Leafs Major Weakness Sparks Serious Concerns Compared to Division Rivals
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs may have a difficult time during the playoffs if they can't get one of their glaring weaknesses solved before the end of the season.
There's some serious concerns that the Maple Leafs will not be able to weather the storm of a Florida or Tampa Bay playoff matchup, and without their team coming together collectively to put in a full effort, it's going to be another disappointment come playoff time.
So they have minimal time to figure things out, and with only a dozen games left there's really not much left for Craig Berube to do besides throw out the whole playbook and try something fresh because currently?
It's definitely not working out.
While the top two lines aren't necessarily bad in terms of production, it's the third line that's going to cause a lot of headaches if they don't get it going.
Toronto's Third Line Needs To Start Doing Anything Consistently
Nick Robertson and Max Domi are combining for under 50% xGF, and for a team that's desperate for secondary scoring, that's not the answer.
Sure, Scott Laughton was brought in but he hasn't had a point yet and still looks like he's getting comfortable playing for the Maple Leafs.
Bobby McMann has had some success on the third line but he also doesn't deserve to be throttled on a line where his production will slack.
He's earned a second line spot and will skate there for the remainder of the season unless something drastic changes.
Toronto doesn't play with your typical four lines, and ends up working a hybrid lineup with a scoring third line and a defensive third line.
If the scoring line isn't working, it's going to be impossible to have the fourth do anything, and if history repeats itself with their big guns firing blanks; it's good night Irene for any Stanley Cup hopes.
The other additions haven't been much better.
Ignoring McMann, the rest of the team all season have 14 goals, and that includes Pontus Holmberg, Max Pacioretty, Calle Jarnkrok, and Fraser Minten. Whatever Craig Berube has tried isn't working, and it spells disaster for the Maple Leafs in the playoffs.
It's time for Toronto's third line to start putting the puck in the net and generating more offensive chances.
If not, it's going to be a sad and short trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
| POLL | ||
MARS 25|329 ANSWERS Leafs Major Weakness Sparks Serious Concerns Compared to Division Rivals Do you think Toronto needs to separate their lines more in order to evenly balance their team? | ||
| Yes | 205 | 62.3 % |
| No | 124 | 37.7 % |
| List of polls | ||