Who Sits, and Who Skates?

by blurr1974 on Oct 28, 2009 11:00 AM EDT in Question of the Day Comment 75 comments

Welcome to another installment of "Be a GM/Coach" where you faithful, huddled, unwashed masses, get to have your say. Sure, professional Coaches and GMs have a wealth of experience and education to draw upon. Of course they have contacts who know the ins and outs of the game. But you've got an armchair and some Cheetohs, and your buddy Steve down the street once knew a guy, who dated a gal who had an uncle who knew a guy that washed Scotty Bowman's car...

Ron-wilson_medium

You can also look where you point, unlike SOME people...(via i2.cdn.turner.com)

We're going with another coaching question this week (somehow I missed posting one of these last week, my bad.) The Leafs have had their first win of the season, and it's obvious to anyone with eyes that the team is now an unstoppable juggernaut of equal parts skill and sandpaper. However, there is a new team to go through on our way to the PLAYOFFS!!!!1.

Dallas, unlike Anaheim, has been on an upswing. They've got a fast team, with a good mix of veterans and youth. Currently sitting 6th in the West, they've scored 37 goals already this season, one fewer than the Leafs have already given up.

It's now up to you Coach! Who gets the call against the Stars? What does your roster look like? Do you stay with a winning team from Anaheim, or were their enough mistakes made that warrant someone getting a seat in the press box? Give us your best guesses for the roster on Wednesday, and bonus points to those who pick the shooters, should we get to a shoot out.

After the jump, you'll have your options.

Here's the Leafs current roster, make sure you've got all your bases covered when filling out your line up!

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS ROSTER

	#	POS.	DOB	W	H
Francois Beauchemin	22	D	6/4/1980	207	6-0
Jason Blake	55	LW	9/2/1973	180	5-10
Garnet Exelby	3	D	8/16/1981	215	6-1
Jeff Finger	4	D	12/18/1979	205	6-1
Mikhail Grabovski	84	C	1/31/1984	179	5-11
Niklas Hagman	9	LW	12/5/1979	205	6-0
Tomas Kaberle	15	D	3/2/1978	200	6-1
Mike Komisarek	8	D	1/19/1982	243	6-4
Nikolai Kulemin	41	LW	7/14/1986	183	6-1
Joey MacDonald	29	G	2/7/1980	197	6-0
Jamal Mayers	21	RW	10/24/1974	214	6-1
John Mitchell	39	C	1/22/1985	182	6-1
Colton Orr	28	RW	3/3/1982	222	6-3
Alexei Ponikarovsky	23	LW	4/9/1980	220	6-4
Wayne Primeau	18	C	6/4/1976	225	6-4
James Reimer	34	G	3/15/1988	208	6-2
Jay Rosehill	38	D	7/16/1985	195	6-3
Luke Schenn	2	D	11/2/1989	216	6-2
Matt Stajan	14	C	12/19/1983	200	6-1
Viktor Stalberg	45	LW	1/17/1986	210	6-3
Lee Stempniak	12	RW	2/4/1983	195	6-0
Rickard Wallin	51	C	4/19/1980	185	6-2
Ian White	7	D	6/4/1984	185	5-10

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Comments

matters on health, but I like playing a winning lineup…otherwise…XLB out for Finger if possible, for health. JFM needs to pick it up, but I don’t think we can drop him for Rosehill/Mayers against a team like Dallas, especially as Orr didn’t get a suspension and shitkicking Ott is not required tonight

Brain: The irony of it all, Pinky. Years of trying to take over the world, and all I had to do was say "truculence".
Follow me I'm Boring!

by blindfolded tank driver on Oct 28, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Finger in for Exelby
Bozak in for Mitchell

other than that, leave the lines be

All In Balls Out, Since 1983

by JaredFromLondon on Oct 28, 2009 11:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

is Bozak on the trip?

