The Toronto Maple Leafs are returning to an experiment that’s yielded middling returns at best when tried in the past. Head coach Sheldon Keefe is beginning training camp by utilizing William Nylander at center, putting the Swede back in the position he played when he was drafted in a crucial year for both team and player.
In theory, the move could pay serious dividends if kept long-term. It allows Keefe to roll out Nylander, Auston Matthews and John Tavares on three separate units while letting David Kämpf hone his shutdown specialty in a fourth-line role. If Nylander can adapt to playing down the middle, it would also give more support to a rag-tag group of wingers made up of skilled free-agent signings on one-year deals and youngsters looking to prove they can handle full-time roles. He hasn’t ever stuck as a full-time center, however, and he was famously moved there by former head coach Mike Babcock during the postseason early in his career. It didn’t work out – he scored just three goals through his first three playoff series, but he’s exploded since then and solidified himself as a consistent playoff performer – which is more than other stars on the team can say.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference today:
- Things are still progressing on the Shane Pinto front for the Ottawa Senators. The RFA remains without a contract as training camp looms in a matter of hours now, but general manager Pierre Dorion tells TSN’s Claire Hanna he’s getting “creative” in freeing up cap space to sign the young center. Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch also chimed in today, reporting the Sens and Pinto aren’t far apart on a new deal but that many moving parts (i.e., creating cap space via trade) still need to get worked out. While it’s anyone’s guess if Pinto will be in attendance for the first day of training camp, it does seem the wheels are in motion to make things work, and it won’t be too much longer before he reports, new contract in hand.
- New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette says he’ll open camp with 2020 first-overall pick Alexis Lafrenière at right wing. Many have speculated a move to his off-wing could be beneficial for the 21-year-old, who’s struggled to find ice time on the left wing behind Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin. It could work out to be a prudent move for the Rangers’ new bench boss, as getting both Lafrenière and Kaapo Kakko clicking in top-six roles out of the gate alongside the team’s veteran firepower would be incredibly impactful for their long-term futures with the team.
Top 6 roles? So you’re suggesting Wheeler is the third line RW?
His play has started to decline the last few years and he’s 37. So yes, he is probably best suited for a reduced role on the 3rd line.
There was talk by Larry Brooks that Wheeler could be ticketed for a third line role right after his signing. It was the fans that fueled the idea that he was gonna be possibly first or second line. Don’t really see it for this team at this point but he will be fixture on the second PP unit and depending how Lavy lines them up, possibly on the 1st.
The absolute best thing for the Rangers is for Blake Wheeler to be their regular 3RW. That would mean both Kakko and Lafreniere are working well as the top 2 RWs. The Rangers need the 2 youngsters to start leading the way, along with Chytil, if this team is to have any shot this year and in the years to come. Wheeler was not brought in as yet another roadblock for the 2 top picks, taking away both even strength and PP time from them. He was brought in for depth, toughness and as a backup in case of injury to one of the top 6. Wheeler starting the season as 1RW or 2RW doesn’t bode well for the team.
I’m all for Laf getting top line minutes, but the RW side isn’t where he’s suited. Secondly, he’s really a scorer (as is Zib and Kreider) and a facilitator should be on the RW, like Panarin. Furthermore, Chytil is a score first player, which doesn’t help Kakko or Laf. Going into the season I wouldn’t mind seeing three lines getting the bulk of the ice time with the 4th line killing penalties and playing every other 3rd round of shifts.
Zib, Kreider, Wheeler
Troch, Laf, Kakko
Chytil, Panarin, Othmann
Goodrow, Vess, whoever.
I place Wheeler at the top line because it’s the most mature line of the three where the vets can pick up each others habits and preferences faster. Add in that he’s an assist machine and Panarin on the third line could get Chytil the vet experience he needs to move to the next level. Facilitators on all three top lines.
Let’s hope Laviolette gives Laffy a real shot at RW, not just abandon the project at the first sign of a problem. A skilled player like him can make the adjustments. The Rangers need both him and Kakko to become top players on the team, both now and especially in the coming years as the veteran core gets older and moves on.