Maple Leafs have a lineup problem and Jim Hiller can't fix it

Toronto has a lineup problem, but it has nothing to do with the top-six shockingly, but Jim Hiller can't fix the rest until John Chayka decides it's time.

If you had to pinpoint why the Maple Leafs have had a bang average 3-3-1 record to start the season, you could point to the brand new faces who take their time getting acclimated with their new teammates, or the fact that the team had a lack of preseason preparation - though every team can lay claim to that.

But it hasn't been terrible, and we've seen a rejuvenated Auston Matthews tear things up to start, William Nylander has been a stud since game one, Easton Cowan has grown significantly since last season, and Jack Roslovic has been a pleasant surprise that has helped drive the offence.

Four players have accounted for two-thirds of Toronto's goals

In fact, it's those four players who have been responsible for the majority of Toronto's goals this year. The quartet of Matthews, Nylander, Cowan, and Roslovic has combined to score 67% of Toronto's goals this season - having 16 of the team's 24 goals.

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There have been other stars like John Tavares, Gavin McKenna and Kirill Marchenko who have contributed, but when it comes to pure goal scoring - it's those four. Nylander and Matthews both have five goals apiece, as well as 12 points each. Roslovic and Cowan both have three goals each, and both have five points.

But Nylander and Matthews have undoubtedly led the way with an astounding 24 points combined through seven games, and Matthews is currently on a five-game point streak. It feels like we are seeing the old Maple Leafs once again, but they can't be the only ones holding it down.

The bottom-six isn't meant to score until John Chayka says so

The fact that the bottom-six hasn't really scored much is a bit concerning given they do have options like Nick Paul, Bo Groulx, and the yet-to-debut Miles Wood. But they haven't exactly contributed much besides great defense.

The fourth-line group of Brandon Duhaime, Teddy Blueger and Groulx is fantastic at preventing goals, but atrocious at scoring them. They are hands down the worst offensive part of the team, and there's no hope of consistent offensive play.

The third line is a little better as we've seen McKenna and Cowan alongside Paul and Colton Sissons, so it can be forgiven that they haven't scored as much - they'll have their chances and will contribute eventually.

But until John Chayka decides that he needs to add scoring to his fourth line, don't expect Hiller to really make too many changes. He already wanted to go back to the status quo with Utah and it bit him in the back.

They can add Wood to try and bring in some scoring, or perhaps call up Brendan Brisson from the AHL to give them a spark. But until they do something, it's going to be miserable watching the bottom-six.

Unlike last year when they couldn't play defense, this year, they just can't put the puck in the net and it could become a big concern the longer the season goes on.

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