Toronto Maple Leafs Make Big Lineup Changes Ahead Of Game Against the Winnipeg Jets
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made some drastic changes to their lineup as they head into Winnipeg losers of three straight and needing to turn it around quickly.
Coming into Monday night's game against the undefeated Winnipeg Jets, the Toronto Maple Leafs are riding into town with three straight losses, and looking unlike the team that started the year hot. They've already made a big change to their roster by scratching Nick Robertson after his frigid start, as head coach Craig Berube keeps tinkering to see what works.
So with that big change comes another, as the Maple Leafs have made big changes to their lines ahead of tonight's game and it sees John Tavares promoted with his old linemate William Nylander amongst other changes:
The second line now consists of Tavares, Nylander, and Max Pacioretty; another forward looking to get into a rhythm as Max Domi slides down to the third line and sits between Pontus Holmberg and Bobby McMann, who also got demoted to the third line. The BMW line that started so hot this season has gone ice cold, and switching them up and giving them a different role might be what's needed to get them out of their funk.
It's still a bit perplexing why Robertson doesn't draw in over Ryan Reaves, as Robertson offers more value through his offensive potential, however after his preseason where he scored five goals, he's scored once in the regular season. Robertson may need a mental reset and giving the youngster the night off to gather himself should lead to a boost in Robertson's production.
Robertson signed a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs after holding out for a trade earlier in the summer, as he felt disrespected by the lack of playing time. Understandably upset, Robertson relented and signed, hoping to showcase himself in a contract year. It's been the polar opposite so far, and Robertson's healthy scratch doesn't bode well for the Maple Leafs forward's future with the team.
It's up to him and him alone though to turn things around, and he could find that gambling on himself is a high-risk/high-reward scenario where the house unfortunately ends up winning this bet.
