Leafs Bottom 6/Depth Chart

[Fanatic]

Please forgive me if there is a better place for this or if it is already being discussed in another thread. I do not mean to start a new thread just for the sake of doing so.

I have lost track of the Leafs depth chart. Could someone here, who is more on top of things, show the Leafs depth chart, including the many options available to round out the bottom 6. 

 

[Kin]

http://mapleleafs.nhl.com/club/roster.htm

Subtract Kessel, Kadri, JVR, Bozak and Lupul, that's more or less it.

 

[Fanatic]

Fair enough. Thanks.

Maybe the better question then is, who is the last man on the top two lines? You listed 5 guys, and I think all would agree that they are on the top two lines. Who plays with them.

Some people here seem to have skill (or at least it looks like it) to show probable line combos. I could not take that list and begin to do that. Just a long list of names to me.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

http://www.capgeek.com/mapleleafs/depth-chart/

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I would imagine the Leafs will go into training camp with this type of line-up in mind:

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-_____
Komarov-Santorelli-_____
Winnik-Holland-_____

With Clarkson, Booth, Kontiola, Ashton, and Frattin battling it out for those 3 spots.

 

[Fanatic]

Does anyone think there is a chance that Nylander makes the team and plays in the top 6?

 

[Kin]

Maybe the better question then is, who is the last man on the top two lines? You listed 5 guys, and I think all would agree that they are on the top two lines. Who plays with them.

I don't think anyone knows at this point. That's a decision that will probably be made in camp. Were I a betting man, I'd guess that Clarkson gets every opportunity to win the job with Frattin and Booth the next guys in line. If you want some possible line combos my guess of their line-up in game one barring injury/suspension would be:

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson
Booth-Santorelli-Komarov
Winnik-Holland-Frattin
Orr-Kontiola

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Does anyone think there is a chance that Nylander makes the team and plays in the top 6?

I think it was always unlikely, even moreso now with all these signings. It's probably better for him to play in the AHL for a season anyway.

 

[Kin]

Does anyone think there is a chance that Nylander makes the team and plays in the top 6?

If he comes into camp looking like he's about to win the Calder, to the point where it would be virtually impossible to send him down, sure.

 

[Fanatic]

Does anyone think there is a chance that Nylander makes the team and plays in the top 6?

If he comes into camp looking like he's about to win the Calder, to the point where it would be virtually impossible to send him down, sure.

Is that the standard to go by? What if he is simply the most talented option that the Leafs have to put on the 2nd line?

 

[Kin]

Is that the standard to go by? What if he is simply the most talented option that the Leafs have to put on the 2nd line?

Then you have to weigh the benefits of the realistic impact he would have on the team versus the cost of burning a year of his rookie contract/RFA status and risk of harming his development, in which case I think most people would think the prudent thing to do would be to not keep him up.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The Leafs are in a very fortunate position here with Nylander. He doesn't have to win a spot in training camp for him to be a member of the Leafs this season. This isn't like the Rielly situation last year. Assuming the Leafs can get him to play in the AHL (which I think they can), he can go up and down as the team pleases. I'd rather give him a month or two in the AHL to learn the teams general system and adjust to the NA pro game. If he's lighting it up down there and the team still can't find a fit on that Kadri line then by all means bring him up.

The other potential bonus to having him start in the AHL is that he can possibly revert back to the centre position and the Leafs can see if he has a future there. He won't be given that opportunity on the Leafs next season, barring injury of course.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

The Leafs are in a very fortunate position here with Nylander. He doesn't have to win a spot in training camp for him to be a member of the Leafs this season. This isn't like the Rielly situation last year. Assuming the Leafs can get him to play in the AHL (which I think they can), he can go up and down as the team pleases. I'd rather give him a month or two in the AHL to learn the teams general system and adjust to the NA pro game. If he's lighting it up down there and the team still can't find a fit on that Kadri line then by all means bring him up.

The other potential bonus to having him start in the AHL is that he can possibly revert back to the centre position and the Leafs can see if he has a future there. He won't be given that opportunity on the Leafs next season, barring injury of course.

Yeah if they feel he can be a C at the NHL level I'd much rather him play that position at the AHL level for at least a season and not burn a year of his ELC finding out in the NHL.

