Too many skaters

[Leafs]

Tomorrow is a loaded day and I'm having a tough time sorting the whole thing out, so I figured there is no better place to ask for some help than here.

The scoring is as follows:
Goals, Assists, +/-, PIM, SOG, PPP, Blocks, Wins, SV%, GAA, Shutouts

The positons are: CC, LWLW, RWRW, DDDD, Util, GG

The available players are:
C: Ryan Getzlaf, Brad Richards, Sidney Crosby (who won't return just to spite me)
LW: Parise, van Riemsdyk
RW: Corey Perry, Marian Gaborik, Phil Kessel
Multi-positions: Ilya Kovalchuk (LW, RW), Claude Giroux (C,RW)

Considering the matchups I currently have Kessel and van Riemsdyk. It feels hard to sit anyone against Winnipeg, but JVR hasn't been very good for me at all this year. I also just acquired Kessel, but against NYR I think he has the toughest matchup of all. The two devils are up against Phoenix, the Ducks take on the Minnesota, and the Rangers will have Toronto.

Let me know what you think. It's a good problem to have, but it kills me when I sit someone and then they go off on a huge night. Any help is appreciated.

[mbr311]

Wow that's tough especially since I don't have to worry about positional issues. I have to state up front though, I am an advocate for starting yoru best players no matter whom they play.

C: Getzlaf & Richards (though Giroux is intriguing)
LW: Parise & Kovalchuk
RW: Perry and Kessel
Util: Giroux or Richards whichever one you don't play at center)

That's just one man's opinion though...good luck whatever you do! I guess like you said its a good problem to have your team is LOADED. But yea it stinks when you bench a guy and he goes off that night.

[Leafs]

Just so you know, it is currently set up as

C: Getzlaf Richards
RW: Giroux, Perry
LW: Parise, Kovalchuk
UTIL: Gaborik

[mbr311]

See to me the Rangers offense has been sputtering big time so I'd be somewhat hesitant to throw Gaborik in there. I also don't know about benching Kessel, I mean you could make a compelling argument that he is making a case to be up there with the other great pure scorers in the league the way he has been playing. The guy just flat out puts the puck in the net. I understand your concern since he's going up against Lundy, probably a top 5 goalie..I dunno, I hate to give advice on this and then find out you benched Gaborik and he ends up with 2 PP goals lol.

[Leafs]

Haha, I wouldn't blame you as I've been thinking about making the same change. Especially as I just got Kessel this week and I'd hate to sit him a ton already. Feels like a wasted trade.

I've taken at least part of your advice in the other thread, so I now need to consider Patrik Elias (C, LW) into that above mix as well.

[Leafs]

With Elias in mind, and the trouble the Rangers have had, I'm thinking about slotting Elias in above Richards at C for Thursday. Phoenix isn't a great team, and Elias is on such a point streak it is hard to sit him after just picking him up.

[Leafs]

With Reimer out does anyone think I should be playing gaborik over kessel and richards over Elias? I know the nyr have been slow so far, but I feel like against gustavvson they have a good chance at a lot of points.