Mike Augello: Game 2 - Leafs vs. Sens, some things change and some stay the same

First

Suck it all of you

GLG pre season!

Every single former Senator on this team sucks.

I simply can't see a reason for Marincin to be on this team's NHL roster as anything other than a practice participant.

Every single former Senator on this team sucks.
- JohnFergusonJr

that statement applies to 90% of current and former sens in the league.

From the part of the game that I watched last night, I wasn't that impressed with Bracco. Didn't see him bring a whole lot to the game.

Interested to see kerfoot playing with mikheyev and petan. Would have guessed that Moore would be on that line over petan but we'll see how that works out.

that statement applies to 90% of current and former sens in the league.
- Tumbleweed

Every Leafs team needs a solid scapegoat. With Gardiner gone, it's time for a new one.

Between Spezza, Ceci and Harpur, it's going to be easy to hate them.

agreed. Marincin is a special kind of terrible. Last year during injury time Babcock kept putting him on the ice. I thought that was a "hey kyle get me some RHD, look at the poop I'm stuck with"

From the part of the game that I watched last night, I wasn't that impressed with Bracco. Didn't see him bring a whole lot to the game.

Interested to see kerfoot playing with mikheyev and petan. Would have guessed that Moore would be on that line over petan but we'll see how that works out.
- matt1337

Leafs top-six is Johnsson, Matthews, Nylander, Kapanen, Tavares and Marner.

With Hyman on the LTIR.

If Bracco can't be better than one of those guys (Spoiler Alert: he isn't), he doesn't belong in the NHL because his bottom six potential is low. He's a one-way, offensive player. No defensive abilities to speak of and no size either.

Maybe if they move Nylander after this season, an opening can present itself. But for this season, regardless of how he plays offensively, Bracco shouldn't be on this team.

Every Leafs team needs a solid scapegoat. With Gardiner gone, it's time for a new one.

Between Spezza, Ceci and Harpur, it's going to be easy to hate them.
- JohnFergusonJr

not harpur.




it's hard to hate marlies.

Leafs top-six is Johnsson, Matthews, Nylander, Kapanen, Tavares and Marner.

With Hyman on the LTIR.

If Bracco can't be better than one of those guys (Spoiler Alert: he isn't), he doesn't belong in the NHL because his bottom six potential is low. He's a one-way, offensive player. No defensive abilities to speak of and no size either.

Maybe if they move Nylander after this season, an opening can present itself. But for this season, regardless of how he plays offensively, Bracco shouldn't be on this team.
- JohnFergusonJr

I'd give him some shifts on the left side of one of the top 2 lines. Kerfoot is going to need Kapanen. If Bracco looks good give him the month that Hyman's out then send him back to the AHL to dominate.

All just to build his resume and move him at the deadline for the dman we will inevitably need.

From the part of the game that I watched last night, I wasn't that impressed with Bracco. Didn't see him bring a whole lot to the game.

Interested to see kerfoot playing with mikheyev and petan. Would have guessed that Moore would be on that line over petan but we'll see how that works out.
- matt1337

Were you impressed with any player last night? I sure wasn't!

First pre-season game though.

agreed. Marincin is a special kind of terrible. Last year during injury time Babcock kept putting him on the ice. I thought that was a "hey kyle get me some RHD, look at the poop I'm stuck with"
- Njuice

Marincin is the second longest tenured Maple Leaf right now after Morgan Rielly

I'd give him some shifts on the left side of one of the top 2 lines. Kerfoot is going to need Kapanen. If Bracco looks good give him the month that Hyman's out then send him back to the AHL to dominate.

All just to build his resume and move him at the deadline for the dman we will inevitably need.
- The Law

Giving him shifts with better players ahead of him just hurts the team, especially when he's a noted defensive liability.

Kerfoot is a pass first player, don't think they'd mesh very well. And that 3rd line should be as defensively sound as they come.

Definitely agree though, Bracco should be moved for help on defense.

Nylander, Bracco and a 1st should be the new mantra to acquire legit help on defense. Hopefully a team out there finds that package appealing as a starting point.

Leafs top-six is Johnsson, Matthews, Nylander, Kapanen, Tavares and Marner.

With Hyman on the LTIR.

