Roster Architect
Joined: Mar. 2021
Posts: 2,643
Likes: 909
I'd switch Bunting and Nylander making the top 6:
Kerfoot - Matthews - Nylander
Bunting - Tavares - Marner
Your second line doesn't have anyone that's gonna go dig the puck outta the corners and it'll solely rely on neutral zone turnovers to create offence which I feel like will cause them to get eaten alive (Tavares can dig the puck out but that's not the centres job in the offensive end).
It also gives another threat to the Matthews line. I feel like an extended look at the Bunting - Matthews - Kerfoot line and teams would really just zero in on Matthews and it would negate a lot of the offensive chances. Although Matthews has typically been better with guys on his wings that are workers (back to the Hyman - Matthews - Brown days), I just feel like it needs to be balanced out more.
And Ritchie is just useless to this team. His foot speed hurts him way too much to be a part of it. Wouldn't be shocked to see him a scratch more down the stretch