Forward Line Two
Forward line two: Jimmy Vesey – John Tavares – William Nylander
Just like the first line on the Toronto Maple Leafs, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to you who would be on the second line because if Matthews and Marner are on the first line, then you know line two will have John Tavares and William Nylander. Well, that’s what line two exactly has, plus another little surprise on the left-wing, this time it’s Jimmy Vesey entering the team’s top six and will be on the wing with Tavares and Nylander.
Vesey brings that Hyman type to this line in my opinion, simply because he has a nose for the net and isn’t afraid to bang bodies or get physical in corners. Vesey who is entering his fifth year in the league has three seasons where he notched at least 16 goals with the Rangers and had a down year with nine last season with the Sabres, is looking to do the same here in Toronto alongside guys like Tavares and Nylander five-on-five.
Tavares brings that leadership role to this team, but more importantly, he brings his goal-scoring ability to a team that already has an elite goal scorer so that just adds another dangerous goal scorer on the ice for teams to try and handle. He has good hands as well and can pass the puck if he’s feeling like a playmaker instead of a goal scorer. Tavares alongside Nylander last season was good and with the addition of Vesey this season it may be just as good, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Nylander on the other hand had a career year last season scoring 31 goals and was on pace to finish the season with 36 goals and 69 points. Nylander brings an ability to score goals just like Tavares, but more importantly, he can pass the puck as he’s been a pass-first winger in seasons past but now has added a nice scoring touch to his game and becomes another threat on the ice for the Maple Leafs. (Stats from Hockey-Reference.com)