Projecting the Toronto Maple Leafs Forward Lines to Start the Season

Line 2

The second line will continue to feature the other members of the Core Four, John Tavares and William Nylander. Having played together for years, this is one of the easier combinations to predict. It makes far more sense to keep the pair together and slot in others than to shift the cornerstones of the Leafs forward group.

Tavares and Nylander, like everyone on the top line, will maintain their regular positions. That just leaves the left wing position to fill. This should be done by either Max Domi or Knies.

Domi could fill the position as a player with pedigree who has proven he can score in the NHL. In 2018-19 he recorded 28 goals and 44 assists. While he hasn’t returned to that level of production, last season the second generation talent put together a 20 goals and 36 assists campaign.

Had Knies not played with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the playoffs, the spot would have most likely gone to Domi. After-all, the third line is where Knies was initially debuted in the NHL under Sheldon Keefe.

As the playoffs went on, Knies became too integral to team success to play in the bottom six. Keefe moved the Hobey Baker finalist up the lineup to join Tavares and Nylander.

Knies’ offense was too valuable to be stifled by third line minutes. The trio produced a great deal of scoring chances and looked comfortable together. They can be expected to stay together and hope there is still magic to be found as a line once again.

Matthew Knies (LW) – John Tavares (C) – William Nylander (RW)