Maple Leafs Could Finally Unleash Explosive New Duo Next Season

Fans are going to be talking all season about whether or not the Maple Leafs will be able to replace the offense lost by Mitch Marner's departure, whether that be through the offseason or continuing until the trade deadline.

The team needs to work with what they've got unless they surprise everyone with a blockbuster deal, and while the new additions don't spark the same excitement as someone of Marner's caliber, it's all part of a new-look lineup that prides itself on girt, hard work and passion.

One of the biggest stories this season is going to be how Auston Matthews bounces back after a rough season.

Missing a slew of games due to injury, he still managed to put together a solid year but had only 33 goals; a far cry fry from his historic 69-goal campaign a year previous.

Without Marner, he loses his best playmaker and though Matias Maccelli is more than capable of being a good playmaker, there's going to be some growing pains for sure.

So knowing that, Craig Berube should look to the past to give his top line some life, and yes fans, that means Max Domi earns first-line duties.

But there's a good reason for it, considering the two have some very, very good numbers together.

With Domi more than capable of being a both a playmaker and a scorer, and Matthews an underrated passer, they tend to make magic happen.

Domi's scrappiness and relentless forechecking pressure opponents into making mistakes, and while he does have some defensive and disciplinary shortcomings, playing in a more premium role may help him spruce that up.

Plus you add Matthew Knies, a player who is a unique blend of scoring, speed, and physicality who can give Domi another outlet to work with and you can start to see how things might work.

For as good as Marner and Matthews were together, they are equally as good separate, and it's time for others to benefit from their captain's abilities.

In 2023-24, Domi assisted on five of Matthews' goals, not bad considering they have only played in a handful of games.

According to Natural Stat Trick, their xGF is a staggering 12.39 with only a 6.34 xGA; have more scoring chances overall, control possession and have a blistering 16.79% shot percentage.

They clearly have some underlying chemistry together, and whether it's Domi being elevated by Matthews, or Matthews somehow getting lucky with Domi on the ice; it's worked before and should work again.

Worst case scenario, the Leafs move Domi down and bring up Matias Maccelli to see how he does instead, and it'll be a revolving door at the start until something is figured out.

But if history is to be repeated for the Maple Leafs, then let it be the chemistry between Domi and Matthews.