Nylander is elite at gaining the O Zone with possession and pulling up and finding an open guy (Matthews). I think you pair them together from the start and they'll figure it out again. Throw Johnsson on the other wing.

Kap is a little more one-dimensional. Its an unbelievable dimension but not really the best compliment to Matthews, he can drive an extremely high energy 3rd line.
- lonnyBohonos

Both Willie and Kap depend on Matthews to drive the play and get points.

Although I do feel Kap is a little more aggressive.

Nylander is elite at gaining the O Zone with possession and pulling up and finding an open guy (Matthews). I think you pair them together from the start and they'll figure it out again. Throw Johnsson on the other wing.

Kap is a little more one-dimensional. Its an unbelievable dimension but not really the best compliment to Matthews, he can drive an extremely high energy 3rd line.
- lonnyBohonos

Kap will play with Tavares after Marner signs the offers sheet.

Both Willie and Kap depend on Matthews to drive the play and get points.

Although I do feel Kap is a little more aggressive.
- Fakepartofme

I find kap is a little to North South and has his blinders on a lot. He’s not a great passer/playmaker but he gives defenceman fits with his speed.

Weird looking at the Kap stats with and without Matthews.

Kaps go up away from AM and AM's go down away from Kap.

Not that it means a ton, being smaller samples and probably different game scenarios...but I think Kap could put up big #'s playing with Matthews.

I wonder if a line of:

Kap Matthews Nylander might work better with Kap being a little bigger and more of a banger then Johnsson.

I find kap is a little to North South and has his blinders on a lot. He’s not a great passer/playmaker but he gives defenceman fits with his speed.
- bryant

Speed is second to none. I thought he did a great job on the PK last year too.

His passing is meh, he has a decent shot but lacks finish - especially for a guy with his speed.

I like his chippy attitude too, doesn't seem afraid to mix it up a bit. That wink and blown kiss at the Canadiens in late January/early February was awesome.

Improves depth?

Borgman would have stayed with the Marlies. Schmaltz has a chance in our top 6.

Muzzin - Barrie
Rielly - Ceci
Dermott - Schmaltz
- PatC80

i though drinksfuel said he is a norris candiate?

Weird looking at the Kap stats with and without Matthews.

Kaps go up away from AM and AM's go down away from Kap.

Not that it means a ton, being smaller samples and probably different game scenarios...but I think Kap could put up big #'s playing with Matthews.

I wonder if a line of:

Kap Matthews Nylander might work better with Kap being a little bigger and more of a banger then Johnsson.
- Garnie

I remember when nylander came back kap hinted at playing with nylander and Matthews. He said something about understanding how to play with Matthews whereas kadri seemed to confuse him a lot.

I think it meant he had to play on his off-wing but he was cool with that if it playing with them.

Speed is second to none. I thought he did a great job on the PK last year too.

His passing is meh, he has a decent shot but lacks finish - especially for a guy with his speed.

I like his chippy attitude too, doesn't seem afraid to mix it up a bit. That wink and blown kiss at the Canadiens in late January/early February was awesome.
- Kinger34

Ya he has a lot of qualities but never send him on a 2 on 1 with him carrying the puck. I don’t think he completed one pass last year like that.

I remember when nylander came back kap hinted at playing with nylander and Matthews. He said something about understanding how to play with Matthews whereas kadri seemed to confuse him a lot.

I think it meant he had to play on his off-wing but he was cool with that if it playing with them.
- bryant

Nylander is his best bud and Matthews is the best 5on5 goal scorer in the league. I'd wanna play with them too if it meant tying one hand behind my back.

Kapanen isn't a tiny fella either. He definitely doesn't have the hands for slick passing and dangling but he's got a decent shot. What I'd like to see more from him is to take the puck deep into the o-zone or towards the net instead of stopping up along the wall and trying to make a pass on zone entries.
- TheMussel

For sure. I don't know if it's his style or not - meaning I don't know if he's wired that way or if he's just still young and finding his range. He's not huge, but he's basically in that same range as guys like Leivo were - big enough to matter. If Kap can take that speed, and his body and add the dimension of being able to plow towards the net, he'll be more dangerous because that weapon will back off the D even more.

i though drinksfuel said he is a norris candiate?
- Tumbleweed

Tanner?

Ya he has a lot of qualities but never send him on a 2 on 1 with him carrying the puck. I don’t think he completed one pass last year like that.
- bryant

He went glove side top cheese a couple times on a breakaway though, maybe he just needs the puck.

I remember when nylander came back kap hinted at playing with nylander and Matthews. He said something about understanding how to play with Matthews whereas kadri seemed to confuse him a lot.

I think it meant he had to play on his off-wing but he was cool with that if it playing with them.
- bryant

I just like that with 3-4 strides Kap pretty much blows into the Ozone untouched.

Last year was his 1st year with Matthews and only had under 600 mins, maybe with some more time they could figure each other out a bit more.

Speed is second to none. I thought he did a great job on the PK last year too.

His passing is meh, he has a decent shot but lacks finish - especially for a guy with his speed.

I like his chippy attitude too, doesn't seem afraid to mix it up a bit. That wink and blown kiss at the Canadiens in late January/early February was awesome.
- Kinger34

He also misses the net a ton. I like Kap, the fact he’s on the leafs 3rd line is pretty sweet. Hopefully him and Kerfoot can make a nice combo.

Mathews = frail overpayment! That is all.

Both Willie and Kap depend on Matthews to drive the play and get points.

Although I do feel Kap is a little more aggressive.
- Fakepartofme

I disagree with this a little - both benefit from Matthews, there's no doubt, but I think we have to ignore last year's version of Nylander, because I don't know who that guy was.

The Nylander from the year before was the puck carrier. He was great at zone entry and carrying the puck successfully through the neutral zone. He was good at finding seams and creating opportunities. Matthews is a great finisher, and Nylander did a good job of giving Matthews opportunities to succeed. Matthews is absolutely the best player on the ice, and his presence gives Nylander more room to operate, but that room benefits both of them.

Kapanen gets his room by using his own speed to back the D off. And because he is such a good skater, he is able to get off shots on the rush because it's so hard to close on him - similar to Kessel, but without that deadly shot.

Kap also creates room for others because his speed will create defensive chaos, and that's a benefit to others on the ice with him. But he isn't distributing the puck for those chances anywhere near as well as Nylander does.

He also misses the net a ton. I like Kap, the fact he’s on the leafs 3rd line is pretty sweet. Hopefully him and Kerfoot can make a nice combo.
- ClarksonDavid

Who knows what line he'll be on at the moment, I'd like to see him with AM/Willie myself. I think he brings more than Johnsson JMO.

Mathews = frail overpayment! That is all.
- Bubbs613

Good thing we got Matthews instead.


phewwww.

He went glove side top cheese a couple times on a breakaway though, maybe he just needs the puck.
- TheMussel

Ya he is better on the breakaway when he doesn’t have the option to pass. He would always go for the pass and it would never work.

Who knows what line he'll be on at the moment, I'd like to see him with AM/Willie myself. I think he brings more than Johnsson JMO.
- Garnie

Yeah wouldn’t mind that either. At least to try it and see how it goes.

Good thing we got Matthews instead.


phewwww.
- Garnie

Lol, I'm just messing with you leaf fans, it can be fun lol

Lol, I'm just messing with you leaf fans, it can be fun lol
- Bubbs613

and easy

He also misses the net a ton. I like Kap, the fact he’s on the leafs 3rd line is pretty sweet. Hopefully him and Kerfoot can make a nice combo.
- ClarksonDavid

I agree, he should be on the 3rd line. I think he can be the most dangerous there.

I'm looking forward to next season. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Lol, I'm just messing with you leaf fans, it can be fun lol
- Bubbs613

Bro the internet is serious

Yeah wouldn’t mind that either. At least to try it and see how it goes.
- ClarksonDavid

I think he seems to have the puck so much it seems he misses the net a lot.

last year ( if I'm reading the damn charts right ) he took 289 shots and hit the net 156 times

Nylander the year before too 279 shots and hit the next 133 times.

You should probably double check my work.