I dont think the centre situation is a hot take but I think bunting gets a chance in the top 6 and same with robertson at some point

I am a hawks fan who has watched Kampf since the start of his career. He is good defensively. He positions himself well to make a difference but he’s not physical. He can win face offs and play the pk. He doesn’t generate much offense. I wouldn’t rely on Kampf to play 3c. He is a good 4c and should be used with a defensive focus. I often found myself thinking that even though Kampf is a good defensive player, he still just doesn’t do much for me.

I think Buntning may have a shot through the season or with a great camp at top 6. But if he was a clear top 6 w he wouldn't have been available for under 1 mil for two years at 25.

The word I hear (and based on the number of guys they signed) is the plan is for Robertson to start in the AHL.

Considering how limited his playing time has been in the last year I think it probably makes sense.

I don't think he is what they want with Matthews and Marner. I think he could work with Tavares and Nylander but it puts a lot on Tavares shoulders for defensive play. Now if Robertson can bulk up a bit he has a feisty game and we can all see how his 6'3" brother plays. But he needs a decent amount more weight to play like that in the pro leagues (AHL or NHL) as he'll be destroyed trying to play the body much.

I think we get too stuck on line numbers.

To me the most likely make up of this team is:

Two top 6 lines: Matthews's and Tavares's
A bottom six checking line
A bottom six sheltered scoring line.

I didn't say bunting was a clear top 6 but I think he will get games in the top 6. robertson to the AHL makes sense I guess.

Finally! A Leafs fan talkin' sense ariund Robertson!

ya he is only 19. my dad (a leafs fan) expects him to make a big impact at the nhl level this season

Nope. He needs at least half a year with the Marlies imo. But a full year is preferable.

Dad needs to think along the lines of Nylander in Roberston's development. 22-23 jumps into the top 6, but let the kid marinate.

I agree. and I dont even know if robertson is as good as Nylander was in the year before he jumped into th nhl

I am curious to see if Roberston and SAD have the same chemistry in the AHL as the did in Peterborough....... could be a great pairing

do u think that SDA can be a NHL top 6 forward if he has chemistry w Robertson in the NHL?

Dude has great goal scoring upside. In a sense Skinner is a good comparison re size and goal scoring ability. But Robertson has that feistiness which can make him one of those small spark plug type guys. A less annoying Marchand if you will. But it's really hard to be that guy at that height. He needs to be thicker or what he could get away with at junior is going to have him broken in half.

He has a high upside so I'm excited about him. But I'm realistic about the path he'll have to take

Many fans pencil their top prospects into the NHL as top end guys the year they go pro. That's a big exception. Most take a couple years to become who they will be as pros. That fine

Well I wouldn't compare to Willy Nylander. He finished the season in the NHL in his draft plus 2 at 19 and was a full time NHLer at 20. That would be the equivalent of next season for Robertson

Iirc Nylander (as AHL centre not winger as we were developing him as a c until we drafted Matthews) I believe was second in the AHL in scoring (then point per game as he got injured than called up to finish the season). The one guy ahead of him was a Finnish prospect on the avs... One Mikko Rantanen

If it all works out its possible. SDA has a good passing game, but if I had to bet I'd say no. No matter how good he is at passing he should be able to score better. His OHL career high is 12 goals...

Adam Oates made a career out of passing..... just throwing that out there lol

Yes and no.

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=4052

Oates was actually a solid enoigh goal scorer he was just a nearly legendary passer.

In his last year in the NCAA he has 38 gp 31 g and 60 assists

SDA in his last year in junior had 55 GP 12 G and 63 assists