Blues @ Leafs - Oct. 7th, 7:00pm - TSN4, Fan 590

[hockeyfan1]

[tweet]1181588339981508609[/tweet]

Mikheyev -Tavares -Marner  ? 
Kapanen shifts to the third line with Moore & Kerfoot.

 

[Bender]

Obviously we saw a lot of configurations over the years the Sundin and Roberts played on the Leafs but I don't remember Roberts spending a ton of time on Sundin's wing. It was Hoglund primarily in the early years.

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/hoglund-helps-balance-maple-leafs-ledger-1.239282

I don't have the stats there but according to this article when Gary came in Hoglund was out.

 

[Bender]

I'm not going to quote the whole thing. Hyman got 7 empty netters last year so scoring 14 with JT and Marner isn't anything special. Roberts always scored over 20 and he wasn't the 3rd wheel on Sundin's line. I'm sorry but Hyman doesn't bring anything close to what Roberts did. He's a very hard worker but at the end of the day Hyman is a bottom 6 guy, talent/scoring touch wise, who happens to plays in the top 6 with 2 superstars.

Nowhere did I say Zach Hyman is equivalent to Gary Roberts purely from a talent perspective, that's not my argument. I really don't feel like reiterating what I've said earlier if you're going to choose to willfully ignore the overall point I'm making. If the only things important to you are the counting stats then that's fine, we'll have a difference of opinion, but I think you need that hard worker on the line to get the puck to your best players who can take it from there.

 

[Chris]

I know I've referred to Hyman as a "black hole on offense" (as in, plays die when the puck winds up on his stick) but I think he got better at that last year. Yeah, a bunch of his goals were empty-netters but he seemed more sure of himself handling the puck, and made some really nice plays going to the net with confidence. Hopefully he can continue to improve in that area as it would add another dimension to that line.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I'm not going to quote the whole thing. Hyman got 7 empty netters last year so scoring 14 with JT and Marner isn't anything special. Roberts always scored over 20 and he wasn't the 3rd wheel on Sundin's line. I'm sorry but Hyman doesn't bring anything close to what Roberts did. He's a very hard worker but at the end of the day Hyman is a bottom 6 guy, talent/scoring touch wise, who happens to plays in the top 6 with 2 superstars.

Nowhere did I say Zach Hyman is equivalent to Gary Roberts purely from a talent perspective, that's not my argument. I really don't feel like reiterating what I've said earlier if you're going to choose to willfully ignore the overall point I'm making. If the only things important to you are the counting stats then that's fine, we'll have a difference of opinion, but I think you need that hard worker on the line to get the puck to your best players who can take it from there.

You said Roberts and Hyman were similar in the roles they played. They aren't, end of story and that isn't based on stats. In regards to needing a hard worker to get the puck for the best players. If JT and Marner need Hyman to get the puck for them in order to be successful, we're in deep trouble and they're way overpaid. Last I checked, JT has no issues going to the "hard" places and Marner is pretty good on the fore check also. The reason for this whole discussion is that the JT line is struggling and many are laying it on Kappy. That's not fair or true. Hyman isn't what makes those guys great. When JT and Marner get their crap together, all will be fine again regardless of who plays left wing.

 

[hockeyfan1]

The Spezza-Goat-Petan line had a 74.1% Corsi.

Spezza and Petan joined the Goat...for an impressive 71.4% rate in Monday?s loss to St. Louis, the type of grinding outfit more in line with the style of play Toronto will be challenged with come April.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-closer-finalizing-roster-want/