I want to see Robertson get top 9 minutes, but since he doesn't make sense on a shutdown line at 19, riding shotgun with Tavares and Nylander should help him a lot. Tavares can talk to him after shifts and "coach" him in the way a Captain should help a rookie. Otherwise, I don't hate him with Spezza, but I want to see more than 4th line minutes if he's playing.
After that, Bogosian and Simmonds have been getting caved in (individually), but I don't see the Leafs taking out both of the veteran grit signings at the same time, so for this lineup, I keep Simmonds in, and give Sandin minutes. Frankly, I think for the style Toronto plays, Brooks/Lehtonen fit better than Simmonds/Bogosian, but I'm not removing them both. Lastly, if Vesey is getting bumped to L4, I'd rather see Engvall, who has more size, more speed, and is a very solid PKer. His PK ability with his size is what I thought would keep him in the lineup regardless of the veteran signings, although Keefe clearly is taking a tough approach with the Giraffe.
All-in-all, I like these lines, but it hinges on Robertson being able to hang in the top 6 if he gets to play with Tavares (which also assumes current deployment continues, where Tavares faces middle 6 opponents and lower d-pairs mainly). Bogosian is a good PK player, so taking him out means Rielly/Dermott have to split the time he absorbed, which is concerning (Bogo gets caved in at 5on5, but he is a solid PKer), so that's the one hole in this lineup, but he can easily be inserted for Sandin, or run 11/7 and take out Engvall, and use Hyman/Marner/Kerfoot and some variation of Spezza/Matthews for the other PKer.
I mean, I want to discuss this point, but how can I? What an argument. Well done, good sir.
Robertson on the top line? Sandin on the third pairing and not on the taxi squad? Those are horrible lines! And if you're going to put Robertson in the linup, put him with Spezza and Thornton! He can learn something from those guys.
Robertson on the top line? Sandin on the third pairing and not on the taxi squad? Those are horrible lines! And if you're going to put Robertson in the linup, put him with Spezza and Thornton! He can learn something from those guys.
Quoting: PleaseBanMeForMyOwnGood
I think you placed Robertson on the wrong line, it would be hard for Tavares to coach Robertson after shifts when they are on different lines.
Yeah, wrong click. Robertson should be on the Tavares line, Thornton should be with Matthews. The trick here is deployment. Matthews right now is still facing 1st/2nd lines, while Kerfoot's line is taking on those d-zone draws and secondary matchups. This means that Robertson will get generous zone deployment against lesser opponents (right now Tavares is starting over 70% of his shifts in the o-zone instead of around 50% like the prior two years), and it will be against 3rd lines and 2nd/3rd d-pairs. To get his confidence up, playing him with Tavares/Nylander against non-elite competition should help him adjust. Tavares and Co. can cover for his rookie mistakes against lesser opponents, and his shot and skill mixed with his work ethic should complement that line well on the forecheck.
For Sandin 3rd pair vs Taxi Squad, that's just a personal choice. I think Sandin is NHL ready, and frankly, I'd love to see Liljegren get more than 10 minutes of TOI this season in a few games, but definitely seems like Keefe is riding his top 4 as a top 4, and the remaining dmen are getting minimal 5on5 ice time. Also, with Lehtonen not in the line-up,I'd much rather Sandin be QB on PP2 with Tavares and Nylander over Brodie.
For Sandin 3rd pair vs Taxi Squad, that's just a personal choice. I think Sandin is NHL ready, and frankly, I'd love to see Liljegren get more than 10 minutes of TOI this season in a few games, but definitely seems like Keefe is riding his top 4 as a top 4, and the remaining dmen are getting minimal 5on5 ice time. Also, with Lehtonen not in the line-up,I'd much rather Sandin be QB on PP2 with Tavares and Nylander over Brodie.
While I agree, it doesn't matter. Free wallets will always play because the Leafs' would far rather continue to ruin their own D draft picks then screw up their pipeline of consistently terrible free wallet Ds.
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