that robertson slapshot was somethin
- TheMussel

It was.

First impressions, which mean little in the overall scheme - ignoring the good players who we know will be on the team . . .

Boyd was involved and good. Robertson has a cannon. Barbonov was not impressive to me. He was engaged, but not overly effective. Lehtonen looked more NHL ready than Sandin or Liljegren - who I'm really beginning to question if he has an NHL future with this team - or Dermott, if I'm being fair. Vesey looked like he belongs. Chartier, who I've honestly never heard of, had a number of decent chances, too. From a peek at Eliteprospects, he was a former Shark who is now a Marlie. He was still noticeable, even if he's not going to be an NHLer. I didn't catch too much from Anderson, and while Brooks scored a goal on a lucky bounce, I don't think he did too much otherwise.

Seeing one scrimmage where no one is really trying all that hard isn't really fair - it was just more wondering who was capable of doing what. Some guys I thought would be flashier (like Barbanov) weren't in this game.

It was.

First impressions, which mean little in the overall scheme - ignoring the good players who we know will be on the team . . .

Boyd was involved and good. Robertson has a cannon. Barbonov was not impressive to me. He was engaged, but not overly effective. Lehtonen looked more NHL ready than Sandin or Liljegren - who I'm really beginning to question if he has an NHL future with this team - or Dermott, if I'm being fair. Vesey looked like he belongs. Chartier, who I've honestly never heard of, had a number of decent chances, too. From a peek at Eliteprospects, he was a former Shark who is now a Marlie. He was still noticeable, even if he's not going to be an NHLer. I didn't catch too much from Anderson, and while Brooks scored a goal on a lucky bounce, I don't think he did too much otherwise.

Seeing one scrimmage where no one is really trying all that hard isn't really fair - it was just more wondering who was capable of doing what. Some guys I thought would be flashier (like Barbanov) weren't in this game.
- Monkeypunk

Pretty much share those views. Strong game from the big boys upfront, including Thornton. Strong games from Rielly and Lehtonen on D. Lili struggled as did Sandin to lesser degree. Bogo and Brodie seemed ok but nothing really noticeable which is fine,

Biggest issue as weird as it sounds is return of Kerfoot. Engvall scored a goal but I didn’t get the sense that the third line was capable of being a real shutdown line as is. Mik was good but if that line can go up against other team’s top lines it will provide huge flexibility.

Of course, news of Jumbo the elephant changes everything.

Pretty much share those views. Strong game from the big boys upfront, including Thornton. Strong games from Rielly and Lehtonen on D. Lili struggled as did Sandin to lesser degree. Bogo and Brodie seemed ok but nothing really noticeable which is fine,

Biggest issue as weird as it sounds is return of Kerfoot. Engvall scored a goal but I didn’t get the sense that the third line was capable of being a real shutdown line as is. Mik was good but if that line can go up against other team’s top lines it will provide huge flexibility.

Of course, news of Jumbo the elephant changes everything.
- Canada Cup

Marner was the best forward; Nylander would be next. Lehtonen was the best Dman and Campbell looked the sharpest in net.

I thought Mikheyev was effective and playing with Hyman and Kerfoot might be a decent shut down line.

It is tough to take Robertson out of the lineup, but I am not sure where he fits. I keep hoping he might turn into a Gallagher type.

Dermott looks frazzled with the speed of the NHL game, all the time, in all three zones.

Lolz...Nikki Haley the US Ambassador to the UN tweeted about how censorship is what China does, referring to Cheeto Don Un's Twitter ban...someone said or to look at it another way, forcing newspapers to publish the government's ideas is what dictatorships do...pwnage...love the inability to understand the 1st Amendment now that the free market is consuming one of their own...so yummy

Dermott looks frazzled with the speed of the NHL game, all the time, in all three zones.
- fifty__missions

He's the guy I would trade for a 10 pack of Timbits if I was GM

Marner was the best forward; Nylander would be next. Lehtonen was the best Dman and Campbell looked the sharpest in net.

I thought Mikheyev was effective and playing with Hyman and Kerfoot might be a decent shut down line.

It is tough to take Robertson out of the lineup, but I am not sure where he fits. I keep hoping he might turn into a Gallagher type.
- Aetherial

Lehtonen looked very good, agree on Robertson, he's less grit than Gallagher but what a shot.

Between Robertson, Matthews, Willy and The Snake there's some cereal shooting/tipping skills on the team

Marner was the best forward; Nylander would be next. Lehtonen was the best Dman and Campbell looked the sharpest in net.

I thought Mikheyev was effective and playing with Hyman and Kerfoot might be a decent shut down line.

It is tough to take Robertson out of the lineup, but I am not sure where he fits. I keep hoping he might turn into a Gallagher type.
- Aetherial

Once Kerfoot is back, Engvall gets pushed down to the 4th line likely with Spez and Simmonds. Taxi time for Robertson and Barabanov would be my guess. If Kerfoot misses a few games, maybe Robertson slots in ahead of Barabanov. That’s just based on that game.