Brain: The irony of it all, Pinky. Years of trying to take over the world, and all I had to do was say "truculence".
Follow me I'm Boring!

by blindfolded tank driver on Oct 28, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmm, dunno, never thought of that, probably not

All In Balls Out, Since 1983

by JaredFromLondon on Oct 28, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

because if he is, it would be nice to see him get a chance in JFM’s slot

Brain: The irony of it all, Pinky. Years of trying to take over the world, and all I had to do was say "truculence".
Follow me I'm Boring!

by blindfolded tank driver on Oct 28, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the Marlies have been following the Leafs… they played the Abbotsford Heat last wednesday and Saturday, when the Leafs were in Vancouver.
They could be playing close by.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Oct 28, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No dice, they played Grand Rapids on Saturday and are playing Adirondack on friday. They played Abbotsford Tuesday, Wednesday last week according to their website.

by Shield on Oct 28, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

darn

I new they played on Wednesday out here, I was hoping they’d just follow the Leafs around.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Oct 28, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Would've been nice

If Bozak, Hanson and Tlusty all had their luggage “accidentally” stay in Vancouver.

by FiftyMissionCap on Oct 28, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

* picks up phone *

GET BOZAK HERE NOW

* slams phone *

Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Oct 28, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

who is this?

All In Balls Out, Since 1983

by JaredFromLondon on Oct 28, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and why did he call jared?

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know if you got that from Frasier, but it’s a great sequence.

Brad Stowe
Maple Leafs Hot Stove

by RepressedOptimism on Oct 28, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmm…?

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

‘who is this’ is what an old parking attendent says to Frasier every time he talks to him on a 2-way radio when him and Niles opened up their own restaurant. Pretty funny.

Brad Stowe
Maple Leafs Hot Stove

by RepressedOptimism on Oct 28, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

also this

All In Balls Out, Since 1983

by JaredFromLondon on Oct 28, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

seinology! thats awesome

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ahh, great show

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it takes about 3.5-5hours to fly to Dallas from Toronto! Game time!

Brain: The irony of it all, Pinky. Years of trying to take over the world, and all I had to do was say "truculence".
Follow me I'm Boring!

by blindfolded tank driver on Oct 28, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not in the hypersonic ram jet burke is secretly building in the basement of the ACC. Project Truculence. But I’ve said too much already.

by Its Cold In Here on Oct 28, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who needs a phone..

…when you can just use the Bozak bat signal?

by FiftyMissionCap on Oct 28, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the bozak signal, if you will

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Looks like trouble Tyler!

They call me Splodeybones.

by SkinnyFish on Oct 28, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs

thats a rec’n

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can just see the fight that would break out

Bozak: The Bozak sign!
Hanson: Are you sure? That looks like my hair.
Bozak: Hm. Could be the Gunnarson sign…
Gunnarson: No, I’m pretty sure that’s you Tyler.

and the Mustache of Truculence (formerly Canada4Mizzou)

by Wan Ihite on Oct 28, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bozak: To the bozak-mobile!

Hanson: You mean your chevy?

Bozak…..yes

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hey!

there’s a man in my congregation who’s about 90 years old, who told me this weekend that he knows all the old time hockey players from Saskatchewan, like the Conacher bros and Turk Broda. And that he was great friends with Foster Hewitt.

Clearly this connection makes me eminently qualified to assess our lineup, which I believe will stay as it was in the last game for tonight’s game.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Oct 28, 2009 11:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You said he says he “knows all the old time hockey players from Saskatchewan”… that is in the present tense. Turk Broda died in 1972. hehehe

-Graham-

by CanadianMaple09 on Oct 28, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Vesa in nets

for starters.

Kidding!

In general, the less NHL ice Garnet Exelby sees, the better. Blake’s mailing it in as usual, but they won’t bench him because he’d be a little bitch about it.

