The best potential Toronto Maple Leafs lineup: A breakdown

PUBLICATION

Chris Gerics
September 26, 2024 (7:38)

SHARE THIS STORY

The Toronto Maple Leafs need the best roster available this season, and if the team wants a deep playoff run, Craig Berube needs these players on the ice.

It's been 56 years since the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup. Back then there wasn't even two rounds, as Maple Leafs super fan and podcaster Steve Dangle found out earlier this summer:

It's not for a lack of trying, but the Maple Leafs and its fans are desperate for a modicum of success, and this current crop of players can do it, if the right names are given a shot. I feel the Maple Leafs would have the best possible lineup with the lines below:

Knies -- Matthews -- Marner
Domi -- Nylander -- Robertson
Pacioretty -- Tavares -- McMann
Cowan -- Lorentz -- Grebenkin

Rielly -- Tanev
Ekman-Larsson -- McCabe
Hakanpaa -- Benoit

Woll
Stolarz

Healthy scratches/reserves: David Kampf, Pontus Holmberg, Timothy Liljegren

The beginning of the season is incredibly important in not only establishing your identity but gaining a wave of momentum you can ride into mid-season and give yourself a more comfortable position come playoff time. Toronto needs to get out to a blazing start and having a Top 9 with such scoring output along with defensive versatility will pay huge dividends for the Maple Leafs. Pairing Pacioretty with another veteran in Tavares will allow them to use their experience and talent to help McMann reach his full offensive output. He scored 15 goals last year shuffling between lines, but giving him a more stable line with playmaking veterans may give him the breakout he's on the cusp of.

Adding Stanley Cup winner and faceoff anchor Steven Lorentz to the middle of rookies Easton Cowan and Nikita Grebenkin; two youngsters who have proven themselves through the scoresheet or sheer toughness:

Lorentz's defensive ability will allow Cowan and Grebenkin to breakout against weaker 4th lines and allow their natural talent to shine. Both men are capable of scoring, as Cowan had an impressive 96 point season last year and Grebenkin is coming off a 19 goal season in the KHL playing with men years above him. If he can find chemistry with his fellow rookie Cowan and let Lorentz do his job while also pulling an enforcer role; there's no telling how far this line can carry Toronto.

Nylander's shift to center is one that is clouded in mystery but full of excitement. Giving the Maple Leafs a Top 9 centered with Matthews, Nylander and Tavares would give the team a huge 1-2-3 punch down the middle now and in the playoffs. Max Domi moving to his more natural wing position will allow the forward to get back to his goal scoring roots; he's had a season with nearly 30 goals, he's a playoff producer, and giving him the chance to shine again would make everyone smile.

But where does that leave names like Nick Robertson, Calle Jarnkrok, Ryan Reaves et al? Unfortunately, on the outside looking in as these names need to be traded for some draft capital come the trade deadline. Jarnkrok and Reaves' spots are held down by Grebenkin, Cowan, McMann, and Pacioretty; not to mention Kampf and Holmberg. Getting rid of their nearly $5M in cap would allow Toronto a lot more wiggle room come summer time, and give them some picks to either use, or swap for another piece.

Robertson's an interesting case, as the restricted free agent re-signed with the Maple Leafs and seemed to be a huge part of the lineup for Craig Berube, and was never given a fair shake under Sheldon Keefe. He could be shipped off for someone like a Scott Laughton; and if Toronto got rid of the aforementioned Reaves and Jarnkrok they could afford him. If Robertson were to be traded it would highly depend on his production, as if he's not playing the way Toronto wants him to, he definitely will be out of town sooner than later.

According to Kevin Papetti, writer for The Athletic and The Hockey News recently posted on X about the current lineup for the Toronto Maple Leafs and how they are absolutely in a cap crunch.

The names on there like Robertson, Jarnkrok, Holmberg, Reaves, and Kampf are replaced by Max Pacioretty, Easton Cowan, Fraser Minten, Nikita Grebenkin, Steven Lorentz; heck even Alex Nylander who has a lot more upside than everyone minus perhaps Robertson. The fourth line plus Jarnkrok equates to $6.725M dollars of cap room that can be spent elsewhere (basically wiggle room and space to make moves, perhaps to help re-sign Mitch Marner). Reaves and Kampf alone are $4.5M so even dumping that dead weight for some picks and cap security is their smartest bet. Toronto has to have a trade coming because Pacioretty's PTO is basically a formality, and if Steven Lorentz can come back from injury, it makes even less sense to keep the names above.

Hypothetically, if Toronto traded Robertson, Reaves, and Jarnkrok; and if Fraser Minten is healthy and playing well enough to earn a spot, the lineup could look something like this:

Knies -- Matthews -- Marner
Domi -- Nylander -- McMann
Pacioretty -- Tavares -- Grebenkin
Cowan -- Laughton -- Minten

Rielly -- Tanev
Ekman-Larsson -- McCabe
Hakanpaa -- Benoit

Woll
Stolarz

Adding McMann back to the top-6 would give him the offensive talent needed alongside him for McMann to continue his output. If he can build himself up quickly with Tavares and Pacioretty; then find the same chemistry with even more dynamic players, he could find himself with 25 goals+. Grebenkin shifting to the third line would allow him offensive capabilities with Tavares and Pacioretty, but allow him to fulfill the checking line role and be a big body to open up more of the ice.

Laughton slotting in between Cowan and Minten who have both shown incredible chemistry so far, is just icing on the proverbial cake. Him winning key faceoffs and getting Cowan and Minten the puck quickly and efficiently will be a massive boost to Toronto. He only comes at a hit of $3M; something easily remedied by the bloated contracts they have, so it would be a wise investment.
No changes on D or goaltending unless drastic things happen such as injuries or consistent struggles, as this would be the best 6 Toronto could put out on any given night.

The Toronto Maple Leafs need to put their best foot foward this season and come out of the gate swinging. There's no reason to have question marks throughout the year about who deserves what; the talent Toronto has in incredible and it needs a chance to shine. Without a change in their lineups structure and a lack of willingness to get rid of those bloated contracts they no longer need; when they have just as suitable, if not better replacements in tow is a failure. It will be more of the same disappointment if they keep putting out disappointing players.