With September around the corner, here is an early look at what the Toronto Maple Leafs might deploy come opening night.
With September around the corner, here is an early look at what the Toronto Maple Leafs might deploy come opening night.
It's been awfully quiet on the transactional front for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the month of August.
Outside of signing goaltender Martin Jones to a one-year, $875,000, the club has not done much to their lineup lately. Could that change between now and the opening of training camp next month? Sure. But with the team currently pressed hard against the NHL salary cap, the reality could be that Toronto's current roster is what they stick to in the short term.
With that said, let's take a look at some of the line combinations the Leafs could trot out to begin the season.
Forwards
Tyler Bertuzzi - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner
Matthews Knies - John Tavares - William Nylander
Max Domi - David Kampf - Calle Jarnkrok
Sam Lafferty - Dylan Gambrell - Ryan Reaves
The only lock the Maple Leafs appear to have is at the top line. Tyler Bertuzzi will more than likely get the first chance to play up front with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. The energetic forward signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Leafs this summer and will be expected to his strong two-way game along with him. Bertuzzi scored 30 goals with the Detroit Red Wings in the 2021-22 season and that mark should be attainable with the playmakers on his line, especially Marner.
After the first line, there could be a lot of movement. Matthew Knies proved himself to be capable of playing in the top-six forward group in his rookie season with Toronto. But should he struggle off the bat, someone like Max Domi could move up to skate on the second line. Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving indicated in July that Domi could play center or wing depending on what was needed although they had him preliminarily penciled him in on the wing.
It's clear that Toronto's center depth isn't at the same level as it was to end the season and if Domi is needed to play up the middle, he could also be an option there if Kampf moved down back to the fourth center spot he occupied last year.
If there is one thing that is clear about head coach Sheldon Keefe, it's that he likes to move the lines a lot. I expect nothing to change on that front.
Defense
Morgan Rielly - TJ Brodie
Jake McCabe - John Klingberg
Mark Giordano - Timothy Liljegren
Extra: Conor Timmins
This one is a massive toss-up. Whatever is decided has to be done with getting the maximum out of Morgan Rielly. Toronto's top defender bounced all over the lineup last year before he eventually found solid footing with Luke Schenn when the club acquired him at the trade deadline. Despite interest from Toronto in retaining him, Schenn signed a three-year, $8.25 million deal with the Nashville Predators. Over the last few seasons, Rielly saw his best play with TJ Brodie and it could be best for both players to reunite here.
The Maple Leafs signed John Klingberg to a one-year, $4.15 million deal and will need a stabilizing presence there to offset the defensive issues that come with his strong offensive game. TJ Brodie, on the left side, while seemingly would be a good fit with Klingberg, would leave an imbalance of players who can play on the right side, unless Conor Timmins came in for someone like Mark Giordano.
The Leafs could still make some moves on defense. Treliving said he likes bigger defensemen and the dynamic could change between now and opening night in October.
Goalies
Ilya Samsonov
Joseph Woll
Martin Jones
Matt Murray? (LTIR)
Ilya Samsonov comes into this season as the undisputed No. 1 goaltender, unlike last season where he competed early on with Matt Murray for the job. Murray is on long-term injured reserve and isn't expected to be an option for Toronto, at least early on. Toronto is expecting Samsonov to build off his first season in Toronto where he posted a .919 save percentage. The hope is that he can play in more than half of the games this season.
Joseph Woll put up spectacular numbers in the regular season going 6-1-0 with a .932 save percentage. The 25-year-old will be expected to play in tandem with Samsonov in a backup role. But should Woll struggle, Jones is the club's third option, if they can keep him. Woll and Jones both require waivers if Toronto cuts them from their roster. And Toronto doesn't have a good track record of being able to keep their exposed goalies.
Power Play
PP1 - John Klingberg, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, William Nylander
PP2 - Rielly, Bertuzzi, Domi, Knies, Jarnkrok
While Morgan Rielly occupied the first power-play spot for much for the last two seasons, I think there will be a change from new assistant coach Guy Boucher, who may be tempted to put Klingberg into that role on the top unit. Although Rielly had more power-play points than Klingberg last season, Rielly had just 19 power-play shots on goal compared to 39 from the new Toronto defenseman. The shot from the point may be the change Boucher looks for.
Of course, Rielly has been effective on PP1 so it could stay the same.
Penalty Kill
PK1 - Mitch Marner, David Kampf, TJ Brodie, Jake McCabe
PK2 - Dylan Gambrell, Sam Lafferty, Mark Giordano, Timothy Liljegren
Not a lot changes on the penalty kill side. It really depends on if Dylan Gambrell is in the lineup or not.
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