And honesly, Schenn still isn’t getting the job done. Don’t think I didn’t notice it was Schenn’s giveaway at the blueline that led to the Ducks first nice scoring chance.

by pevans on Oct 28, 2009 11:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Forwards

Poni-Grabbo-Hags
Stempy-Stajan-Blake
JFM-Wallin-Kulie
Orr-Primeau-Rosehill

Defense

Kabby-Komikazi
Schenn-Whitey Stachemaster
Finger-Beauchemin

Goalies
Monster (Starter)
Joey Joe Joe

Space Weed Says Now Endorsed by Tyler Bozak
"DO NOT get stuck behind Kyle Wellwood in the buffet line. This isn't really etiquette, but it will prevent you from starving to death"- Down Goes Brown on Etiquette for Jason Spezza's wedding

by Space Weed on Oct 28, 2009 11:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

this is probably going to be exactly what we see tonight

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

wait! wheres stalberg? replace rosehill with stalberh and put wallin, jfm or kulemin on the 4th line.

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

either that or stalberg takes kulemin or mitchells spot…

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kulemin played pretty well in Anaheim, I don’t see him getting a line drop

Brain: The irony of it all, Pinky. Years of trying to take over the world, and all I had to do was say "truculence".
Follow me I'm Boring!

by blindfolded tank driver on Oct 28, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

who gets 4th line duty then? no way you put stalberg on the 4th line….. id probably put mitchell on the 4th, or wallin

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mitchell gets the demote

All In Balls Out, Since 1983

by JaredFromLondon on Oct 28, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Wallin was playing with Primeau and Orr on the 4th line in Anaheim.
Rosehill won’t be playing.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Oct 28, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

good, no point.

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd say

for the future, that if Monster isn’t available to start a game, we throw a bag of pucks in front of the net instead of dressing any of the other 3 amigos

by PLAYOFFS!!!1 on Oct 28, 2009 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I understand not messing with a winning lineup, but I’d move Finger in for Exelby, unless Finger’s hurt. I’m happy enough with everything else to keep the rest unchanged.

leaf fan stuck in ottawa, still. Now truculently rebranded!

by stucky on Oct 28, 2009 12:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Finger in for Exelby, and everything else stays as is. JFM and Wallin haven’t really impressed, but demoting Stajan to the third line and replacing him with Bozak is an iffy move at the moment. One I’d consider, but iffy.

by Blue and White Expat on Oct 28, 2009 12:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Fortunately for all of you,

I am the Ron Wilson and this is my lineup for tonight:

Forwards
Poni – Grabs – Hagman
Stalberg – Stajan – Stempniak
Kulemin – Primeau – Mitchell
Rosehill – Wallin – Orr

Defense
Kaberle – Komisarek
White – Schenn
Beauchemin – Finger

Goalies
Gustavsson
MacDonald

Bringing me food down from the Press Box
Exelby
Mayers

They call me Splodeybones.

by SkinnyFish on Oct 28, 2009 12:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

did you kill Blake?

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Oct 28, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Only in my dream

Kulemin – Mitchell – Blake
Wallin – Primeau – Orr

Rosehill buys me a soda after the game

They call me Splodeybones.

by SkinnyFish on Oct 28, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that’s better, thanks.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Oct 28, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That said – once Kessell comes back in, I’d consider trying Bozak on a line with him to see how they mesh.

by Blue and White Expat on Oct 28, 2009 12:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I posted this in yesterday’s FTB, but I think Kulemin- grabovksi – Kessel should be the first shot at finding chemistry with Kessel.

Resident Capologist

by clrkaitken on Oct 28, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think stajan is the perfect guy to play with him

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

NO XLB PLZ

kthxbai

You say you want a revolution // Read the Blog and follow your Hunger

by Hungry Leafs Fan on Oct 28, 2009 12:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

oh crap

Forward James Neal grew up a fervent Leafs fan in Whitby, Ont., and his fondest hockey memory is the hat trick he scored as a rookie last December in his first visit to the Air Canada Centre in the Stars’ 8-2 win over the Leafs.

