The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to take on the Carolina Hurricanes tonight in Toronto.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are 7-2-0, good for second place in the Atlantic Division. The Hurricanes – a team on the rise – are 3-3-1 and sit second last in the Metropolitian.
Tonight’s game features the mystery of James van Riemsdyk. After falling awkwardly in Monday’s game (a 3-2 game win over L.A they probably didn’t deserve) JVR is going to try and play tonight. If he can’t go, Josh Leivo will get his first game of the year.
To me, this seems pretty stupid. The Leafs are off to a good start and they’ve got quality players in the pressbox and the AHL. If a player, for instance, JVR, isn’t 100% why risk it? It’s October, its the Hurricanes and you have Leivo as an option. I have no idea why they’d even try JVR, just give him a few days off and get Leivo into the lineup.
#Leafs lines vs. Hurricanes:
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) October 26, 2017
Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Kadri-Komarov
JvR-Bozak-Brown
Martin-Moore-Marner
44-2
51-22
55-46
31
35
Not the Only Dumb Move
As you can see from the above tweet, attempting to play JVR isn’t the only dumb move Babcock has concocted for tonight. For the third or fourth ridiculous game in a row, Babcock has inexplicably decided to play Mitch Marner on the fourth line. One of the best talents in the history of the Maple Leafs, and he’s on the fourth line. OK.
More from Editor In Leaf
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Nick Robertson Healthy and Ready
- Ryan Reaves Will Have Zero Impact on Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Playing Max Domi In Top-Six a HUGE Mistake
- Top 10 Scandals in the History of the Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Results from the Traverse City Prospects Tournament
And since it’s the infallible Babcock, no one will even question this move. But regardless, it is a stupid move. A player as talented as Marner should never be on the fourth line. Frankly, it’s even kind of ridiculous that he’s on the third line to start with.
Oh well.
Sticking with the dumb and the weird , Roman Polak will play his second game in a row. This despite the Leafs having five to seven superior players in the system.
Hopefully Calle Rosen – who played well and had no reason to be taken out of the lineup – can make it back to the big club soon. But the real stupidity of playing Polak comes from taking the effective Connor Carrick out of the lineup. Carrick is so much better than Polak its not even funny. So far this year he’s been a positive possession player despite playing the vast majority of his time with a rotating cast of rookies. He also jumps to 65% when he’s not paired with Andreas Borgman (who is 34% when not playing with Carrick).
Next: Weekly Marlies and Prospect Update
Carrick can join Marner, Rosen, Leivo and Kappanen as players who can’t catch a break from the coach despite playing excellent hockey whenever called upon. Eventually the team will pay for making such bad lineup decisions.