Three Line Combos the Maple Leafs Need to Scrap Immediately
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
With the Leafs needing stability on their offense, some major changes could be key to unlocking the team's success, and it starts with a lineup shuffle.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have had an awkward start to the year, having an up-and-down performance with a 7-5-1 record, slowly looking on the up and a more stable team.
Things have not been perfect for Toronto, and they've struggled to decide on a lineup that works, with Head Coach Craig Berube consistently shifting the lines, including on the top-six.
One tweet that was of note was three specific line changes the Toronto Maple Leafs should make, and how they'd be best for the team.
Breaking it down, there are arguments on both sides for if the ideas make sense, and how they may, or may not, benefit the Toronto Maple Leafs roster.
Why the Tavares-Nylander Duo May Not Be Best
For all the success the Toronto Maple Leafs have had over the past few years with the duo of William Nylander and John Tavares on the Leafs second line, it doesn't seem to be working, at least as well as it should be.
The line that has worked best for the Leafs with the two is Matias Maccelli on the left wing, although having been scratched yesterday against Pittsburgh, his future looks a bit uncertain in Toronto.
With the fact that the Nylander/Tavares line has been fine, most of the work has been coming from Nylander more than anyone else, although when Nylander went out, Tavares looked a lot stronger leading the second line.
It's less that the Nylander/Tavares pairing doesn't work, but Nylander may be better suited to play on the top line with Auston Matthews, especially as it seems that Matthews may need an offensive boost in what has been an early season struggle for him.
However, the Toronto Maple Leafs second line has been fine, it's strengthening the first line that's the challenge. If Tavares/Nylander still have the juice, the priority instead shouldn't be moving Nylander off, but finding someone to slot in next to Matthews instead.
The Joshua-Roy-McMann Line Is Holding the Maple Leafs Back
For all the hoopla about the added offense to the Toronto Maple Leafs bottom-six and how much needed it is, that promise hasn't been delivered, and it's a major worry for Toronto.
Joshua-Roy-McMann as a line have just 11 points between them in 13 games this season.
They have been one of the least productive lines according to MoneyPuck, and despite what should have been a solution to their third line, hasn't made Toronto's depth any more capable offensively.
The Leafs bottom-six were lucky to escape criticism after the postseason in which scoring was a major issue, with Shanahan and Marner taking the brunt of the criticism.
Now, with two major scapegoats gone, Toronto's focus may finally narrow itself down to yet again another undelivering depth chart.
McMann has looked solid for Toronto throughout last season, but hasn't replicated this season. Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua, both brought in for their two-way game, haven't been solutions on offense.
Nick Robertson Deserves Better Than Bottom-Six Minutes
The one bright spot for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season has been the much awaited emergence of Nick Robertson.
Robertson has managed to become one of the Leafs top players on offense early in the season with seven points in 12 games, finally getting a proper full schedule to start the year, and making the most of it.
With Robertson doing well does still raise the question, the moment that everyone is healthy, is there a place for Robertson? That's a question that remains to be seen, and one he still has to earn.
For now, Robertson has seemingly earned his place in the Leafs lineup, and with Matias Maccelli and Max Domi both having struggled to prove themselves as the guy next to Auston Matthews.
With Easton Cowan rotating in and out of the lineup, Robertson may be the one able to pick up the pieces and take the job as his own.
The Toronto Maple Leafs still have a few months to figure out how to build the best roster with what they have, and can get, but eventually find the formula that finally makes this team a winner.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 5 | 727 ANSWERS Three Line Combos the Maple Leafs Need to Scrap Immediately Should the Toronto Maple Leafs make all of these changes? | ||
| Yes | 465 | 64 % |
| No | 262 | 36 % |
| List of polls | ||
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