Winging it

After a quiet weekend watching golf that's turned into a long weekend of watching golf, although Calgary got even better (hello Roman Hamrlik), Leaf Nation returns to the water coolers today with their "big three" up the middle, and some questions with the the wingmen.

Mats Sundin, Jason Allison and Eric Lindros (getting used to saying that? - just rolls off the tongue) will all play centre, says coach Pat Quinn.

"I believe having good strength up the middle is an old maxim but it's a true one. To build championship teams you have to have strength there. I like the thought of those three guys in the middle," says Quinn.

Sounds good. But who's gonna dig the puck out of the corners? Toronto has about $2.5 million left under the salary cap and GM John Ferguson Jr. says he wants to keep some wiggle room for during the season. So while there's plenty of talent still available (Alex Mogilny, Teemu Selanne, John LeClair, Peter Bondra) on the free agent market, there's just not much room in Toronto for more players.

We want to know your ideas for line combinations. Would you play Belak and Domi with Lindros in a bang-and-crash line? Where does Jeff O'Neill's scoring best fit?

Leaf fans have reason to be optimistic, Sundin says he's in great shape and is hungry to get things started.

In Boston, president Harry Sinden likes his team a lot and thinks the Bruins will be among the class of the Eastern Conference. Others? Philly, Ottawa and Toronto, but the Leafs have a big 'if', according to Sinden:

"Toronto can become an interesting team because of (Jason) Allison and (Eric) Lindros. With (Mats) Sundin, that gives them three possible star centres. Of course, there's a distinct possibility that they'll only have one."

Yes. Distinct. (holding breath)

Around the league:

Phoenix is looking for a veteran to help coach Wayne Gretzky betweent the pipes, with ex-Leaf Curtis Joseph on the radar (reg. req'd).

In Florida, the "Keenanization" of the Panthers (reg. req'd) is underway, and the team is not on good terms with star goalie Roberto Luongo.

Nashville forwards Paul Kariya and Greg Johnson share, along with most Canadians, some bad memories when it comes to the dreaded shootout. Let's just say they're not big fans.

Comments

[Irek K]

Wendel Clark-Sundin-O'Neill

Antropov-Allison-Ponikarovsky

Tucker-Lindros--Domi

Wilm--Stajan--Perrott

[JEFF SMITH]

DARCY TUCKER,MATS SUNDIN,JEFF O'NEIL

TIE DOMI,JASON ALLISON,ERIC LINDROS

?,NIC ANTROPOV,?

?,MATT STAJAN,?

[Roy]

Tucker Sundin O'Neil
Stajan Allison Antropov
Ponikarovsky Lindros Domi/Belak
Kilger/Wilm Wellwood N.Perrottˇ

[Huzaifa Manjra]

DARCY TUCKER,MATS SUNDIN,JEFF O'NEIL
NIK ANTROPOV,JASON ALLISON,ALEX PONIKARVSKY
CHAD KILGER, ERIC LINDROS , MATT STAJAN,
ALEXANDER STEEN,WADE BELAK,TIE DOMI

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
BRYAN MCCABE,KEN KLEE
TOMAS KABERLE,ALEX KHAVANOV
KAREL PILAR,AKI BERG

YOU GOT ALL BIG CENTRES WTH THESE LINES
SUNDIN 6-5
ALLISON 6-3
LINDROS 6-4
BELAK 6-5

[fatguy]

antropov-sundin-lindros
ponikarovsky-allison-o'neill
domi-tucker-kilger
belak-stajan-perrott

mccabe - berg
kaberle - khavanov
coliacavo - klee

[dman]

Antropov-Sundin-O'Neill

Tucker-Allison-Ponikarovsky

Kilger-Lindros--Domi/Belak

Wilm--Stajan--Perrott/Belak

[G]

What's the story with Anson Carter? Are they still talking to him?

One more scoring winger is needed, and he fits the bill - I'd be shocked if they had to pay more than 1.75m for him - leaves Fergie some wiggle room still if needs be.

[CALIFLeafFan]

I agree - we need to pick up one more winger with scoring ability. Then we would have the possibility of being good (with luck on injuries and with players like Antropov and Kaberle stepping up).