Once Kerfoot is back, Engvall gets pushed down to the 4th line likely with Spez and Simmonds. Taxi time for Robertson and Barabanov would be my guess. If Kerfoot misses a few games, maybe Robertson slots in ahead of Barabanov. That’s just based on that game.
- Canada Cup

There will be a few injuries as well as potential Covid related missed time. Robertson will get his chances. I would think Leaf managment has significantly higher hopes on Robertson's potential than Engvall's potential and should act accordingly.

Once Kerfoot is back, Engvall gets pushed down to the 4th line likely with Spez and Simmonds. Taxi time for Robertson and Barabanov would be my guess. If Kerfoot misses a few games, maybe Robertson slots in ahead of Barabanov. That’s just based on that game.
- Canada Cup

Yeah agreed.

I thought Simmonds looked slow and clumsy. I don't think he sees much beyond the 4th line. I doubt the PP experiment with him works.

It's unfortunate, a Simmonds in his prime is one of the key ingredients this team was missing.

Yeah agreed.

I thought Simmonds looked slow and clumsy. I don't think he sees much beyond the 4th line. I doubt the PP experiment with him works.

It's unfortunate, a Simmonds in his prime is one of the key ingredients this team was missing.
- Aetherial

Simmonds was never a speed demon and we've seen one inter-squad game. He will contribute, maybe fourth line to start but he's only 32 and as you mention brings an element Leafs need.

Yeah agreed.

I thought Simmonds looked slow and clumsy. I don't think he sees much beyond the 4th line. I doubt the PP experiment with him works.

It's unfortunate, a Simmonds in his prime is one of the key ingredients this team was missing.
- Aetherial

I don't like Simonds on the 1st pp. At all. It won't last.

There will be a few injuries as well as potential Covid related missed time. Robertson will get his chances. I would think Leaf managment has significantly higher hopes on Robertson's potential than Engvall's potential and should act accordingly.
- winsix

Yeah it’s just that it’s a tough balancing act with every game being a 4 pointer. But they also can’t afford to waste a year of his development because Engvall or someone might be slightly better. Too bad Dubas, Keefe and gang are so stupid that they won’t be able to manage this.

I don't like Simonds on the 1st pp. At all. It won't last.
- fifty__missions

Lots of mixing and matching game to game and within games. It’s not clear, for example, that Elephant Joe can play as many minutes as Matthews and Marner so we’ll likely see some blender work.

Yeah it’s just that it’s a tough balancing act with every game being a 4 pointer. But they also can’t afford to waste a year of his development because Engvall or someone might be slightly better. Too bad Dubas, Keefe and gang are so stupid that they won’t be able to manage this.
- Canada Cup

I know you're a piano man now, I'll look for some Oscar Peterson later, here's this week's Guitar Solo. Love this song, couldn't find a live version as good as the studio version.

I wish obviously it was going to be a normal season, but this one-off oddity of having so many games against all Canadian teams, with so many rivalry games, and with the shortened season giving less runway to get points is gonna be pretty wild. It's kind of like a 4 different Original 6 leagues that then go into a playoff against each other. I'm looking forward to that part a lot. There could be some wild games because teams will (frank)ing hate each other soon enough.

Lots of mixing and matching game to game and within games. It’s not clear, for example, that Elephant Joe can play as many minutes as Matthews and Marner so we’ll likely see some blender work.
- Canada Cup

It's very clear Joe can't play those minutes, actually.

It's very clear Joe can't play those minutes, actually.
- fifty__missions

Excellent no risk add to the team and I anticipate will make a contribution to this team. Who cares how many minutes he plays?

This is what leadership looks like:

https://mobile.twitter.co...tatus/1348249481284874240

This is what leadership looks like:

https://mobile.twitter.co...tatus/1348249481284874240
- Atomic Wedgie

First class

This is what leadership looks like:

https://mobile.twitter.co...tatus/1348249481284874240
- Atomic Wedgie

Not sure why I am surprised...
I'm impressed, Arnie.
Very well said without any fancy words - just the plain truth.

Yeah agreed.

I thought Simmonds looked slow and clumsy. I don't think he sees much beyond the 4th line. I doubt the PP experiment with him works.

It's unfortunate, a Simmonds in his prime is one of the key ingredients this team was missing.
- Aetherial

I think of Simmonds as a more capable Clifford. I'd still pencil him in on the 4th, but hope he'll hit more. Move up to the 3rd in games that require it or when he earns it. I think he was only on the PP because other guys were on the other squad.

I think of Simmonds as a more capable Clifford. I'd still pencil him in on the 4th, but hope he'll hit more. Move up to the 3rd in games that require it or when he earns it. I think he was only on the PP because other guys were on the other squad.
- Monkeypunk

Are you sure you are not going out on too much of a limb with that? After all Simmonds only averaged 28 goals a season for 7 years prior to the last two seasons, while Clifford has managed 61 goals in 676 NHL games.