• Moderators, please send me a PM if you are unable to access mod permissions. Thanks, Habsy.

The Motherfucking 2021 Season Thread

I’m definitely down with making a goalie deal ASAP. I’m on the record with my belief that this team will go down in flames early in the playoffs once again unless we either get an upgrade on Freddie, or Campbell takes over and can give us average or above starting goaltending.

Though I guess something to keep in mind is that unless we’re acquiring a goalie from a Canadian team (and I can’t think of any that’d be available/that I’d be interested in), the earliest the goalie we’re trading for would be able to join the team is two weeks from now.

So we’re pretty much stuck with Hutch & Woll for the time being.
 
I’m definitely down with making a goalie deal ASAP. I’m on the record with my belief that this team will go down in flames early in the playoffs once again unless we either get an upgrade on Freddie, or Campbell takes over and can give us average or above starting goaltending.

Though I guess something to keep in mind is that unless we’re acquiring a goalie from a Canadian team (and I can’t think of any that’d be available/that I’d be interested in), the earliest the goalie we’re trading for would be able to join the team is two weeks from now.

So we’re pretty much stuck with Hutch & Woll for the time being.

If we make a goalie move after Jack returns, I can live with Jack getting a bunch of starts and spelling him with Hutch if needed.
 
Best forward combos this year, minimum 50 minutes played:

1. Engvall-Mikheyev 65.0xgf%
2. Matthews-Hyman 63.9xgf%
3. Matthews-Thornton 63.7xgf%
4. Matthews-Marner 62.8xgf%
5. Tavares-Hyman 61.1xgf%
6. Thornton-Marner 59.2xgf%
7. Hyman-Marner 59.0xgf%
8. Boyd-Petan 56.0xgf%
9. Boyd-Spezza 54.8xgf%
10. Mikheyev-Hyman 53.0xgf%
11. Tavares-Nylander 53.0xgf%
12. Mikhyev-Vesey 50.9xgf%
13. Mikheyev-Kerfoot 50.2xgf%
14. Vesey-Nylander 47.4xgf%
15. Kerfoot-Vesey 42.7xgf%
16. Tavares-Mikheyev 40.3xgf%
17. Tavares-Vesey 40.2xgf%
18. Mikheyev-Nylander 34.3xgf%

The one that jumps out there, of course, is the Mikheyev-Engvall pairing as the best one so far, ahead of all the various 1st line combos taking slots #2-7. This passes the eye test both this season and last season - Mikheyev and Engvall are pretty ferocious together, and imo its only a matter of time before the pucks start going in for them.

And obviously tavares and nylander haven't been working out too well together, while tavares-hyman seems to be the only combo thats worked for Tavares so far.

Meanwhile Engvall imo looks well good enough at 3C that Kerfoot can now be moved around freely to try and get a better fit for everyone, which opens up interesting possibilities.

the Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander line hasn't been great but has shown some promise, while the Mikheyev-Engvall-Hyman line looked like a pretty monstrous checking line. so you could just wait and see a little bit longer and hope that the tavares line wakes up. But another interesting move might be to go with something like this:

Kerfoot-Tavares-Hyman
Mikheyev-Engvall-Nylander

That would give Tavares more of the kind of line he was used to in New York - two good and fast linemates, but not elite skilled ones. This might help Tavares simplify his game a bit.

Meanwhile Willy could add in some high-end skill and finish to a line that is dominating territorially already but struggling to convert.
 
And obviously tavares and nylander haven't been working out too well together, while tavares-hyman seems to be the only combo thats worked for Tavares so far.

Super line?

Nylander-Matthews-Marner
Thornton-Tavares-Hyman
Engvall-Kerfoot-Mikky

If Nylander-JT just isn't working, stop trying to shoe horn it in. Give the kids 22 minutes a game and let'er rip.
 
I don't know how many pucks are going to go in for Engvall/Mikheyev, although I do like how they play. they don't seem to have a lot of scoring touch.

A guy like Robertson might be the ideal 3rd piece for that line, as he can legitimately score and perhaps capitalize on the tenacity of the other two. Or Simmonds if you want to drop the kid down. he'd add some sauce to the 4th line as well, he and spezza could well click.

don't think Vesey/Baranabov will be around for much longer.
 
Super line?

Nylander-Matthews-Marner
Thornton-Tavares-Hyman
Engvall-Kerfoot-Mikky

If Nylander-JT just isn't working, stop trying to shoe horn it in. Give the kids 22 minutes a game and let'er rip.

tbh i don't see any need for a super line - Matthews-Marner is already the best line in hockey seemingly no matter who they play with. I doubt Thornton will look as good anywhere else so i'd just leave them be.
 
These intangible hires should be what they always do to get a leg up. Love Barb and love the idea of Malhotra helping our guys on the face offs.
 
Back
Top