The Issue with the Toronto Maple Leafs 3rd and 4th Lines

As we approach the quarter mark on the season we’ve seen some questionable play from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The group of players rotating in and out of the Toronto Maple Leafs “bottom-six”  has been a set of revolving doors since the season started.

The Leafs did not get good play from the bottom of the lineup to start the season.  Wayne Simmonds didn’t even make the tea, was waived and offered around the league,  then found himself on the 3rd line somehow.  Nicholas Aube-Kubel was awful to start and ended up on waivers (claimed by Washington) as well.

Calle Jarnkrok got off to a bad start. The Engvall/Kampf duo that was so effective last season was abandoned as the Leafs tried Nick Robertson and Denis Malkgin on the second line, necessitating Alex Kerfoot’s demotion (briefly) to the 3rd line.

This constant mix of combinations has really affected the lower half of the line and if this continues, it will start to become a major weak spot. Here I want to highlight the issue Keefe made on opening night and some ideas to internally fix this problem.

Toronto Maple Leafs 3rd Line Issues

The Issue:

David Kampf.

Kampf is a reliable defensive player who’s proven extremely important to the PK and end-of-game situations. Along with his exceptional play in the defensive end Kampf can also chip in the offensive every now and then.

Kamp’s early season demotion appeared to be the result of not wanting to put Alex Kerfoot on the fourth line (he doesn’t deserve to play there, and he would be hard to move if they did). Whatever the reason, it hurt the team.

The Solution:

Make use of David Kamp’s great defensive skills.  He can go up against other team’s top line’s (at least at home where the Leafs have last change) and come out on top. That is a very valuable thing to have in the bottom of your lineup.

At first, the solution seemed obvious: Like last year have him as your 3C. It’s not that hard and I think everyone who follows the Leafs is shocked the Leafs broke up their defensive juggernaut from last season.

In the last few games, however, Sheldon Keefe seems to have hit on an answer:  Aston-Reese-Kampf-Malgin.

This line has been lights out since Keefe first put them together.  Against Boston, the Leafs got them out whenever they could against Pastrnak.  Against Las Vegas, they played vs. the Eichel line.

Malgin has been dangerous, and Aston-Reese is finally playing like the player the Leafs thought they were getting.

At least for the last few games.  Before that, he showed signs here and there with his grit and physicality,  but hadn’t been able to put it all together, and I think that’s due to lack of consistency.  Putting him with a steady centre has the potential to unlock those Pittsburgh characteristics that made him a good bottom six player, and I think we’re seeing that the last couple of games.

The other third line (or the other bottom six line)  is still a work in progress.

Robertson with Jarnkrok and Engvall has been the look for the last couple games.

It will be easier to know how this line works when Calle Jarnkrok regains the form that made the Leafs sign him in the first place.

This Swedish winger has proven reliable in his career thus far and he was signed to a pretty lengthy deal with lots of clauses involved (in order to get this year’s cap hit lower).

So, with that in mind combined with the fact that he’s the third-best right winger in the system warrants the spot, but needs to play better.  Perhaps some time with David Kampf would improve his game.

On the left side of this line, we have Pierre Engvall, a 6’5 winger who does not use his size to his advantage though he put up elite defensive numbers last year with Kampf.

He’s struggling again to start the year and putting him Kampf again could spark that chemistry that we saw last year. An Engvall-Kampf-Jarnkrok line could be what the Leafs eventually settle on.

The Toronto Maple Leafs depth should be a team-strength, but the bottom-six has only really contributed for the last few games.  It will be interesting to monitor this as the season progresses, because the Leafs have so many options they can try out.

Wayne Simmonds, Kyle Clifford, Alex Kerfoot, Michael Bunting, Adam Gaudette, Pontus Holmber, Joey Anderson, Alex Steeves and several others are possibilities to try if the current set up fails.