We have no idea who’s going to play second-line left-wing for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have Alex Kerfoot, who played their the most last year. He is far better than most, if not all, team’s 4th best winger. He also makes $3.5 million and is a pending UFA. Most of his current salary is already paid in signing bonus form, and therefore he’s an extremely valuable trade chip on a team currently over the cap.
It cannot be assumed he will be the Leafs 2LW this year, because he seems the most likely to be moved to solve the current cap overage + the Sandin problem, although he is an option.
Heading into the 2021-22 season, the team’s top-line was in question. We knew that Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner were going to play together, but we didn’t know who the third-wheel was going to be.
Many (including myself) assumed that Nick Ritchie would fill that role well. After losing Zach Hyman, Ritchie felt like a perfect replacement. He had size, could be someone who retrieved pucks and also had some skill, scoring 15 goals in the previous season.
However, that quickly went sideways as his speed didn’t fit Matthews and Marner’s. Not only that, but he also just looked lost playing alongside them.
As we get ready for yet another Leafs season, a similar question unfolds surrounding the team’s second-line.
There are plenty of options, but training camp will ultimately decide who get’s that lucky opportunity to play alongside John Tavares and (probably) William Nylander.
As such, here are four intriguing options to become the second-line left-winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.