If Bracco can't be better than one of those guys (Spoiler Alert: he isn't), he doesn't belong in the NHL because his bottom six potential is low. He's a one-way, offensive player. No defensive abilities to speak of and no size either.

Maybe if they move Nylander after this season, an opening can present itself. But for this season, regardless of how he plays offensively, Bracco shouldn't be on this team.
- JohnFergusonJr

I'm a bit afraid both these guys will have a sub-par season.
Kapanen I don't think will be able to add value to the Tavares-Marner line (definite downgrade from Hyman who does his specific things very well).
And Johnsson I hope can catch up with Matthews (and to a lesser extent with Willie). Think Matthews still needs to take those two on his back though.
Would prefer to see Moore with Matthews - I really like Moore.

Leafs top-six is Johnsson, Matthews, Nylander, Kapanen, Tavares and Marner.

With Hyman on the LTIR.

If Bracco can't be better than one of those guys (Spoiler Alert: he isn't), he doesn't belong in the NHL because his bottom six potential is low. He's a one-way, offensive player. No defensive abilities to speak of and no size either.

Maybe if they move Nylander after this season, an opening can present itself. But for this season, regardless of how he plays offensively, Bracco shouldn't be on this team.
- JohnFergusonJr

This isn't 2006, the bottom 6 will be expected to create offense it's been that way for awhile.

One of Tavares or Matthews will get the top line head to head every night (aka Bergeron). The third line isn't shutting anything down.

I'm a bit afraid both these guys will have a sub-par season.
Kapanen I don't think will be able to add value to the Tavares-Marner line (definite downgrade from Hyman who does his specific things very well).
And Johnsson I hope can catch up with Matthews (and to a lesser extent with Willie). Think Matthews still needs to take those two on his back though.
Would prefer to see Moore with Matthews - I really like Moore.
- MaximusAurelius

Johnsson and Kapanen are both better than Bracco.

Kapanen is better than Hyman, at pretty much everything.

Moore is line-up filler, should not be anywhere near consideration for top-six minutes.

This isn't 2006, the bottom 6 will be expected to create offense it's been that way for awhile.

One of Tavares or Matthews will get the top line head to head every night (aka Bergeron). The third line isn't shutting anything down.
- Blazed

Maybe at home but on the road, that 3rd line is going to get some unpleasant match-ups. So will that 4th line. And their job will be simple; don't give up goals.

Maybe at home but on the road, that 3rd line is going to get some unpleasant match-ups. So will that 4th line. And their job will be simple; don't give up goals.
- JohnFergusonJr

Kerfoot is a defensive stud? Bracco could theoretically play 3RW in the future no issue. There's no rush or reason to give up on a skilled ppg AHL prospect.

This isn't 2006, the bottom 6 will be expected to create offense it's been that way for awhile.

One of Tavares or Matthews will get the top line head to head every night (aka Bergeron). The third line isn't shutting anything down.
- Blazed

For the next few years, the bottom six will all be making minimum wage.

Kerfoot is a defensive stud? Bracco could theoretically play 3RW in the future no issue. There's no rush or reason to give up on a skilled ppg AHL prospect.
- Blazed

Kerfoot is in no way a defensive stud. He is a run of the mill 23rd line vanilla flavoured centre. He an make a decent pass.

Kerfoot is in no way a defensive stud. He is a run of the mill 23rd line vanilla flavoured centre. He an make a decent pass.
- aminnes

Exactly, the Kerfoot line shouldn't see the hardest minutes. Tertiary offense and can soak up some minutes.

Maybe at home but on the road, that 3rd line is going to get some unpleasant match-ups. So will that 4th line. And their job will be simple; don't give up goals.
- JohnFergusonJr

I think our bottom 6 will have the puck a fair amount; I don't think they'll get snowed under at all.

Yeah, on the road they'll face unfavourable matchups, but welcome to the jungle: every team tries to sneak their best lines out against the bottom lines/pairings when they're at home.

Johnsson and Kapanen are both better than Bracco.

Kapanen is better than Hyman, at pretty much everything.

Moore is line-up filler, should not be anywhere near consideration for top-six minutes.
- JohnFergusonJr

strongly disagree.

Matthews
Marner
Tavares
Hyman

is the order of importance of Leafs forwards.