Every PK player in the league makes a mistake once in awhile.
- Dozzer

Oh, there's no doubt in my mind that it's unfair to hold a grudge against him for one boneheaded play out of a million others.

But I am petty and my memory is shallow and unsympathetic.

Lol I think I’d still rather have him playing
- Dozzer

Now sure.
Hindsight though....missing the first half of the season after he signed would have been fine.

Looking back now.
But at the time, this place would eating itself

Oh, there's no doubt in my mind that it's unfair to hold a grudge against him for one boneheaded play out of a million others.

But I am petty and my memory is shallow and unsympathetic.
- mjones242

He’s also super young and probably has worked on making sure he never does it again

Now sure.
Hindsight though....missing the first half of the season after he signed would have been fine.

Looking back now.
But at the time, this place would eating itself
- Fakepartofme

Yeah, I know what you’re getting at but I also blame Dubas as well. My guess is Dubas was trying to get him to sign cheap so it’s not just Nylander’s fault.

Id keep willie on the 2nd line and do a shut down line on for the 3rd.
- Fakepartofme

I want all the lines to be able to play smart, responsible hockey.

No more of this, scoring line/shut down line garbage. Every player, especially in the top 6 needs to be able to defend against any line in the league. That’s the conundrum the Leafs have, Willy has no business being out there against McDavid/Kuch/MacKinnon.

I want all the lines to be able to play smart, responsible hockey.

No more of this, scoring line/shut down line garbage. Every player, especially in the top 6 needs to be able to defend against any line in the league. That’s the conundrum the Leafs have, Willy has no business being out there against McDavid/Kuch/MacKinnon.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I’d stop hoping for it if I were you cause there’s no way that’s going to happen. He’ll be on the second line unless he gets hurt and can’t play at all.

Maybe the possibility of him and Marner being switched is still there but I doubt it under Keefe.

I want all the lines to be able to play smart, responsible hockey.

No more of this, scoring line/shut down line garbage. Every player, especially in the top 6 needs to be able to defend against any line in the league. That’s the conundrum the Leafs have, Willy has no business being out there against McDavid/Kuch/MacKinnon.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Does that mean by playing in the opposition end?
A good offence is a good defense.

I’d stop hoping for it if I were you cause there’s no way that’s going to happen. He’ll be on the second line unless he gets hurt and can’t play at all.

Maybe the possibility of him and Marner being switched is still there but I doubt it under Keefe.
- Dozzer

Willy would still get 2nd PP time under my SchLEAFenplan.

Let him prove he can carry a line. He’ll have nowhere to hide without JT/AM

I want all the lines to be able to play smart, responsible hockey.

No more of this, scoring line/shut down line garbage. Every player, especially in the top 6 needs to be able to defend against any line in the league. That’s the conundrum the Leafs have, Willy has no business being out there against McDavid/Kuch/MacKinnon.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I've yet to see anyone take the opportunity to explain, and back it up with some hard stats, as to why he has any less business being out there against them than Marner does.

I want all the lines to be able to play smart, responsible hockey.

No more of this, scoring line/shut down line garbage. Every player, especially in the top 6 needs to be able to defend against any line in the league. That’s the conundrum the Leafs have, Willy has no business being out there against McDavid/Kuch/MacKinnon.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I want my best defensive forward unit against those guys. Kampf was brought in to play a shutdown role and to be that guy.

Willy would still get 2nd PP time under my SchLEAFenplan.

Let him prove he can carry a line. He’ll have nowhere to hide without JT/AM
- Arctic_AARDVARK

He just carried a line in the post season.

He has literally proven he's more capable of carrying a line than Marner.

I’d stop hoping for it if I were you cause there’s no way that’s going to happen. He’ll be on the second line unless he gets hurt and can’t play at all.

Maybe the possibility of him and Marner being switched is still there but I doubt it under Keefe.
- Dozzer

At first people wanted Marner to play with Matthews and Babcock resisted.
Now, they seamed afraid to separate them under Keefe.

Mama let that boy, play some Hockey
Jazz is much to crazy

Had he not sat out, his cap could be 7.5. Willie haters would hate even more.
In hindsight, its too bad marner didnt sit to lower his cap hit.
Lol
- Fakepartofme

Just 'cos you mentioned it, I threw it into my calculator.

Marner's cap hit would have lowered from $10.9m to $10.4m, but his first year cap hit would have been $14.4m!

Does that mean by playing in the opposition end?
A good offence is a good defense.


- dmnted

We’ll, they’re not going to have the puck the entire time. Willy is terrible in the D zone trying to get the puck back.

Willy would still get 2nd PP time under my SchLEAFenplan.

Let him prove he can carry a line. He’ll have nowhere to hide without JT/AM
- Arctic_AARDVARK

The reason why PP1 sucked last year was that there was only one legitimate scoring threat and it was obvious as (frank) who the Leafs wanted to get the puck to.

This year they're going to try Willie with AM34 as a dual threat and it's about (frank)ing time.

I want all the lines to be able to play smart, responsible hockey.

No more of this, scoring line/shut down line garbage. Every player, especially in the top 6 needs to be able to defend against any line in the league. That’s the conundrum the Leafs have, Willy has no business being out there against McDavid/Kuch/MacKinnon.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Cause if he is on the 3rd line there is no way he ends up playing against the top 6 on other teams?

I want my best defensive forward unit against those guys. Kampf was brought in to play a shutdown role and to be that guy.
- mjones242

Matthews and JT will be on the ice 90% of the time vs top opponents. Kampf can get a shift or two late in the game defending the lead.

The reason why PP1 sucked last year is that there was only one legitimate scoring threat and it was obvious as (frank) who the Leafs wanted to get the puck to.

This year they're going to try Willie with AM34 as a dual threat and it's about (frank)ing time.
- mjones242

Marner will be on PP1.

He’ll be on Canada’s PP1 too.

Marner will be on PP1.

He’ll be on Canada’s PP1 too.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Yes, Marner will be on PP1 with AM34 and Willie.

Team Canada? Ehh... not so sure.

We’ll, they’re not going to have the puck the entire time. Willy is terrible in the D zone trying to get the puck back.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

He's actually really good at it.

I was so adamant that obtaining him in a cap dump was genius. I still believe in the player, but be prepared to just never see him again.
- RickJames77

hey, how bout those Rangers eh

always nice to beat the big, bad B's

Matthews and JT will be on the ice 90% of the time vs top opponents. Kampf can get a shift or two late in the game defending the lead.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Willy would still get 2nd PP time under my SchLEAFenplan.

Let him prove he can carry a line. He’ll have nowhere to hide without JT/AM
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Why must he carry/drive the line? Can he be a secondary for the line he's on? Players will not give him too much attention to let him rip his shots up high and sometimes miss the net.
He will get his chances.

I want my best defensive forward unit against those guys. Kampf was brought in to play a shutdown role and to be that guy.
- mjones242

Doesn’t work! Didn’t you watch Montreal fail using that strategy in the playoffs against the Leafs?

Cause if he is on the 3rd line there is no way he ends up playing against the top 6 on other teams?
- jribout

He’ll get far fewer minutes against the other top lines.

Let him show he can carry a line, and be defensively responsible. My guess is that if he tries to do that, his offence will suffer as a result. Then we’ll see what his true value is.