Auston Matthews Gets Two New Wingers as the Maple Leafs Search for a Spark
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs have rolled out new lines in an attempt to restart their offense, giving Auston Matthews a fresh look on the top line.
After a 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils, the Leafs have gone into today's skate against of tomorrow's game against the Buffalo Sabres with a new look, and new top-six lines.
In a key departure, the top-six has been revitalized, and adds a key name alongside Auston Matthews in hopes it can spark a breakthrough in the Leafs captain.
New Look for the Maple Leafs' Top Line
The Toronto Maple Leafs newest line combinations are an attempt to spark the Leafs top line and find the right fits next to Auston Matthews, in which they have split up the team's two top lines.
Matthews has seen Matthew Knies off his line, with Bobby McMann and William Nylander joining him off the Leafs second line. Knies has been moved down along with Matias Maccelli.
The move is the first time this season that Matthews and Nylander have been tried together, despite playing in 10 seasons together not being a duo that has shown a perfect match, Matthews in the past having played better alongside Mitch Marner and Nylander more productive with John Tavares.
McMann has experience playing in the Leafs top-six alongside both Matthews and Nylander on the first and second line respectively, and as a former 20-goal scorer could be an additional goalscoring threat next to Matthews, who has just four goals this season.
Nylander leads the Leafs in points with 13, with a league-leading 11 assists. After being asked to do more by head coach Craig Berube, Nylander has been a dominant offensive force for Toronto, and may be a strong fit next to Matthews to get goals.
On the second line, Knies is given a test next to Tavares to spark some offense with Tavares as well as Maccelli. Maccelli has just two points in seven games this season for Toronto, and needs a boost after struggling last season with Utah.
Can This Combination Finally Jump-Start Toronto's Offense?
The hope with the new lines is for William Nylander's playmaking to finally translate with Matthews, with Nylander being one of the top players in the league early on, and Matthews someone needing some support.
As well, the hope is that Matias Maccelli sticking on the top-six will have him find offense next to Tavares, with Maccelli tried on the first and third lines to little success.
Knies being dropped down is somewhat of a surprise, but Nylander has had strong chemistry with McMann alongside him on the wing, and could balance the two lines by giving Knies the chance to build some offense with Tavares and Maccelli.
On the bottom-six, Easton Cowan slots in on the third line next to Dakota Joshua and Nicolas Roy, a move that is looked at to spark the Leafs need for some bottom-six scoring, something that has been a challenge for Toronto this season, despite the two brought in to help alleviate that.
Max Domi, who was on the first line next to Matthews, was dropped down to the fourth line, moved back to center in order to balance the lines while the team waits for Scott Laughton to return, who will be resuming skating in the coming days.
If this will boost Toronto's offense for the better will have to be seen, but putting one of the league's hottest players right now in Nylander may be the pop that Auston Matthews needs to return to his elite self.
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