Projected playoff defensive lineup unveiled for the Maple Leafs
A new report has just outlined the likely defensive pairings for the Toronto Maple Leafs heading into the 2024 playoffs, as the Leafs' blueline remains a question mark in their overall roster.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled to find consistency at the blueline this year, as players have been in and out of the lineup with injuries throughout the season. It was so much of a question that Brad Treliving made two moves at the deadline to bring in additional defensemen in Ilya Lyubushkin and Joel Edmundson. What remains to be seen is who will play with whom in the first round.
Now, it has been suggested that the following pairings could be what we see for game one on the Leafs' back end.
Benoit-McCabe
Edmundson-Liljegren
Giordano-Brodie
Timmins
This is how the Leafs have primarily been pairing up over the last few games, however, with Joel Edmundson set to return for the playoffs, it is likely that the Leafs will use him in the third pairing.
The major what-if and interchangeability comes between Timothy Liljegren and TJ Brodie. Both have had their struggles this season and could be swapped in and out of that final pairing.
The discourse around TJ Brodie is mostly that he should be out for game one, however, there are some supporters who suggest that his struggles this season don't place him below some others in the lineup.
We will see who Sheldon Keefe goes with as the playoffs approach quickly.
As seen on Maple Leafs Daily - Projecting the Leafs' top-6 defensemen to start the playoffs
| POLL | ||
Do you think that TJ Brodie should be in the Leafs lineup for game 1 of the playoffs? | ||
| Yes | 205 | 40.5 % |
| No | 301 | 59.5 % |
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