 

[Champ Kind]

Maybe the better question then is, who is the last man on the top two lines? You listed 5 guys, and I think all would agree that they are on the top two lines. Who plays with them.

I don't think anyone knows at this point. That's a decision that will probably be made in camp. Were I a betting man, I'd guess that Clarkson gets every opportunity to win the job with Frattin and Booth the next guys in line. If you want some possible line combos my guess of their line-up in game one barring injury/suspension would be:

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson
Booth-Santorelli-Komarov
Winnik-Holland-Frattin
Orr-Kontiola

Just a few minor variations for me.  I think the younger, offensive minded players like Holland and Frattin have to play on the third line, where they would get more than 8-10 minutes per night.  Or it might be a matter of semantics, but I guess I like the idea of the more skilled players on the third rather than fourth line.

I am also wagering than Kontiola is a flame out, much in the vein of Rickard Wallin, and Orr is pushed to the exits.  In which case, Ashton and Bodie become the 13'th and 14'th forwards.

At any rate, I'll reiterate what's already been said by agreeing that this year's bottom six forward are going to be much, much better than last year.  If my fourth line prediction holds, the difference will be huge.


JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson
Booth-Holland - Frattin
Winnik- Santorelli - Komarov
Bodie-Ashton

 

[Kin]

Just a few minor variations for me.  I think the younger, offensive minded players like Holland and Frattin have to play on the third line, where they would get more than 8-10 minutes per night.  Or it might be a matter of semantics, but I guess I like the idea of the more skilled players on the third rather than fourth line.

I think it's pretty optimistic to think that whatever the team's primary defensive line is they'll be the ones playing 8-10 minutes a night. Likewise, Frattin's got 9 goals and 20 points in his last 69 NHL games. The idea that he's "more skilled" than anyone is pretty debatable right now.

 

[Fanatic]

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson
Booth-Holland - Frattin
Winnik- Santorelli - Komarov
Bodie-Ashton

If Clarkson is in the top 6 then the problem with this team is not the bottom 6, it's the top 6.

I never meant to imply that Nylander was in fact more skilled. I threw it out there as a "what if" type thing. But I will now add this, if Nylander does not already have more skill than Clarkson to play on the top 2 lines then I have been duped into believing something about him that is not true.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

JVR-Bozak-Kessel
Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson
Booth-Holland - Frattin
Winnik- Santorelli - Komarov
Bodie-Ashton

If Clarkson is in the top 6 then the problem with this team is not the bottom 6, it's the top 6.

I never meant to imply that Nylander was in fact more skilled. I threw it out there as a "what if" type thing. But I will now add this, if Nylander does not already have more skill than Clarkson to play on the top 2 lines then I have been duped into believing something about him that is not true.

There's a difference though in having more skill and being able/being ready to play an 82 game NHL season.

 

[Fanatic]

There's a difference though in having more skill and being able/being ready to play an 82 game NHL season.

Sure. I agree. And, as Nik pointed out, there is the question of what is best for his development as well.

But if Nylander was to make the team it needs to be in the top 6 - not in the bottom 6 - and that opportunity seems as wide open as ever if a guy like Clarkson is the best they can do for their 6th forward.

 

[Kin]

But if Nylander was to make the team it needs to be in the top 6 - not in the bottom 6 - and that opportunity seems as wide open as ever if a guy like Clarkson is the best they can do for their 6th forward.

But I think that what most of us who are penciling Clarkson into that spot are saying is that he's going to be given the opportunity based on the Leafs trying to make the most out of the situation they're in and trying to get some of what made him effective in New Jersey work here. If Clarkson isn't significantly better this year than he was last year, he won't stick there and then you'll see other guys get shots.

Nylander doesn't just have to be "better than Clarkson" and just because Clarkson may be given the opportunity it doesn't mean he's the "best they can do". Nylander would be competing with basically every winger on the Leafs roster not named Van Reimsdyk, Kessel or Lupul for the spot.

 

[Fanatic]

Nylander doesn't just have to be "better than Clarkson" and just because Clarkson may be given the opportunity it doesn't mean he's the "best they can do". Nylander would be competing with basically every winger on the Leafs roster not named Van Reimsdyk, Kessel or Lupul for the spot.

Sure. Would you agree though, that for a skilled guy like Nylander, he should either crack the top 6 or go play in the AHL?