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A thread speculating about possible lines? Already?!

ZBBM

ZBBM

Active member
Hell yah, already.  It's time to start re-geeking this joint with threads about all conceivable Leafs-related minutiae.

British Bulldog published his take this morning in the armchair GM thread.  With apologies to him for doing this w/o asking, here it is:

I see the Leafs line up like this:

FORWARDS
James Van Riemsdyk ($4.250m) / Mikhail Grabovski ($5.500m) / Phil Kessel ($5.400m)
Joffrey Lupul ($4.250m) / Tim Connolly ($4.750m) / Nikolai Kulemin ($2.800m)
Clarke MacArthur ($3.250m) / Matthew Lombardi ($3.500m) / Matt Frattin ($0.925m)
Nazem Kadri ($1.720m) / Tyler Bozak ($1.500m) / Mike Brown ($0.737m)
Jay McClement ($1.500m) /
David Steckel ($1.100m) /

DEFENSEMEN
John-Michael Liles ($3.875m) / Dion Phaneuf ($6.500m)
Jake Gardiner ($1.117m) / Mike Komisarek ($4.500m)
Carl Gunnarsson ($1.325m) / Korbinian Holzer ($0.575m)
Cody Franson ($1.325m) /

GOALTENDERS
James Reimer ($1.800m)
Ben Scrivens ($0.613m)

I see it more like this:

FORWARDS
James Van Riemsdyk / Mikhail Grabovski / Phil Kessel
Joffrey Lupul / Tyler Bozak / Nikolai Kulemin
Clarke MacArthur / Tim Connolly / Nazem Kadri
Matt Frattin / David Steckel / Mike Brown
Jay McClement (could swap with Brown)
Matthew Lombardi

DEFENSEMEN
Carl Gunnarsson / Dion Phaneuf
J-M Liles / Mike Komisarek
Jake Gardiner / Cody Franson
Holzer or Blacker

GOALTENDERS
James Reimer ($1.800m)
Ben Scrivens ($0.613m)

Bozak really does belong in the 3rd line, but I just don't think Connolly is going to cut it.  I really don't know what to expect out of him and Lombardi.

I also think they need to ice a 3rd line that can score.  Kadri will never do anything on a 4th line -- they have to throw him out there on a decent line and see, once and for all, if he can cut the mustard.  This short season is do or die for him with Leafs IMO.

I also think you have to put Steckel out there on the 4th so you can bring him in for critical draws as needed.

On defense, somebody has to mind the store while Dion does whatever Dion is going to do.  Gunnar is as steady as we have.  If Liles falters, Gardiner could (and should) move up to the 2nd pairing.  And I think Franson has to get the nod at the start of the season.  Like Kadri, it's do or die for him.

Our goaltending ...  ho boy.
 
I think youse guys is nuts. McClement is one of the best PKing forwards in the league. They didn't sign him for the press box.
 
Lupul - Bozak - Kessel
Kulemin - Grabovski - vanReimsdyk
Connolly - McClement - Frattin
Lombardi - Steckel - Brown
Kadri
Orr

Gunnarsson - Phaneuf
Liles - Komisarek
Gardiner - Ranger
Holzer

(this is on the assumption that Franson can't come back this season because of his signing in the SEL...is that still the case?)

Reimer
Scrivens
(although I'm still pretty sure something will happen here...either Luongo or Theodore)
 
Nik V. Debs said:
I think youse guys is nuts. McClement is one of the best PKing forwards in the league. They didn't sign him for the press box.
Click to expand...

This is true. They appear to have too many bodies at present. Just read a tweet that major player movement will take place mid week. Should be interesting to see what Burke has up his sleeve.
 
Nik V. Debs said:
I think youse guys is nuts. McClement is one of the best PKing forwards in the league. They didn't sign him for the press box.
Click to expand...

This. At least one of Steckel/Lombardi/Connolly will be moved out or shifted to the wing.
 
louisstamos said:
Lupul - Bozak - Kessel
Kulemin - Grabovski - vanReimsdyk
Connolly - McClement - Frattin
Lombardi - Steckel - Brown
Kadri
Orr

Gunnarsson - Phaneuf
Liles - Komisarek
Gardiner - Ranger
Holzer

(this is on the assumption that Franson can't come back this season because of his signing in the SEL...is that still the case?)

Reimer
Scrivens
(although I'm still pretty sure something will happen here...either Luongo or Theodore)
Click to expand...

A few problems. Where's MacArthur? There's no way Kadri is up with the big club as the 13th forward and Ranger isn't signed to an NHL deal (and likely won't be this season). Franson's contract in the SEL also has an out clause if he signs an NHL deal. He'll almost certainly be back.
 
This is my best guess for now

Lupul-Bozak-Kessel
Kulemin-Grabo-Mac
JVR-Connolly-Frattin
Steckel-McClement-Brown
Lombardi

Phanoops-Gunnar
Liles-Holzer
Gardiner-Komi
Franson

Reimer
Someone who isn't already on the team
 
bustaheims said:
A few problems. Where's MacArthur? There's no way Kadri is up with the big club as the 13th forward and Ranger isn't signed to an NHL deal (and likely won't be this season). Franson's contract in the SEL also has an out clause if he signs an NHL deal. He'll almost certainly be back.
Click to expand...

Wow...completely forgot about MacArthur. :S

In that case, slot him in where I had Frattin.  And yeah, barring a trade of some kind, maybe both Kadri and Frattin stay with the Marlies (although I imagine they're the first ones called up if need be).

Slot Franson in where Ranger is (although isn't he still an RFA?  I believe he still needs to sign as well).
 
drummond said:
where is Komarov, he is one of the few Leafs who actually played competitive hockey.
Click to expand...

True, but he still has to beat out Brown and Steckel for a job, which is entirely possible if he maintains the level of play he showed with the Marlies and in the KHL.
 
Also, I wouldn't get hung up too much on lines. I think either way, we can currently put together 3 "meh" scoring lines and 1 decent checking line.
 
drummond said:
where is Komarov, he is one of the few Leafs who actually played competitive hockey.
Click to expand...

As is I don't think he makes the team. With a typical camp, there'd be more room for guys like him to make the leap but with only a week or so I don't think he bumps any of the established NHL'ers the team has under contract. Maybe he beats out Frattin for his spot but that strikes me as unlikely.

Of course all of this is subject to player movement before the start of the season.
 
To Nik's point, it's going to be an interesting league-wide scramble over the next couple of week. To be honest, we really shouldn't be doing this exercise right now though I know it's all in good fun.
 
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