Ritchie-Mathews-Nylander
Auston Mathews and William Gosh Darn Nylander. We had what, two and a half three years of these guys together? It worked so well, the power of attack was so balanced. They always seemed to attack together and on opposite wings, with the threat of attacking the middle looming from either guy. They effortlessly forced the puck down the ice. (perhaps that was just Willy and his ridiculous zone entries)more on Will Nye later.
Ritchie. I will not pretend to be well aware of how he plays. Though I should with how much I have seen him play the leafs. I guess I was in some sort of altered mind state when they played and I don't remember much....
But; big bodied, Ontario kid, who plays bruins hockey. Yes please.
Kerfoot-Tavares-Marner (Robertson-T-M)
(The Toronto Line once Robertson steps in)
TM - Something about marner setting up Tavares for a goal just makes me feel warm inside. Throw in the underrated puck hound that kerfoot is, happy days.
Now sorry Kerf, but replace him with younger/faster/laser beam shooter Nick Robertson? Oh baby.
Mikheyev-Kampf-Kase
(The Mmk Line)
I will talk wrists later, but decent line. Potential for Kerfoot-Kampf-Kase down the road.
Bunting-Spezza-Simmonds
This line just screams 90's Hollywood Blockbuster, I just want to watch how they become amazing.
Engvall
Exceptional playoff extra.
Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Sandin-Dermott
Liljegren
Not a lot of change here, nor was much needed. Another year for Brodie to feel at home, potentially with the added ability of actually doing things in the city!
The season is a 2 headed race out the gate for who of Holl-Dermott and Sandin-Liljegren will be the golden boys. I am very curious to see Liljegren play, he had a decent amount of hype for when he was picked. (Shocker as it is coming from the land of the maple leafs) Sounds as if he trails off a bit and never really blew anyone away during his progression through the system to this point. Thats a green flag for me though, give me the Thomas Kaberle's of the world! Maybe he just plays a game that translates into not really being noticed. Maybe I should actually read a scouting report?
Campbell
Mrazek
Big fan. Imagine it will be a lot of riding the hot hand. Campbell is the saviour though in this lunatics eyes. I want a G.D. Camp - Bell - Camp - Bell chant at the ACC! Maybe Soooooooouuuuuup - Soooouuuuuuuup.
PP1
Mathews-Marner-Nylander-Simmonds-Rielly
- Mathews plays on strong side (Right of goalie)
- Nylander Left of goalie
- Rielly - Marner - Simmonds (Point - Slot - Net Front)
The powerplay has been a mess for awhile now, minus a month at the beginning of last season. Far to predictable, it is painful. Mathews whole one timer thing is great, but he simply cannot move on his off side. Put him on the left wing and have him cycle in and out vaporizing pucks. Nylander on the right wing being a shooting and passing threat, collapsing on plays. Rielly at the point, let me see your slap shot Moe. Marner in the slot just being a bumper, but like a ridiculously creative one. Simmonds just eating lunch in front and below the net.
PP2
Tavares-Kerfoot-Kase-Ritchie-Sandin
I dont say don't even give them a game plan. Just go get us a goal.
Robertson
This is the year right. Maybe next year? Maybe this year, we had one shift of him last season. It was a brief glimpse into and absolute water bug of a player, who has a lazer for a shot. The excitement has waned on this young man, the guy has had some awful injury troubles. Here is to a healthy year for the young man, I am excited to see what exactly he has to offer this team. We need to hit on at least two guys the way Tampa struck the likes of Point and Gourde.
Liljegren
Previously talked about the fellow, this is the make it or break it season for him I think. At least with this franchise, perhaps he is being moulded to eb an ideal number 7, but I imagine he has grander ambitions. Perhaps we just hit the wall of needing a new start. BUT, hopefully he blossoms this year and shows us what he has in the tank. I see him turning into a real nice quiet, solid, defenceman. Which would look real nice along side the Silky smooth Sandin. I know that they played together with the Marlies, the results received mixed reviews as I recall. But time shall tell!
Tavares
So he seems good?!?! That was a scary last shift, Incredibly happy he appears no worse for wear. Which I am somehow going to follow up with expecting a lot out of him this year. His on ice play is tremendous, all of the bloody little things!!! Add mitch back to his wing and he is set. But I would like to see him become more vocal. I know he has the tag of being a more speak with his actions kind of guy. But people can change, and I think we need our Captain to step into the enormous role that being the Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs really is and I think it should come with being outspoken and loud, he needs to control the narrative.
Wrist Health
How much money did MLSE spend on wrist specialists this Off-season? Mathews had surgery, Mikheyev and Simmonds still cannot shoot from there wrist injuries. How much money did they spend on improving the wrists on these three, and how successful was the rehab? The fact Mathews won the Rocket with a wrist that required surgery? scary. We had a brief glimpse of Mikheyev with a shot and it was a beautiful thing, add healthy wrist Simmonds and you have two legit threats on your 3-4 line wings.
Nylander shoot
Maybe this is a Barnstein/ Bernstein bears thing, but didn't Nylander have a wicked shot in his first two seasons? What happened? It's just top corner and it's usually wide, maybe they should look at his wrists? Put him back on the opposite side of Papi and let us see that beautiful shot Mr. Nylander!
Feast in the first 10 minutes
If I could ask for one monumental shift in how they attack the game it would be to eat in the beginning of the game. Grab an early lead, hit some bodies,dangle some bodies, skate, deflate the other team. A game plan that seemed to do surprisingly well for Montreal this off-season, now imagine if a team with talent such as the Leafs approached the game that way. I kid.
But time shall tell. Cheers.