that would have happened until the Mikheyev injury.

I know many are not high on Kase but he has not played significant time in a couple of years and once he gets his game back(and if he stays healthy).

I don't think that was very often.
- mjones242

No, Hyman never got in on the forecheck.

🤦‍♂️

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

Bunting and Nylander have been really good together on the forecheck, especially last game. I think they stay together. Their biggest problem has been Kerfoot losing draws, so presumably that picks up when JT slides down.

The Kampf line has been everything you want a 3rd line to be. They’re taking almost all the D-zone draws and still getting 60% of the scoring chances when they’re on the ice. Kase and Kampf seem to work off each other pretty well. I think the last K makes the line better but I know there are big Engvall fans.

Amadio hasn’t done much and adding Engvall adds more scoring to the 4th line. Simmonds has had moments but not enough of them. Spezza has been great but deserves better.

This is how it sorts out after 20ish games

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

Rielly-Brodie
Dermott-Sandin
Muzin-Liljegren

I think there is/was a trade that would have happened until the Mikheyev injury.

I know many are not high on Kase but he has not played significant time in a couple of years and once he gets his game back(and if he stays healthy).
- Azuredoom

Muzzin bumped down to 3rd pair?

I can’t see it…

Bunting and Nylander have been really good together on the forecheck, especially last game. I think they stay together. Their biggest problem has been Kerfoot losing draws, so presumably that picks up when JT slides down.

The Kampf line has been everything you want a 3rd line to be. They’re taking almost all the D-zone draws and still getting 60% of the scoring chances when they’re on the ice. Kase and Kampf seem to work off each other pretty well. I think the last K makes the line better but I know there are big Engvall fans.

Amadio hasn’t done much and adding Engvall adds more scoring to the 4th line. Simmonds has had moments but not enough of them. Spezza has been great but deserves better.
- Canada Cup

What about Ritchie? Your thoughts?

He was bottom six in Boston, even before they acquired Taylor Hall. Boston had ZERO interest in resigning him, too, btw. Wonder why that was? But whatevs. Let's just watch it play out.
- fifty__missions

Holy poop you’re so negative this year

Boston’s top two lines are nothing like Toronto’s so you can’t compare his role. The leafs don’t need talent from that winger due to who he’s playing with with (Matthews and Marner cover the talent requirements) what the leafs need is a big tough winger who can hit and park himself in front of the net and bang home rebounds. That’s it.

Bunting and Nylander have been really good together on the forecheck, especially last game. I think they stay together. Their biggest problem has been Kerfoot losing draws, so presumably that picks up when JT slides down.

The Kampf line has been everything you want a 3rd line to be. They’re taking almost all the D-zone draws and still getting 60% of the scoring chances when they’re on the ice. Kase and Kampf seem to work off each other pretty well. I think the last K makes the line better but I know there are big Engvall fans.

Amadio hasn’t done much and adding Engvall adds more scoring to the 4th line. Simmonds has had moments but not enough of them. Spezza has been great but deserves better.
- Canada Cup

Engvall does all the work on that 3rd line IMO. I don’t see how taking him off makes the line better. JMO

Nice…I think I only had 108 last night or something…went from up by 30+ to down by 50.

🤷🏻‍♂️
- Garnie

I just checked in on mine since I choose my hsbl team.
down by 11

What about Ritchie? Your thoughts?
- fifty__missions

He hasn’t been great but I want to see what that line looks like with Matthews.

Holy poop you’re so negative this year

Boston’s top two lines are nothing like Toronto’s so you can’t compare his role. The leafs don’t need talent from that winger due to who he’s playing with with (Matthews and Marner cover the talent requirements) what the leafs need is a big tough winger who can hit and park himself in front of the net and bang home rebounds. That’s it.
- Dozzer

I just checked in on mine since I choose my hsbl team.
down by 11
- dmnted

Not many games today either.

I can come back if Khudoblin makes 150 saves and gets a shutout. 🤣

No, Hyman never got in on the forecheck.

🤦‍♂️
- fifty__missions

I never said he didn't occasionally.

But to claim "dump and chase" was a frequent strategy employed by the top line is wrong.

I never said he didn't occasionally.

But to claim this was a frequent strategy employed by the top line is wrong.
- mjones242

I don’t think so, maybe I’ll give you 50/50

Hyman has always been crashing onto the boards to try and get the puck…that’s all I’ve chosen to remember. So, you’re wrong.

-memory is slipping quickly 🤣

Muzzin bumped down to 3rd pair?

I can’t see it…
- Garnie

no just me being lazy about another copy/paste

Engvall does all the work on that 3rd line IMO. I don’t see how taking him off makes the line better. JMO
- Garnie

So where does Kerfoot go? They could bumb Kampf to the 4th line and have him play C on the 3rd I suppose. Let’s be honest here tho, Engvall gets bumped to the 4th line center role and Kerfoot takes over his spot on the wing on the 3rd line.

no just me being lazy about another copy/paste
- Azuredoom

Ah ok

Holy poop you’re so negative this year

Boston’s top two lines are nothing like Toronto’s so you can’t compare his role. The leafs don’t need talent from that winger due to who he’s playing with with (Matthews and Marner cover the talent requirements) what the leafs need is a big tough winger who can hit and park himself in front of the net and bang home rebounds. That’s it.
- Dozzer

I know - sorry, man! The years of losing are getting to me. It just doesn't feel right, what they've tried to do this year. I find myself unable to be super positive about a bunch of bandaids. I get that you're probably sick of all the female doging.

I think I'm gonna take a break from posting, except just my reactions during games. Carry on, gentlemen!

Engvall does all the work on that 3rd line IMO. I don’t see how taking him off makes the line better. JMO
- Garnie

I just don’t know that it’s about looking like you’re doing all the work. I don’t think I’ve seen Kampf or Kase fail to get the puck out of our zone or into the O-zone. They’re always well positioned. I never have any worries about what they’re going to do. With Engvall, there’s a some. Even before the turnover that led to the goal, there had been a few. It’s not egregious, but IMO, he’s just down a level from them in responsible, defensive play. I guess it’s a question whether Kerfoot is better.

So where does Kerfoot go? They could bumb Kampf to the 4th line and have him play C on the 3rd I suppose. Let’s be honest here tho, Engvall gets bumped to the 4th line center role and Kerfoot takes over his spot on the wing on the 3rd line.
- Dozzer

Probably, not my choice after watching 1st 3 games.

We don’t have to worry for a few more weeks and then there will be more injuries I would guess. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Not many games today either.

I can come back if Khudoblin makes 150 saves and gets a shutout. 🤣
- Garnie

I didn't help my cause by having Robertson from Dallas in my line up

I don’t think so, maybe I’ll give you 50/50

Hyman has always been crashing onto the boards to try and get the puck…that’s all I’ve chosen to remember. So, you’re wrong.

-memory is slipping quickly 🤣
- Garnie

Hyman did a lot of board-work and was an uber-pest. But Mitch and AM34 are very high possession players so the idea that they'd dump and chase and make Hyman the puck retrieval machine frequently is some revisionist history. At least, that's how I choose to remember his contributions.