At least they’re not playing us at home.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Oct 28, 2009 1:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i remember that game, it sent us into a death spiral

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Even worse

I was at that game :(

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Oct 28, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ugh

who was in net that night?

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Toskalol!

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Oct 28, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How can you have grown up a Leafs fan and have your fondest memory be beating the crap out of them? He must’ve been more of a fair-weather fan.

by Shield on Oct 28, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he's from WHITBY

home of the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences

by PLAYOFFS!!!1 on Oct 28, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

uh

his whole family was there, all his friends were there… and he played one of his best games ever in the NHL.
I’d proud of that too.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Oct 28, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would be proud but probably wouldn’t call it my fondest memory.

by Shield on Oct 28, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

if i scored a hat trick in the NHL in toronto it would be my fondest memory no matter who i was playing for

All In Balls Out, Since 1983

by JaredFromLondon on Oct 28, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its not who you’re playing for, its who you’re playing against. I guess it doesn’t really matter as much since they are an out-of-conference team, but there still must be a little sadness in a player’s heart when he beats his favourite team.

by Shield on Oct 28, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the only thing that would be better than scoring the winner on the leafs would be scoring the winner for the leafs

All In Balls Out, Since 1983

by JaredFromLondon on Oct 28, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that after scoring the winner for the leafs, I’d want to score the winner against: SNES, Habs, Canucks, and/or Bruins, no matter what team I’m on. Probably also the Flyers, Penguins, and Hawks as well; and the Kings after highsticking Kopitar.

by Shield on Oct 28, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well if the stars won 8-2

then his 3 goals didn’t win the game did they? Even without those and a potential empty netter to boot it’d still be a 4-2 loss. So he got to pad his stats in front of his nearest and dearest, good on him.

and the Mustache of Truculence (formerly Canada4Mizzou)

by Wan Ihite on Oct 28, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and the Kings after highsticking Kopitar in game 6 of the Conference Finals?

Identical to Sergei Berezin in every way, only 1/10 his size.

From Russia with GLOVE SIDE!

by Sergei Puckizin on Oct 28, 2009 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was my uh, implied premise.

by Shield on Oct 28, 2009 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

But the thing is, because he’s from the area, scores of family and friends were in the audience; so it wasn’t the team, it was that he had people in the stands supporting him there.

Same deal with Benn when he scored the tying goal against the Canucks in the SO loss.

by FiftyMissionCap on Oct 28, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exelby in, Finger out

by McGriddle on Oct 28, 2009 3:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Horeshit!

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

or did i mean Horseshit….

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"

by Matt_Roberts on Oct 28, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blake is out

Blake is and we play ini mini miney mo with the Marlies to determine his replacement.

Whats all this talk about making changes to a winning roster. 5 goals on PP, two of them on a 5 on 3. Change the roster all you want but keep the PP.

Stalberg, Poni and Haggman, two huys that will go to the net and one tha can shoot.

by Just passing through on Oct 28, 2009 4:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yes I notice my typos

by Just passing through on Oct 28, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Welcome

Well, at least you use reply!

Thanks for joining.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Oct 28, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes the second one was done on purpose

by Just passing through on Oct 28, 2009 4:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My lineup

Poni Grabs Blake
Stålberg Stajan Stempniak
Hagman Mitchell Kulemin
Primeau Wallin Orr

13th forward Mayers

Kabby Komi
Schenn Beauchemin
Finger White

I still say Finger is injured, so XLB will probably have his spot. White will get 2nd PP time and possibly even 2nd PK time. He will see at least as much ice as the second pairing.

Yes I have Hagman on the third line even though is our best left winger… if Stålberg/Blake continue to struggle I think we may see some double shifting against Hag’s old team.

Shootout (hopefully not necessary)

Poni (needs his confidence back)
Stålberg (give the kid a chance)
Hagman (deserves it)

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Oct 28, 2009 4:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs