'We'll See How It Goes': Tyler Bertuzzi's Return to the First Line May Stick Even When Mitch Marner Returns from Lower-Body Injury
Sheldon Keefe liked what he saw in Boston when Bertuzzi was back on the top line. Despite struggles on Saturday, the Leafs head coach sees the potential for the winger to stay on the line
PHILADELPHIA — Despite its troubles earlier in the season, the Maple Leafs could see the original top line of Auston Matthews centering Tyler Bertuzzi and Mitch Marner when the latter eventually return from a lower-body injury.
"I think so. We’ll see how it goes with the guys right here and take it from there," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said. "Both with how he (Bertuzzi) is doing and how the lines around him are doing."
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Keefe envisioned putting Bertuzzi back on the top line at some point and it got fast-tracked when Matthew Knies was forced to leave due to precautionary reasons during the first period of the club's 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Thursday.
In 5:46 of 5-on-5 ice time against the Bruins last week that Bertuzzi Matthews and Marner skated together, they had a 95 percent share of the expected goals, per NaturalStatTrick.com
"I don’t think Bert’s game was in a good space early in the season when it didn’t go well and now it’s worth giving it another go here,: Keefe explained of Bertuzzi moving back to the top line.
The first full game back on the first line did not go well. With Marner unavailable, William Nylander replaced Marner on the top line and the trio was easily the worst of the bunch in Toronto's 3-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
Ahead of their game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, they will try Calle Jarnkrok in that spot.
"We're both going to be kind of fight for that No. 1 forechecking spot tonight," Bertuzzi said of the look with Jarnkrok.
Why does Keefe want to Bertuzzi to play with Matthews and why does he want it to work?
"The things that Bert does really well are the things that players like have success alongside Auston do, which is forecheck, make plays in tight spaces to create turnovers and be good around the net," the Maple Leafs head coach said. "He checks a lot of those boxes."
The Maple Leafs signed Bertuzzi to a one-year, $5.5 million contract this summer with the aim of being the ideal defenseman that could free up both Matthews and Marner. After opening the first month on that line, Bertuzzi was moved down as he struggled to find his footing. He eventually saw some success on the second and third lines. But now that his game is going again, it makes sense for the Toronto to want to try and give it another go.
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