Maple Leafs' Projected Bottom Six for Game 1 of the Playoffs Revealed
The Toronto Maple Leafs' bottom six has a lot of debate surrounding them and their production come playoff time, so what could the team look like Game One?
A lot of discussion over whether or not the Maple Leafs are going to be prepared enough come playoff time has emerged in recent weeks, and it'll be up to their top players to actually perform this time and pull out all the stops.
But the team isn't built just on their top six alone, and it's also up to the lower half of the lineup to not only shut things down defensively, but add some offensive contributions as well.
Craig Berube has his pick of the litter when it comes to who he can slide in and out of the lineup, and the fact the salary cap won't play a factor also gives him some outside options.
But according to a couple of prominent Maple Leafs analysts; they have a pretty good idea of how it'll play out.
Toronto Needs To Play Their Toughest Lines Possible
Analysts Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne, and Sam McKee discussed on the Real Kyper and Bourne Show about how Craig Berube may put his lines together come playoff time, and had some ideas about how to structure the lineup:
Sam McKee: Do you like the line of Laughton, Domi, and Jarnkrok, cause I thought they had a couple moments where they looked like three capable NHLers playing together, it gave me some hope.
Nick Kypreos: Jarnkrok, he's a guy who is what he is but he can skate, his pace of play is strong, he can penalty kill and if I'm not mistaken close to 100 playoff games under his belt? That's a big number guys. He's not paid to score, though the occasional one would help no doubt.
But we also talked about this, you gotta fit Pacioretty in the lineup. But you see with that Lorentz goal, these other guys, Holmberg, he does a lot of work down low that many guys who aren't 200-pounds can do.
Justin Bourne: I also want to mention drawing penalties, and he hangs onto the pocket, draws penalties, that's all you need from a fourth line guy.
Nick Kypreos: Jarnkrok, he's a guy who is what he is but he can skate, his pace of play is strong, he can penalty kill and if I'm not mistaken close to 100 playoff games under his belt? That's a big number guys. He's not paid to score, though the occasional one would help no doubt.
But we also talked about this, you gotta fit Pacioretty in the lineup. But you see with that Lorentz goal, these other guys, Holmberg, he does a lot of work down low that many guys who aren't 200-pounds can do.
Justin Bourne: I also want to mention drawing penalties, and he hangs onto the pocket, draws penalties, that's all you need from a fourth line guy.
Here's how a potential lineup could look come playoff time:
Knies - Matthews - Marner
McMann - Tavares - Nylander
Domi - Laughton - Jarnkrok
Holmberg - Kampf - Lorentz
It gives Toronto a solid defensive grouping in their bottom six, plus there is some offensive versatility with Domi, Jarnkrok and sometimes Lorentz.
There's also the case of adding Nick Robertson if they want some more offensive chances, and the potential that Ryan Reaves may also find himself back in the lineup at some point opens things up too.
But it feels like it doesn't matter who Berube plugs into the bottom six, it's up to the entire team to make sure that Toronto doesn't end up with another swift exit in the postseason.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 1 | 549 ANSWERS Maple Leafs' Projected Bottom Six for Game 1 of the Playoffs Revealed Do you think Toronto's bottom half is well-equipped enough for the Stanley Cup Playoffs? | ||
| Yes | 389 | 70.9 % |
| No | 160 | 29.1 % |
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