Toronto Maple Leafs: Opening Night Lineup Predictions

By Alex Hobson | Jul 3, 2018

TORONTO, ON - JULY 1: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs, poses with his jersey in the dressing room, after he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, at the Scotiabank Arena on July 1, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

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TORONTO, ON – APRIL 23: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms-up before facing the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre on April 23, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /

SECOND LINE: Patrick Marleau – Auston Matthews – William Nylander

Again, this isn’t necessarily the second line. I don’t know how Babcock will be running his lines, but I have a strong suspicion that he won’t be subjecting either Matthews or Tavares to second line minutes.

Anyways, this line features the same dreamy combination of Matthews and Nylander. Only this year, they would be finding themselves with a new left wing in Patrick Marleau. Marleau is a veteran who matched if not exceeded expectations last year. He hasn’t lost his speed yet and he still managed to put up 27 goals last season.

We all know what Matthews and Nylander are capable of, and Marleau will only add extra offense to that line. It’s incredible to think about the fact that the Leafs essentially have two first-line calibre lines.

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