Jason Spezza and No Strong Opinions
The Toronto Maple Leafs have an incredibly deep roster than will allow them to experiment with their fourth line as much as they want. Outside of Jason Spezza, who has earned the right to play in every game, any combination of players the Leafs use on their fourth line will be fine.
Ultimately, there isn’t really that much of a difference between any fourth liners, so I’d just go with the guys who have the highest ceiling because they can potentially help you a lot more than any risk you take by using them.
If I had to choose, I’d make the fourth line Galchenhyuk-Spezza- Robertson and I’d give them easy minutes and tell them to go nuts……but realistically this isn’t a combination we’ll likely ever see.
Realistically, the Leafs could use anyone they have in this role and be all right. At worst, Thornton and Simmonds, Petan and Engvall are all better than your average NHL 4th line player.
Spezza has earned a spot in every game regardless of anything, and as far as I’m concerned, they can mix and match to their hearts content with the other 10 guys.
Here are their options: Galchenyuk, Robertson, Thornton, Simmonds, Brooks, Engvall, Petan, Kenny Agostino, Antti Suomela or Joey Anderson.
I know next to nothing about Suomela, but nine forwards would have to get hurt before he plays, and the odds are he’d be totally fine on the fourth line for ten minutes in a game.
The reason that I would be perfectly fine with a Petan-Brooks-Suomela combo, if I had to be, is that the NHL is a pro league where the margins between players are so small that when it comes to the edges of rosters, there is hardly any difference.
I think the best thing they could do is let Galchenyuk and Robertson take turns, while letting Thornton and Simmonds take turns. My guess for what they will actually do is Thornton-Spezza-Simmonds