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Toronto Maple Leafs Record Is Unsustainable: Four Ways to Fix That

By James Tanner

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 07: The Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate after an NHL hockey game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks on October 07, 2018, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. Toronto won in overtime 7-6. (Photo By Daniel Bartel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 07: The Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate after an NHL hockey game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks on October 07, 2018, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. Toronto won in overtime 7-6. (Photo By Daniel Bartel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 25: Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (29) starts a rush up ice during Game 7 of the First Round for the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 25, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs 7-4. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Nylander, Matthews, Marleau

Bring me more of the first two, less of the last one.

Even Auston Matthews was getting outshot while healthy. The fact that he was scoring on every other shot kind of hid this, but it’s true. Nylander will help here, and having both players in the lineup should push the team to above 50% possession. They will also ensure that Marner and Tavares face easier matchups, and that will help them too. (Pretty much everyone, actually).

Getting these guys back in the lineup will be awesome.  Remember, as good as the Leafs are, they haven’t iced their optimal lineup one single time yet this year.

As for Marleau, again, I am a fan, but, again, hard calls are needed if you want to win. We very clearly need less Marleau.  He’s a nice guy, he never misses a game and he used to be great.  But he allows too many shots against as well. I don’t mind him on the third line with Kapanen and Kadri (in fact, I think that is an awesome line) but his power play time should be going to Leivo, Johnsson and Kapanen, once Nylander and Matthews are back.

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