Answering the Toronto Maple Leafs Top 5 Most Burning Lineup Questions

4. Fourth-line Center

In 2019-20, the fourth line center role mostly belonged to a platoon of Frederik Gauthier and Jason Spezza. With both players rotating draws on their strong side, Toronto was able to create a center-by-committee type of effort in the faceoff dot.

That strategy may be in play again for next season and we can even see Pierre Engvall added to that rotation, making an Engvall-Gauthier-Spezza fourth line. Dubas could even promote center Adam Brooks from the Marlies to a full-time NHLer and have a bit more certainty on in the faceoff circle. Newly acquired Evan Rodrigues could also factor into that fourth line platoon, however, he needs a new contract and can likely get more money in free agency.

One thing Kyle Dubas seems to have learned from the remaining teams in the playoffs is that winning the Stanley Cup is a group effort. Far too often Toronto relied on their ‘Big Four’ for offense and it burned them countless times. As such, an Engvall-Gauthier-Spezza fourth line probably is not going to be what the Toronto Maple Leafs GM is looking for, so this offseason expect Dubas to look to add a more offensive punch on that line.

That addition might come in the form of ‘Jumbo’ Joe Thornton. Thornton brings a lot to the table that Toronto’s other fourth line options do not bring. I mean, they don’t call him ‘Jumbo’ for nothing.

The grit and nastiness Thornton brings every night, coupled with his point production – Thornton is averaging 2.3 points/60 compared to Spezza’s 1.77 points/60 over the last three seasons (stats; evolving-hockey.com) – makes the 41-year-old the perfect fourth-line center for Toronto. Add in his willingness to make his salary fit among the rest of the roster and Toronto has found a gem.