The Top Moves The Leafs Need To Make Immediately

After a relatively slow start, the Leafs current stand tied for second place in a crowded Atlantic division. To help them create separation, these are a few moves the team could make.

Recreate The Old Powerplay Unit

One change the Leafs made in the offseason was the addition of John Klingberg. Klingberg has seemingly usurped Morgan Rielly, taking his spot on the top powerplay unit. So far this season, Rielly has outscored Klingberg with seven points through eight games. Klingberg meanwhile has 5 points, all assists, through eight games. Two of those have come on the man advantage. The Leafs powerplay has been clicking at a 32% rate good for 4th in the league. Perhaps they could be even better with Rielly back on the top unit though.

Put Knies On The Top Line

Knies has four points through eight games despite playing just 13 minutes a night. Imagine how good he could be playing with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. So far that last spot on the top line has gone to Tyler Bertuzzi, who has just three points to show for his efforts despite the deployment advantage he's had over Knies. Knies would bring a little but of size and grit to the line without sacrificing offense.

Extend Nylander

Okay, this one isn't really a change, but it is important to the long-term success of the team. Nylander has been red hot to start the season and looks like a bona fide superstar if he wasn't one already. With 12 points through 8 games, he is currently on pace for 123 points. If he were to keep up that pace or at least come close, his new contract could be extremely expensive. It may very well be better for the team to just extend him now.

Play Your Best Players In OT

Leafs fans are not paying 500 bucks to watch David Kampf play in overtime. This one is really simple. Everyone knows how important winning the faceoff is in overtime but its not so important that you should be playing Kampf. After all, he will still lose draws and when he does, the team is at an immediate huge disadvantage. Imagine Kampf trying to defend against Connor McDavid in OT. That probably would not go very well.

Get Help On The Blueline

The Leafs need help on defense badly. With McCabe, Timmins, and Liljegren all injured, the team is very thin on the back end. Mark Giordano is too old to be playing 20 minutes a night and TJ Brodie is declining as well. John Klingberg has always been a trainwreck defensively. That leaves the team with just one quality two-way blueliner in Morgan Rielly. That is not good enough.

As seen on 5 Moves the Toronto Maple Leafs Management Should Make Now