I could see ice time - not sure about the sandbagging. But your guess is as good as anyone’s.
- Garnie

Maybe not. I like Zach Hyman. He's a good NHLer and seems like a good person. I just think he's miscast on that line.

Marner had a short jaunt losing the puck mid ice etc. 4th line demotion isn’t the end all to be all...Babs gets to look at other players up in the lineup etc.

Going to be a good year, don’t think it will matter who’s playing where this year. 🕺🏼
- Garnie

I think Johnson and kap will move up and down the line up this year like brown and marner/nylander did at times last year
(Edit) Ennis also

Because Matthews told Babschlong to stop sand-bagging him with players who can't keep up with his plays. I imagine that's what the kitchen table meeting was about. That and the issue with being 40th in TOI or whatever Matthews was.
- BetterCallSaul

Agreed so goofy seeing Matthews not get ice time. He needs more mins and more pp mins. Let him play

Babs put him on 4th line because he was jealous of his hair and good looks. Obviously he wasn’t doing something Babs wanted him too or he didn’t think his play was up to par for a Super Star, not really a big deal or hard to understand...it’s not like the coach can spank guys or take away their pay.
- Garnie

But that my point, hyman no different but he never lost mins.

Maybe not. I like Zach Hyman. He's a good NHLer and seems like a good person. I just think he's miscast on that line.
- BetterCallSaul

I don’t mind him, not sure who else we would have put there the last couple years...I like Brown and Kap, Johnson etc but none have the weight Hyman has for board work and retrieving. We’ll see how it looks this year. I just don’t get all the dislike etc when the top line guys are scoring/breaking records and the team is putting up the most points ever.

But that my point, human no different but he never lost mins.
- burn

He does his job every game...the guys that aren’t fancy danglers usually don’t get into too much trouble with the puck. Not a big deal as I stated in the above post - we are winning games - breaking records.

I don’t mind him, not sure who else we would have put there the last couple years...I like Brown and Kap, Johnson etc but none have the weight Hyman has for board work and retrieving. We’ll see how it looks this year. I just don’t get all the dislike etc when the top line guys are scoring/breaking records and the team is putting up the most points ever.
- Garnie

Hyman is one of the best puck retrievers in the league (as per babs) and since he wants a guy like that on every line it makes sense why he's on the top line.. I would love to see him finish more though

They spent some time on the 4th line because they were a defensive liability. One could argue (including myself) that Marner never deserved it, JVR and Bozak did if anything. But Nylander certainly did. And he still hasn't really learned from the demotion although he he has a bit. But Marner definitely learned from it, even though he should have never been demoted in the first place. But in hind sight it looks like it worked for the better anyways so whatever. Hyman has never been a liability so why punish him, when he gives it 110% in all 3 zones of the ice. Punishing Nylander was definitely the correct thing to do. Especially since he's supposed to be a centerman at some point down the road. Thats at least how I view it.
- LeafGuy89

IMO people way over value human defensively. Talk of nylander being liability and hyman isn't but I don't think hyman is particularly good defensively. I don't see him as any better than most other teammates. Equal to nylander imo.

Hyman has more failed exists than most, but he's good defensively? Meh

Maybe not. I like Zach Hyman. He's a good NHLer and seems like a good person. I just think he's miscast on that line.
- BetterCallSaul

Agreed.

He does his job every game...the guys that aren’t fancy danglers usually don’t get into too much trouble with the puck. Not a big deal as I stated in the above post - we are winning games - breaking records.
- Garnie

Nor do I. Just something to talk about.

I'm excited to see them go this year

Hyman is one of the best puck retrievers in the league (as per babs) and since he wants a guy like that on every line it makes sense why he's on the top line.. I would love to see him finish more though
- Puck-us-all

I don't see him receive any ,ore than others. Matthews and nylander just as much as him, which was the argument as to why he was there in the first place,

I don't see him receive any ,ore than others. Matthews and nylander just as much as him, which was the argument as to why he was there in the first place,
- burn

Nylander is not as good along the boards as Hyman lol

Nylander is not as good along the boards as Hyman lol
- Puck-us-all

And?

And?
- burn

Who gets them the puck? Who digs it out of the corners?

Nylander is not as good along the boards as Hyman lol
- Puck-us-all

Nylanders great with open ice, he’s invisible along the boards. Hyman gets the puck way more then Nylander in the other teams end...he gets the puck to Willie or AM a lot more then the other way around.

Nylanders great with open ice, he’s invisible along the boards. Hyman gets the puck way more then Nylander in the other teams end...he gets the puck to Willie or AM a lot more then the other way around.
- Garnie

Bang on.. !

Who gets them the puck? Who digs it out of the corners?
- Puck-us-all

Matthews and nylander retrieve just as many or more.

It's not like hyman 100 recovery and Matthews and nylander 1

And?
- burn

And?

You said he gets the puck as much as Hyman which is not true...and it’s 1 of the only reasons they have Hyman on their line...Nylander’s soft...which is fine...that’s his style.

Nylanders great with open ice, he’s invisible along the boards. Hyman gets the puck way more then Nylander in the other teams end...he gets the puck to Willie or AM a lot more then the other way around.
- Garnie

I not not see hyman getting more pucks than his linemates. I've watched every game every year, I haven't seen it.

And?

You said he gets the puck as much as Hyman which is not true...and it’s 1 of the only reasons they have Hyman on their line...Nylander’s soft...which is fine...that’s his style.
- Garnie

"Being stinger on the boards" has nothi g to do with what I said, so hence the "and"

It is so true.

Matthews and nylander retrieve just as many or more.

It's not like hyman 100 recovery and Matthews and nylander 1
- burn

I don't have stats in front of me but that doesn't seem correct..
although Mathews is stellar at puck retrieval, lI wouldn't want him dogging in the corners all night and nylander won't, at least not effectively

I not not see hyman getting more pucks than his linemates. I've watched every game every year, I haven't seen it.
- burn

Ok

I watch every game too, sometimes twice. Regardless I don’t think Babs has him there for his good looks or his great shot.

Pretty sure Babs sees the same thing.

I’d still have Willie and AM on the PP together

Mm Am WN
Rielly JT

Marleau Naz Brown
Gardiner someone
- Garnie

I think JT + Kadri could be good together.. spread that scoring out a bit.

You probably see Hyman and one of Johnsson/Kapanen on the PP ahead of Brown.

I don't have stats in front of me but that doesn't seem correct..
although Mathews is stellar at puck retrieval, lI wouldn't want him dogging in the corners all night and nylander won't, at least not effectively
- Puck-us-all

Do they have such stats?

I think JT + Kadri could be good together.. spread that scoring out a bit.

You probably see Hyman and one of Johnsson/Kapanen on the PP ahead of Brown.
- Feeling Glucky?

I have a weird feeling ennis will be on the pp.. not sure if it's good or bad