Craig Berube's Line Decisions Already Sparking Debate Among Maple Leafs Fans
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
With training camp underway we already saw how Craig Berube might be working on his second line, which is causing quite the stir among Maple Leafs fans online.
Preseason kicks off soon, which means that Craig Berube is going to be able to experiment with the new lineup he has, and seeing what pieces fit best ahead of 2025-26 is crucial if the team wants to cement their new identity.
There's a lot of discussion about the top line for obvious reasons, but there also seems to be a bit of a glaring hole on the left-hand side of the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander needing some more consistent help.
What Berube Said About the McMann-Tavares-Nylander Line
They could put Dakota Joshua there, or end up trying Matias Maccelli however it seems like it will be Bobby McMann according to Berube himself:
I think Bobby can take another step in his game.
You know, doing some things a little bit differently. Especially playing with those two guys [Tavares and Nylander], getting those guys the puck more, getting to the net more.
I like a big guy with those two guys, to forecheck, get in there and create loose pucks, help out JT in those situations. Willy's gonna do his thing, we all know that. But Bobby, I feel, can take another step in his game.
You know, doing some things a little bit differently. Especially playing with those two guys [Tavares and Nylander], getting those guys the puck more, getting to the net more.
I like a big guy with those two guys, to forecheck, get in there and create loose pucks, help out JT in those situations. Willy's gonna do his thing, we all know that. But Bobby, I feel, can take another step in his game.
This echoes what Berube said earlier about needing McMann to have more activity when it comes to rushing the net and utilizing his size and underrated speed and acceleration to get to pucks quickly and then find a way to score.
How Maple Leafs Fans Are Splitting on the Early Line Choices
However, not everyone seems to be on board with the McMann on the second line, as fans online have voiced their opinions regarding his placement in the lineup:
There are some however who believe that McMann could be a good fit:
It's a bit of a double-edged sword when it comes to McMann. On one hand you have a late-bloomer who scored 20 goals last season but did so at a very inconsistent rate, having not scored in his last 24 games including the playoffs.
There's no doubt what McMann can offer and perhaps last season was him getting his feet under him with only his second full campaign under his belt and this year he'll figure it out.
But Leafs fans need not to fret this camp, as if McMann doesn't seem to fit with the second line, they have several other options available in arguably the deepest lineup the team has had in decades.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 19 | 1704 ANSWERS Craig Berube's Line Decisions Already Sparking Debate Among Maple Leafs Fans Who should play on the second line with Tavares and Nylander? | ||
| Bobby McMann | 669 | 39.3 % |
| Dakota Joshua | 421 | 24.7 % |
| Nick Robertson | 486 | 28.5 % |
| Other | 128 | 7.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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