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Who Will Earn the Left Wing Jobs in the Toronto Maple Leafs Top 6?

By Michael Da Ponte

TORONTO, ON - MAY 31: Auston Matthews #34 and Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs take to the ice to play against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 31, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Map[le Leafs 3-1 to win series 4 games to 3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 31: Auston Matthews #34 and Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs take to the ice to play against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 31, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Map[le Leafs 3-1 to win series 4 games to 3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 7: Ondrej Kase #25 of the Anaheim Ducks battles against Jake Muzzin #8 of the Toronto Maple Leafs  (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

The Candidates, Part 2

Ilya Mikheyev – I really do not see this happening, but if Mikheyev could learn to finish his chances, he might have 30 goals this year. Unfortunately, he may be better suited in a bottom 6 role, and if the newest additions come in and prove themselves to be more productive on the scoreboard, he could find himself as the 13th/14th forward.

Alex Kerfoot – With the signing of David Kampf, who will most likely be the third line centreman, tasked with shutting down the other teams top players, Kerfoot is free to play the wing.

I have always preferred Kerfoot to play on the wing, where he seems to be a bit more effective. It seems likely he will play third line LW but I believe he should be given an opportunity to move up in the top six permanently. He has played there numerous times during his time with the Maple Leafs, usually due to injury, and has fit in nicely there. Also, Dubas made moves before the expansion draft in what seemed like an attempt to keep Kerfoot in a Leafs uniform, so they must have some plans for the speedy forward.

Nicholas Robertson – I would love to see Robertson outperform everyone in training camp and earn a spot in the top six, but I think he may need a full season in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies before being an effective full time player at the NHL level.  Still, for the Toronto Maple Leafs, it’s hard to imagine that there is any better situation than finding a capable, top-of-the-lineup player on an entry level contract.  Considering that they played him in the playoffs last year, it can’t be that much of a longshot for him to make it.

In the end, whoever does play with Matthews and Marner will reap the rewards of playing with two of the most dynamic forwards in the NHL. Matthews and Marner can not be slowed down offensively and have proven time and again that they can elevate any player who occupies their left wing.

dark. Next. Leafs Goalie, Defense, Management Grades for 2021

But when the have an effective forechecker who can finish, the entire Toronto Maple Leafs squad is elevated to another level.  We will see soon enough, who the next Leafs fan favorite will be.

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