Toronto Maple Leafs Announce Revamped Lineup Ahead of Bruins Game
The Toronto Maple Leafs will have a new look lineup as they face the Boston Bruins with Auston Matthews out, Max Domi steps in as the team needs to pick it up.
It's been a rollercoaster season so far for the Maple Leafs. After a fairly hot start, they've become average at best, with a lack of production from the bottom half of their lineup, their atrocious powerplay and lack of discipline are costing them games. Craig Berube has some reinforcements coming back soon in Connor Dewar, Jani Hakanpaa, and Calle Jarnkrok so hopefully, they will be part of the solution to Toronto's troubles.
But as Toronto heads into Scotiabank Arena with revenge on their minds after another heartbreaking loss to the Bruins in overtime, they will do so without their captain and superstar as Auston Matthews is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
So with Toronto missing their captain, the lineup needs a big shuffle and from what we've seen in practice, some people need to step up big time:
Line 1: Knies -- Domi -- Marner
Max Domi gets the call to helm the top line between Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies. One can hope that Domi will be able to regain the offensive form he had earlier this season, having gone ice-cold ever since, and perhaps putting him with the big boys is what's needed. Marner and Domi are both playmakers so hopefully getting into the zone and keeping possession won't be an issue, and Matthew Knies can feast on open opportunities as Boston presses both men. Domi needs to step it up if Toronto's first line has any chance of success, and can't slack on defense either, after all: this is why Toronto invested so much money into him in the summer.
Line 2: Pacioretty -- Tavares -- Nylander
The star line of the Maple Leafs (at least in the last little bit) has found some fantastic chemistry together as both John Tavares and Max Pacioretty have found new life with William Nylander. They've been a point production machine and given the Maple Leafs life at times when it feels like the majority of the team has underperformed. Look for head coach Craig Berube to look for this line to have a lot of heavy lifting if the top line doesn't get it together.
Line 3: McMann -- Holmberg -- Robertson
This is where things get murky. While he started well with Domi and Nylander, McMann has gotten lost in the shuffle a bit and has been shifted toward a traditional 3rd line role as opposed to second-line minutes he was getting last season. Holmberg and Robertson have been terrible so far, and if there was any game to prove to Craig Berube they belonged in the lineup; it's when their best player is out. Especially with Robertson and Holmberg possibly out the door if they don't pick it up.
Line 4: Lorentz -- Kampf -- Reaves
It's more of the same from the fourth line as the third. A lack of production is expected from Ryan Reaves although both Lorentz and Kampf are capable of being competent offensive players. Toronto won't necessarily want to employ Reaves a ton as he is more often a defensive liability. This line will focus on being a shutdown line and try to instill some intimidation when necessary.
Toronto also has to change their powerplay a bit, and perhaps this will kickstart the league's worst powerplay:
Toronto's Powerplay Lines
The first powerplay unit will see three of the Core Four reunited as Tavares, Nylander, and Marner come together again along with Knies and Rielly. It's standard from what we had last season. They need to get things going as the powerplay has been abysmal and it's very concerning that Toronto's powerplay maestro Marc Savard has suddenly forgotten how to run a man advantage, which may cost him his job.
The second line will have Pacioretty, Robertson, Domi, McMann, and Ekman-Larsson; more of a heavier and grittier powerplay unit that will also need to step it up quickly. Robertson and Domi have a great chance to break out of their slumps and having Ekman-Larsson as the quarterback, they have a good shot.
Final Takeaway
The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be in tough against the Boston Bruins, but who knows; maybe a lineup shakeup was what they needed, though it came at a terrible cost. A wake-up call is what this team needed and the fact they don't have their captain and offensive catalyst should be a sign that you need to start pulling your weight.
It will be interesting to see how Toronto responds against Boston, and it'll be a true test of their mental fortitude. Either Toronto will rise against adversity, or crumble into dust. There's no in-between.
