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Toronto Maple Leafs: 2019 Opening Night Line-Up

By Alicia DiDomenico

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 21: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during warm up before a game against the Boston Bruins during Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scotiabank Arena on April 21, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 21: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during warm up before a game against the Boston Bruins during Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scotiabank Arena on April 21, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Second Line

 Johnsson-Matthews-Nylander

William Nylander had a rough season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, that’s well known just about everywhere. Not suiting up before December will do that to a player, though.

Come next September, if the Leafs are able to sign Johnsson, look at this as a probable second line – or second-first line, as the case may be.

Both players produce well when paired with Matthews, and it’s known that Auston himself produces better with Nylander on his wing. Now, if the Toronto Maple Leafs are smart, they keep this line together and see what they can do without splitting them up every game because it was a bad shift.

The Matthews-Nylander duo works, and paired with another skilled winger like Johnsson, this line could be one to watch. Johnsson finished in the top 5 of NHL rookie scoring this past season, even scoring more than the aforementioned Hyman.

So the question of “can he score?” is not it, but more of can his success continue.

Johnsson struggled with some confidence issues during the beginning of the season, and through that struggle wasn’t exactly the most productive player. Just like Nylander who bounced up and down the lineup, both players appeared to hit some offensive spark with Matthews as the centre.

Can Johnsson score at the same or better pace than last year? Will Nylander put forth another lacklustre year, or will the skilled winger make his return? Can Matthews stay injury-free?

All are important questions to look forward too as the lens shifts to the fall.

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