[Kevin D]

Antropov - Lindros - Sundin
Stajan - Allison - O'Neill
Ponikarovsky - Wellwood - Tucker
Wilm - Kilger - Domi

[braden]

Stajan-Sundin-O'Neill
Antropov-Lindros-Ponikarovsky (new skyline)
Tucker-Allison-Domi
Kilger-Wellwood-Perrott
McCabe-Kaberle
Berg-Khavanov
Colaiacovo-Klee

[goleafsgo]

Tucker-Sundin-O'Neill
Antropov-Allison-Ponikarovsky
Domi-Lindros-Perrott
Kilger-Stajan-Wilm/Belak

McCabe-Colaiacovo
Klee-Khavonov
Witt-Marchment

Trade Kaberle for Brenden Witt; also I wish we would have not qualified Berg ! then sign Marchment.

[thedream]

Antropov-Sundin-Ponikarovsky
Stajan-Allison-O'neill
Tucker-Lindros-Domi
Kilger-Wilm-Belak

- I think that Sundin has been awesome enough with not-so-great wingers during his career (see Jonas Hoglund and Steve Thomas); he should still succeed with the leftovers from last year's "sky-line" while also improving the play of Nik and Alexei.

- allison and o'neill would be a very interesting combo to see playing on the ice with jason setting up jeff in the slot, stajan will bring speed and youth to that line- he can also learn a lot from his other 2 linemates

- the third unit will be incredibly tough to play against, with tucker and domi doing the bulk of the bruising, lindros (if healthy) can also pitch in with the checks when needed; this line also has quite a bit of scoring potential if you think about it.

- the 4th line is makeshift at best, wilm is a career AHLer and belak/kilger are suspect NHLers at best. If the leafs could add a vet like stumpy or andreychuk, this would significantly improve the quality of the bottom unit.

[Gloria]

I think Domi can be an extremely effective player, but I don't think he's a second-line winger...the Leafs need one more scorer or offensive threat and I think they just might be money...

Antropov - Sundin - O'Neill
Stajan - Allison - Tucker
Domi - Lindros - Ponikarovsky
Belak - Kilger - Perrott

[Jeremy Warford]

Alright, so since Nolan is outs at some point, and the papers are filed for a buy-out if that's where this has to go, why can't Toronto dip into that cash?? Then get Mogilny and Bondra or Anson Carter and we're on fire!

Bondra Sundin O'Neil
Mogilny Allison Stajan
Ponik Lindros Antropov
Tucker Wilm Domi

[GJM]

While I understand JFJ's reluctance to use up all of the cap space in order to provide wiggle room at the trade deadline; if we're not within striking distance, there's no point of trading anyways. I agree with the dream's lineup with one change: add a decent LW to the second line and move Stajan to 4th line C. While I believe he deserves to be moved up, as the dream said, "the 4th line is makeshift at best, Wilm is a career AHLer" - we need a solid C down there.

[Kevin D]

The Leafs have to put Lindros in the best possible position to succeed. Having him centre a line with wingers of minimal scoring ability (i.e. the Domi-Lindros-Perrott line as someone suggested) will be a waste of his talents. Sundin has proven in the past that he can score on the wing and putting him on Lindros' right side with Antropov on the left gives the Leafs a #1 unit with size, skill and decent speed.

Tucker is best suited to 3rd line duty but can fill in on the 2nd unit in a pinch. Placing Stajan on the 4th line as some have suggested would likely be detremental to his development. He needs to play a regular shift. Wellwood may not be ready to make the jump to the NHL but who else do the Leafs have in their organization to play 3rd line centre? Unless they can sign a UFA for near the league minimum Wellwood may be the best possible fit.

[Dylan]

Steve Thomas - Mats Sundin - Jeff O'Neill
Darcy Tucker - Jason Allison - Matt Stajan
A. Ponikarovsky - Eric Lindros - Nik Antropov
Chad Kilger - Kyle Wellwood - Tie Domi

[Downtown]

He may be 42 but he has the heart and desire of a champion. Bring back Stumpy!

Second line right winger.