The Maple Leafs' pitiful center depth is the only way to protect the top five draft pick from Boston
Photo credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
With Auston Matthews out for the year, Toronto's centre depth is a 35-year old John Tavares, Max Domi, and two rookies - but it's not a crisis, it's a gift.
To say that the Maple Leafs' season is over would be an understatement. Not only are the playoffs in the far, far distance but they just lost their captain for the rest of the season thanks to an MCL tear.
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If that wasn't a sign that this season was cursed, I don't know what is. But it's led the team to put out a lineup that really leaves a lot to be desired.
Maccelli - Tavares - Nylander
Knies - Domi - Cowan
Joshua - Groulx - Robertson
Pezzetta - Quillan - Jarnkrok
Knies - Domi - Cowan
Joshua - Groulx - Robertson
Pezzetta - Quillan - Jarnkrok
Rielly - Carlo
McCabe - Ekman-Larsson
Benoit - Myers
McCabe - Ekman-Larsson
Benoit - Myers
Woll
Looking at that doesn't give a lot of hope against a red-hot and very tough Sabres team and you know it's bad when Calle Jarnkrok is still getting minutes even over a guy like Steven Lorentz.
But what's up the middle is what really sticks out like a sore thumb.
John Tavares is your #1. That's great, except it's not 2014 anymore and he's 35 years old. You're expecting him to be able to keep up with Tage Thompson? Good luck.
There was really no contingency plan in place. If Toronto had splurged at went after a Robert Thomas at the deadline, they could have had him slide in for Matthews while Tavares keeps his 2C slot.
While the upfront cost is a lot, Toronto literally has no plan beyond Tavares if Matthews got hurt and hedging your bets on a 35-year old is a tough task for any team.
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Try Cowan at centre, try Quillan in the top-six for one game, goodness me.
Speaking of, at least Cowan is getting first line chances, and it's starting to signal that the Maple Leafs rebuild might be in full effect.
There's no reason to hide him in the bottom-six anymore. You want him to be a star? Treat him like one. Let him thrive on the PP1 unit, give him PK time too, just put him in every situation where he could succeed.
The fact he sat for a month with zero plan to give him reps even knowing they barely wanted to play him is inexcusable. Their fleeting playoff hopes overshadowed the development of their next Mitch Marner potentially - great way to grow talent.
He was the only player who looked good against Montreal, and assisted on William Nylander's goal while playing 18:21; his fourth-highest total of the season. Clearly he's effective on the ice, so keep him there.
But beyond that, it's not going to be fun to watch.
Then you have the unenviable task of putting Max Domi of all people as your #2. At this point, it's better to have a rotating hockey stick on a pole.
Oh what's that? He needs to defend Jack Quinn, Jason Zucker, and Ryan McLeod? Cool. Enjoy a minus-three rating Max.
That centre depth being half AHL players looks a lot different but when you trade Scott Laughton and Nic Roy - them's the breaks.
Every regulation loss now acts as a shield to keep an elite prospect out of Boston's hands
But it could be their saving grace at the end of the day.
Pride is a powerful factor, but what's the old saying: Pride goeth before destruction?
If Toronto ends up playing with a lot of heart and passion, the same they boasted about all throughout the offseason then it'll be their downfall. They can't start winning games for the sake of feeling better about themselves because they fall right into a trap.
So that centre depth is a blessing in disguise. Tavares not being able to keep up with the speedy Sabres squad, and Domi being unable to do anything defensively is going to lead to a lot of chances (not to mention to Maple Leafs defence...yikes).
Good. Toronto needs to get beat as bad as possible for the next month because they need to keep that top-five chance. They finish in 6th or 7th, their odds drop significantly and Boston could end up with the pick and a future superstar.
Quillan and Groulx are going to be good parts of the future, and playing them now to see what they offer is a great part of a rebuilding plan.
But putting them up against a team that likely walks all over them is going to hurt their pride, but up their chances of actually turning things around.
From where it stands right now, the Maple Leafs' worst centre depth in a decade might be the best thing for them going forward.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 14|771 ANSWERS The Maple Leafs' pitiful center depth is the only way to protect the top five draft pick from Boston Do you think Toronto's centre depth is the weakest it's been in the Auston Matthews era? | ||
| Yes | 697 | 90.4 % |
| No | 74 | 9.6 % |
| List of polls | ||