John Tavares: Former Maple Leafs captain facing a shocking demotion?
John Tavares has been a staple in the Maple Leafs Top-6 for his tenure here, but have recent developments led the former captain to slip down the depth chart?
For the better part of six seasons, John Tavares was the captain and locker room leader of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and did a fantastic job representing the team. With the Leafs' decision to name Auston Matthews as the 26th captain in franchise history, Tavares has taken a step back in his role, even if it's just a formality as Tavares will still lead on the ice. But with news of William Nylander moving to center this season, has Tavares found himself slipping lower in the lineup?
As the Toronto Maple Leafs kick off the preseason on Sunday night versus the Ottawa Senators, the team looks to find their footing before October, and their projected lineups have a bit of intrigue in them, especially in regards to who sits where. Per David Alter of The Hockey News on X, the Maple Leafs will lineup tonight as such:
It's a far cry from the line Tavares practiced with a few days earlier in camp:
Although it was just a practice, seeing Tavares lineup with the likes of McMann and Robertson gave some credence to the fact that Tavares will anchor the 2nd line while Nylander slips down and provides more offensive production to the historic 'checking' line it seems the opposite is in effect.
With it looking like Tavares will center veteran Max Pacioretty and camp standout Nikita Grebenkin tonight, Tavares will get a chance to play his role as a defensive genius and also provide the Maple Leafs with a bit more of a steady presence, and against an Ottawa Senators team with a lineup like this: Tavares' line should shine.
Nylander's adjustment to center will take some time, but if Berube doesn't pull the plug two games into the preseason like his predecessor did, it should be a rousing success. The shift of Tavares to the third line isn't a terrible decision and it allows him the chance to use his playmaking ability against slightly weaker lines. He's 34 and not getting younger, so perhaps shifting him into a role where he can still contribute and not have to shoulder such a big load will pay off for Toronto.
It definitely should in the playoffs. Tavares was the lone goal scorer for the Leafs last postseason, and him being able to shift into a third line role would give Toronto the most depth they've had in a long time. Worst case scenario, they shift Tavares back up and bring Nylander down to give him a different look.
It's only the preseason, and while it really means nothing is set in stone; it's clear new head coach Craig Berube has a plan this year, and that plan involves moving the beloved former captain into a role he can excel and thrive in. Sounds like a winning combination to me.
| POLL | ||
What line would you put John Tavares on? | ||
| 1st | 6 | 3 % |
| 2nd | 58 | 29.4 % |
| 3rd | 115 | 58.4 % |
| 4th | 18 | 9.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
