Toronto Maple Leafs: Line Combos with John Tavares

With John Tavares fulfilling his childhood dream of signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team’s center depth is absurd.

In one of the most exciting days in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs, a superstar hometown kid finally chose to come home. Mike Babcock talked  at his introductory press conference as head coach about Toronto not being a safe place for local kids, but that it would be soon. Well he was right.

The Leafs have arguably the most talented roster in the NHL. Mathews, Tavares and Nazem Kadri as the top 3 centers the Leafs can roll out is unmatched.

Babcock must feel like a kid in a candy store with all this talent he has at his disposal. Everyone and their mother will be speculating as to what the line combinations should be. So we might as join the discussion as well.

Here is how I think Mike Babcock should deploy his lines to start the season:

Marleau   Mathews   Nylander

Johnsson   Tavares   Marner

Brown   Kadri   Kapanen

Hyman   ?     ?

The fourth line is the only area where spots could be won at training camp. If the Leafs choose to look in-house for their fourth line center, Freddy Gauthier, Chris Mueller and even Colin Greening could be options, but that is very doubtful. Newly signed Par Lindholm could also get a look. On the wing, Josh Leivo is still on the team, although that ship seems to have sailed. Matt Martin looks like a trade or buyout candidate, so it looks like the Leafs most likely fourth line isn’t currently on the team.

Kyle Dubas could do some bargain shopping for some free agent wingers, but there could be some Marlies ready to compete. Carl Grundstrom and Trevor Moore could be players that break camp with the big club. The problem is the Leafs first 3 lines are so good the fourth line will get very little minutes. If it is going to stunt their development keep them in the minors, and hold onto a Josh Leivo.

PP 1

The Leafs, much like most of the league now, deploy a one d man and 4 forwards unit. This should be how the Leafs power play looks:

Johnsson   Marleau  Nylander

Gardiner   Mathews

Mathews and Gardiner quarterbacking the powerplay with Nylander on the half wall is deadly. With Marleau you have a good net presence, that can make plays down low. Lastly Andreas Johnsson, whos smart and can make plays in tight spaces.  Its hard to even put this as the power play 1. Both units would be number 1 on any other team. It is truly an embarrassment of riches.

PP 2

Kapanen  Tavares  Kadri

Rielly   Marner

This is just silly. This is going to give teams nightmares about taking penalties. Marner is one of the best playmakers in the league, and his passing options are going to be limitless. These power play units are interchangeable. Whichever one looks better during a game could get the call in a key moment. Mike Babcock really can’t go wrong with these combinations, however he decides to use them.

Fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs have every right to be excited. The biggest free agent ever, a local kid, decided to sign. The days of players from the greater Toronto area being scared to come home are done. The Stanley Cup no longer seems like a pipe dream. This is one of the most talented rosters in the NHL. Expectations will be higher than they have in well over a decade.

Critics will keep saying that the defence still isn’t good enough, but it’s already better than it gets credit for being, and the team clearly isn’t done. The Toronto Maple Leafs  will have the puck all night.

Next: Evaluating Every Single Player the Leafs Just Drafted

There are no guarantees in the National Hockey League. Just look at Vegas going to the Cup final. One thing for sure is that this team is going to be incredibly fun to watch.

Is it October Yet?.