Maple Leafs Facing Critical Roster Decisions Following Insider Bob McKenzie's Recent Report
The Toronto Maple Leafs have great news coming as many players are scheduled to return, but they have a lot of tough decisions to make.
It's been a rough stretch for the Toronto Maple Leafs when it comes to the injury front even though the record doesn't show it. Having only recently gotten Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies back, it's a great sign that players are finally back on the mend.
According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, more Maple Leafs are scheduled to return in the coming days, with four of their key players presumably returning at various games next week.
But with their returns being a great sign towards a fully healthy team, there are questions about who is left out as the surrounding crew has come in and put together a strong wave of success even with these ailments.
Who Returns And Who Leaves For Toronto?
Beyond the return of Matthews and Knies, Toronto is expected to get Max Pacioretty back on Saturday night, Max Domi and Jake McCabe on Tuesday, and Bobby McMann on Thursday; it's a positive return schedule that will help Toronto's lineup concerns as they figure out who stays on a game per game basis.
But it also comes with some big caveats too. The Leafs have had some great production from Fraser Minten and the addition of Nikita Grebenkin has added not only a lovable locker room presence, but a gritty forward who knows his role.
Minten has four points in six games and it'll be hard for Craig Berube to slide in Domi somewhere while also giving Minten enough time to shine.
It's also a case of where do the other role players go?
Pontus Holmberg is going to lose his second line spot and head back to the third line, but where does that leave Nicholas Robertson and Steven Lorentz?
The fourth line is set with Ryan Reaves so it leaves two spots for potentially four players (Minten, Grebenkin, Holmberg, Lorentz).
A possible solution would be to move Minten to the fourth line as David Kampf is still out, and sit Connor Dewar for a bit while riding Minten's hot hand.
Here is a potential look at lines when everyone returns, although this is purely speculation:
Knies -- Matthews -- Marner
Pacioretty -- Tavares -- Nylander
Robertson -- Domi -- McMann
Lorentz -- Minten -- Reaves
Sitting Dewar and potentially demoting Grebenkin is a bit of a painful hit to the Maple Leafs' morale but there are only so many spots for proven NHLers and Minten has the rookie spot on lockdown.
McCabe has a bit of an easier way back as he will take over for Philippe Myers who was called up to replace him; McCabe's return will be a massive boost to Toronto's defense as he was part of one of the league's best duos with Chris Tanev.
The Maple Leafs have a lot of tough decisions to make in the coming days and it'll be a delicate balance of keeping their momentum strong and their players happy, a tough decision for any team but especially for one under such a big spotlight.
| POLL | ||
Which player are you most excited to return from injury for Toronto? | ||
| Jake McCabe | 455 | 51.6 % |
| Max Pacioretty | 111 | 12.6 % |
| Max Domi | 111 | 12.6 % |
| Bobby McMann | 204 | 23.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
