Examining 4 Potential Toronto Maple Leafs Third-Line Combinations

Alex Kerfoot – Joe Thornton – Wayne Simmonds

Kyle Dubas’ first signing shortly after free agency opened at 12 p.m. on October 9th was inking Wayne Simmonds to a one-year, $1.5 million contract to bring some much-needed leadership and “functional toughness” to a Leafs team who seemed to lack some of those characteristics at several points last season.

Simmonds’ biggest calling card is his ability to play both sides of the puck quite well. He can be a force in the offensive zone but also hunt loose pucks (and bodies) on defense. From 2013-14 to 2017-18, Simmonds registered at least 24 goals in every season. His best season came in 2015-16, where Simmonds finished with 32 goals, 60 points, and 192 hits (stats; hockey-reference).

Over the last two seasons, however, Simmonds has been a shell of his former self. During his tenure with the Philadelphia Flyers, the Scarborough native was the ideal model of an NHL power forward.

It is a pretty safe bet from the Toronto Maple Leafs to think Simmonds may be able to return to his full form. In a recent interview with Pierre LeBrun, Simmonds mentioned that “all I can say to you is that I’m actually, finally 100 percent healthy from my surgeries two years ago. I’ve been training like an animal.” (source; The Athletic).

That sounds like a player who is ready to prove to the hockey world, in front of his hometown crowd, he is still a very good NHL player. If he is able to do that, Simmonds completely changes the dynamic of that third line.

A motivated and determined Simmonds is going to a force to be reckoned with for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

If there is one thing Kyle Dubas has done this offseason, it is that he has given his long-time partner and head coach a ton of options. And with a ton of options comes a ton of competition. It is going to be a fun training camp.