The Toronto Maple Leafs writer defends the idea, which has been unanimously criticized

There comes a time in everyone's life when they have to take a stand. Some people have their own opinions on what matters, but I'll make up my own mind about a hypothetical Toronto Maple Leafs lineup.

I had an idea of ​​what the Toronto Maple Leafs blue line should look like in the upcoming playoffs, so like any good writer trying to get some interest in his thoughts and ideas, I tweeted him….

The silence and communication were so poor that I had to double check to make sure I hadn't accidentally added offensive errors.

He was clean, but no one agreed. This was another idea that was not unanimously accepted, but when I often see light and change my mind when intelligent commentators offer me their wisdom, I think there is something here, because I thought it could use a defense.

First, Joseph Voll: He is better than Ilya Samsonov. No matter who's interested when the playoffs begin, the job should go to the most talented goaltender.

Wall is the Leafs goaltender of the future, so getting him playoff experience should be a big deal. The Leafs didn't add at the deadline, and since they're “all out” this year, it makes sense to get playoff experience for a player to help them.

Second, it's about the blue line. My thoughts are:

The Leaf Four is definitely Rielly, McCabe, Brody and Liljegren. A lot of people want to leave Liljegren off this list, but since Morgan Rielly's first injury, Liljegren (when healthy) has been ranked at various times as the #1, #2 Leafs, and always at least as #4 by TOI. game.

The rest of the blue line is terrible at moving the puck, so ideally you play the first four and then mix and match the rest.

Keefe made that case because even though he rested Brody twice, that's his most-used quarterback per game. If they're all healthy, they'll be in the top four for the Leafs in the playoffs, leaving two spots open.

Conventional wisdom taints Lyubushkin and Edmundson, but I think it's wrong. Mark Giordano's shooting and smarts make him better than those guys, if only slightly. He may not be able to bring it every night anymore, but when he does, he has a level of play that guys only dream of achieving.

For me, it's mostly a line at night.

I'll give Timmins the last spot because if Edmundson is rough and helps you in front of the net, the puckman will do it, so you'll have to play less defense overall.

Since the trade deadline, Timmins has played in seven games and has an expected goals percentage of 62%. Edmundson has played the same number of games and the same number of minutes in those games and has a 46% xGoals rating. (naturalstattrick.com statistics).

Another reason to play Timmins is that he plays the puck well and the Leafs are an offensive team. Rather than trying to do everything, it's a good game theory to stick to what works best.

Yes, Lubushkin, Benoit and Edmundson fit the clichéd sterotype of a “playoff-ready” player, but that's an outdated concept that defies belief that it's still deployed. The NHL had a statistical revolution and the biggest takeaway was how useless it was to play a big, slow defenseman and do nothing else. (Yes, I realize Benoit isn't slow, but he's a vicious puck and that counters any good he's done).

A defenseman who moves the puck always helps the team more, they don't miss the big shots that the fans remember after the game, it doesn't seem like they are that useful. It's not popular, but it's true.

A lot of people seem to think the Leafs should wear Lubushkin, Edmundson and Benoit, and if the Leafs wear at least two of those guys in most games when everyone is healthy, it would be a mistake to put Giordano or Timmins over them. Please spare me the clichés about “playoff hockey” because there may be some truth here, but not enough to play bad players because they are tough. If you're tough and good like McCabe, so much the better.

Since the trade deadline, the Leafs defensemen list by Expected Targets Percentage is Giordano, Timmins, Liljegren, Rielly, Brody, McCabe, Lubushkin, Benoit and Edmundson.

Come the playoffs, the Leafs should take my advice and start Joseph Woll and play Lilliegren, Giordano and Timmins against Lubushkin, Edmundson and Benoit.