Toronto Maple Leafs: 4 Surprising Options at 2nd Line Left Wing

1 of 5

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.

TORONTO, ON – MARCH 5: Nick Robertson #89 of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Nick Robertson

It feels like you’re either a huge Nick Robertson believer or the opposite right now.

You either think he’s going to score 30 goals or he’ll be an injury-prone prospect stuck on the Marlies. For this experiment, let’s be optimistic about everything and assume he’s the goal-scoring prospect that many dreamed he would be.

We haven’t seen Robertson in a full 82-game season yet and we also haven’t seen him have a long stretch with really good players. Instead, his minutes have been limited and he’s played in more of a bottom-six role.

He put up really solid numbers and something like a 2% shooting-percentage in a brief audition last year, but was a star in the AHL, scoring a point per game and scoring a very solid 16 times in 28 games.

Robertson is a top-six player and needs to play with skilled players. If everything goes well, he could be the best option for the team’s top-six left-wing position this year and he could very well be a strong candidate to win Rookie of the Year, but unfortunately, since he played more than six games in the last two seasons, he doesn’t qualify as a rookie.

He is 20 years old and played 16 NHL games, so that is a pretty dumb rule, especially considering the 25 year old Michael Bunting was a nominee last ye4ar.

If he can stay healthy, Nick Robertson will be a very good NHL player.

TORONTO, ON – MAY 27: Alexander Kerfoot #15 of the Toronto Maple Leafs e. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Alex Kerfoot

Everyone assumes that Kerfoot will be traded because of his contract, but that confuses me. He only makes $3.5M AAV (which is a value) and his skillset is that of a swiss army knife. In my opinion, Muzzin is the obvious choice to move, but his NTC might force the Leafs to trade the extremely useful Kerfoot.

Kerfoot is an effective penalty-killer, winger, centre and can also shift between the bottom and top-six. Although I didn’t love him on the Leafs second-line last year, he’s not the worst option in the world and could be the best one for them if a few other players don’t work out.

He’s very good for a team’s 4th best winger, but ideally you’d like to have more of a goal scorer with Tavares and Nylander.

The 28-year-old may eventually traded but in the meantime, he can play second-line left-wing minutes and it’s not going to hurt the team.

Last year, Kerfoot had 51 points, but more impressively had 47 points even-strength, while only averaging 15:13 TOI. (stats: hockeyreference.com).

He was third on the team in even-strength assists and finished sixth on the team in even-strength goals. That type of production makes him a viable candidate to be a top-six winger on the roster and fans shouldn’t be upset if he is still on this team by mid-season.

CALGARY, AB – MAY 26: Calle Jarnkrok #91 of the Calgary Flames in action against the Edmonton Oilers (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Calle Jarnkrok

Jarnkrok is a relatively unknown player, but he’ll be a fan-favorite by the end of the 2022-23 season.

For the past decade, Jarnkrok has been a third-line player, who’s been consistent as anyone in that role. l Typically scoring around 15 goals per season, he’s a gritty player, who can contribute in the bottom-six, top-six and on the penalty kill.

Throughout his career, he hasn’t normally played on the second-line, but the opportunity may strike in Toronto, although that seems unlikely.

He’s continued to contribute offensively, despite never playing with world-class offensive superstars, so his numbers could rise if paired beside Tavares and Nylander. As a high-IQ winger, that hockey intelligence could do wonder’s for him as he looks to breakout this year.

I’d be a little surprised if Jarnkrok ends up on the second-line, but he’ll definitely be given a strong look at training camp, as the competition will be high to get more minutes this year.

The most likely role for Jarnkrok is on a defensively elite line with David Kampf and Pierre Engvall.

TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 17: Michael Bunting #58 of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Michael Bunting

But wait, Michael Bunting is the Leafs first-line left-winger, why would he move down to the second-line?

Although that trio was fantastic and electric all season, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner drove that line. Bunting was a great contributor, but for the most part, Matthews and Marner did everything to make Bunting a Rookie of the Year candidate.

I know you can’t put literally any player with Marner and Matthews, but if the Leafs want to really maximize Matthews’ skillset, Nick Robertson could be a perfect fit on the first-line, bumping Bunting to the second-line.

i’ve always thought that Matthews and Marner can be effective with almost anyone beside them, while Tavares and Nylander could use a little more help to drive the line.

As such, Bunting can be that grunt worker for the two skilled guys and Matthews and Marner can find someone else to help them.

Next. Best Bets for 2022-23 Season. dark

If Sheldon Keefe wants to balance out the roster more, Bunting could be best suited on the team’s second-line this season.

Home / Editorials