I like it

Thornton isn't going to sit. Nash will force Kerfoot out or will wait till their is an injury.bb

I like the depth. One thing Keefe has done all year is shuffle lines regularly. As much as it has frustrated us at times it has allowed chemistry to build with multiple combos. This will be key throughout the playoffs depending on which teams are played. I like the idea of a revolving door throughout the lineup with a few exceptions (Matthews, Tavares, Marner, Hyman, Nylander). I hope Spezza is in the lineup as many games as possible as he has been the most consistent player all year. If the Leafs don't go the distance this year I hope he's got one more year in him yet. What a fantastic pro.

After the trade, I went back and started watching the CBJ games that my PVR picked up. I feel like we all kind of know what Foligno is, but I wanted to really watch him and see if there were tendencies or things that I haven't noticed about him. The thing I was most pleasantly surprised with was his play on the PP and I think it'll help the Leafs if they utilize him in the same way. He was playing in the 'bumper' position, where you currently have JT, and that's right where I would leave him (assuming the same personnel):

(Net)
Tavares

Foligno

Matthews Marner

Rielly

What I really liked about him in that position was that he was always moving his feet, which I think has become an issue on the Leafs PP. He follows the flow of play and creates movement among the defenders. I think he'd really help in opening up lanes, particularly the cross ice to AM that we're all so familiar with, and barring that play being available, Mitch going down low to JT and Foligno crashing the net could create all kinds of havoc.... I like the potential of that unit.

Edit: Aww, my PP setup didn't show up as planned.

If the forwards all come back to health, I see Thornton as the odd man out on most nights. The legs don't seem to be there.

The PP. I wouldn't worry about the set up in the offensive zone. Past two weeks, haven't seen a entry in the offensive zone with puck possession.

Nylander always makes best entry’s, we’re really missing him rn and the double drop pass is not working every team knows it’s. Coming either let Marner carry it in or nylander I guess Auston as well but nylander is easily the best at it