that line. Thornton and Marner are both puck carriers/passers so it seems redundant. Plus I don’t think Thornton can keep up with the other two on the rush. But Keefe knows hockey better than me so oh well?

I’m okay with that power play split. Putting the big guys on the same PP seems like a waste of talent, inevitably guys like Tavares and Nylander end up barely touching the puck and then you have Spezza and Hyman supposed to carry the second unit? But then on the other hand, just load up one unit and let them stay on for 80% of the power play. They loaded the first unit last year and it ended up very highly ranked. One thing I don’t like about using Thornton and Simmons is Matthews is the only shooter. Everyone else is a passer or net front banger (Simmons) and no threat to shoot, unlike Nylander.

One thing about trying different lines and power play combos is that without exhibition games this is the time to try it. Keefe can always go back to Marner-Matthews-Hyman and Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander or something like that if the new lines don’t work because he knows from last season those combos can have success together. May as well see if there’s any more chemistry elsewhere now.

In the part I saw, Matthews looked fast, Boogosian looked slow, TJ Brodie looked like a nice steady partner for Reilly (would like to see someone else on the 2nd PP though) is that how it was the whole game? Freddie seemed rusty but he always sucks early in the season.