Not gunna lie I have been assuming Matt would start playoffs but now I’m 100 percent convinced it’s going to be Sammy also Lilly has played himself out of game 1

Holl has been very good lately. Certainly better than Timmons and Lilly if we’re being honest. I like lilly and believe he is a good defenceman that will continue to get better for us, but I’m not sure I trust him out there under pressure/physicality just yet. I would be hesitant playing him against Tampa but if we move into later rounds I would definitely play him. It also doesn’t help that the only available spot is next to Reilly, which is a pretty big defensive responsibility.

Liljegren should play over Schenn, "big hits" are fun but getting hemmed in and being all together slow as mud hurts the team too much. I think Schenn makes Rielly worse as well. They need someone who can skate better with Rielly.

Lafferty has earned his spot. I would expect Keefe to prioritize players with experience over Knies as this is a must-win series for the leafs.

If Murray plays 1 game down the stretch I'm still confident he starts game 1. Lily has been the target of the coach since they traded away his best friend. Schenn and rielly and holl are going to get destroyed at some point.

I fully expect keefe to play his favourite guys over the best players. He has shown for years that's what he does and why he's no better than an old school hockey guy.

I think throwing Knies on line 1 is a real hard position to put a young player in who hasn't been practicing in the leafs system all year like the rest of the roster. I do hope that Knies is in the lineup come playoffs but would prefer to see him making an impact on the 4th line personally. Also, playing kerfoot on the top line and having nylander on the 3rd is one of the worst ideas I've ever heard of.

I agree knies on 1st line is not ideal. But you want him on a line that's already defensively responsible. That's the hardest part for a rookie.

I want nylander driving his own line since he's by far their best playoff performer in recent years. I'd prefer marner there but I think he needs more help to prevent a 4th year of choking in a row.

I imagine he'll get a game or two in the regular season and if he earns a spot great

So you are here to just say silly things eh? Murray has a concussion likely and that likely means he's not going to play for a while. Which is too bad, he's been better than people give him credit for. Keefe doesn't just play his favorites he's sat guys everyone loves because better players have come in. I still think Schenn won't play every game and if Knies beats out someone he'll play.

Liljegren is their best D not named Brodie. Numbers show it. Yet he's a regular scratch since dubas traded for a bunch of bad defenceman in order to dump their 3rd best D who keefe refused to play. Sandin repeatedly outplayed rielly in the last few years but bc keefe likes rielly he keeps getting LD1 spot.

Note how you being condescending doesn't make me wrong? Just makes you certain colourful metaphors.

Numbers can be bent to make certain things seem more true than they are. Liljegren isn't the 2nd best defenceman, he gets relatively sheltered minutes and did well in those but he still can get caught out of place in his own zone. He's going to get better and is a long term mainstay but may see some time in the press box this playoff. But will beat out Schenn. Neither will play over Holl who's had a very good season.

As for you note, you come on here often to slag the leafs while being an oiler fan. Why? Because you are here for a specific reason and it's not a good reason

Holl 8s embarrassingly bad. By both numbers and eye test.

In fact I'm a Leafs fan sweetie. #AddToIgnoreList

You need to get glasses, the numbers and the eye test tell a very different story. Holl gets major defensive zone starts, is positive across the board analytically and is borderline elite at denying zone entries. Him being bad is a total fallacy.

Ah one of those fans eh? Pretending to be a leaf fan to fight leaf fans. What a sad life