The Toronto Maple Leafs Second and Third-Line Centre Debate
The Toronto Maple Leafs head into training camp with a few question marks at center and it may be time to seriously think about Marner as the option to center the second line.
The Toronto Maple Leafs head into the 2024-25 season with a bit of a question mark at the second line center position which has been owned by John Tavares since he came to the organization in 2018.
Besides the second line center position, there is also the curiosity of who will be in charge of the third line for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the answer for one could lead to solving the second.
The most obvious slotting on the forward lines is that Auston Matthews will be the first line center, but what the league's most dangerous scorer proved last year is that he doesn't need to play with superstars to put the puck past the goalie.
With the three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner slotted into the first line center spot, the options for the second line center are Tavares, William Nylander, Max Domi and a new choice in Mitch Marner.
Scenario 1
My top choice that I would like to see would have Matthews at center on the first line being flanked by Domi and Matthew Knies. The two veterans on that line proved that they had a lot of chemistry and almost to a fault where Domi was giving up scoring chances to feed Matthews.
This makes Nylander, Marner and Tavares available to stretch the lineup, and my top choice for a second line would be to to load it up with the trio and give Marner the spot down the middle.
The former London Knight has never played the center position in the NHL, but he could excel with two powerful wingers beside him. The biggest critique of Marner's game is that he avoids traffic so the move to center could lead to one of two things. One is that Marner is still fearful of the battle in front of the net and downlow in his own end causing a firestorm for his defensemen, but the second could be that it forces him to engage and he realizes he is not as small as he plays and could take his game to the next level.
Tavares could still take the faceoffs until Marner gets more comfortable on the draws and then the captain can move back to the wing. By putting Tavares on the wing this will allow his continued decline in foot speed to be less of an impact on the team and he can use his size and strength along the boards.
With these two lines being top heavy it forces Berube to be creative on the third line and either go with Calle Järnkrok, Pontus Holmberg or David Kämpf at center.
Knies-Matthews-Domi
Tavares-Marner-Nylander
McMann-Holmberg-Järnkrok
Dewar-Kämpf-Reaves
Robertson
Scenario 2
The second scenario is very similar to the first in which the top line still sees Domi, Matthews and Knies playing together. However, the change comes on the on the second line where Marner is still centering the line, but this time the wingers Nylander and Bobby McMann.
The third line would then see Tavares as the center playing between Nicholas Robertson (if they get him signed) and Järnkrok.
This is obviously an upgrade on the bottom six of the previous suggestion, but it weakens the top six.
In this scenario, the second line is obviously not as dangerous, but it would give the team three legitimate line options.
Tavares proved in the playoffs last year he could handle being a defensively responsible center, the question is whether or not he is ok with that being his new identity permanently and risk not being a 20-goal scorer anymore. The former first overall pick would have Järnkrok to help shutdown lines, while getting Robertson to chip in with the offence.
The second line would see two highly dynamic players in Marner and Nylander, with a simple and hard nosed McMann on the wing. There are still the concerns of Marner playing center for the first time in his career, but this is something I think the team really needs to take a look at. If the Toronto native can show he can play center at an elite level, well maybe $12M isn't out of the question for him.
These three lines also gives the team the ability to have Kämpf centering a duo that would include Ryan Reaves, Pontus Holmberg and Connor Dewar.
Knies-Matthews-Domi
McMann-Marner-Nylander
Robertson-Tavares-Järnkrok
Dewar-Kämpf-Reaves/Holmberg
Scenario 3
The third scenario is that Berube makes no change from what Keefe has been doing for years and that would be continue to pair Matthews and Marner together while putting Knies back on the line.
This seems unlikely because Craig Berube is probably going to want to put his stamp on the team, and there is also no way he is unaware of how many points Domi and Matthews were producing together.
Re-signing Domi doesn't seem like such a bright move if they aren't using him with Matthews where he was far better than he'd ever been anywhere else.
The second line again would see Tavares continue to be paired with Nylander with McMann. This is a fine line but it lacks defensive abilty and with Domi on the third line it creates a whole bunch of matchup problems.
With Domi centering the third line with Robertson and Järnkrok on his flanks coach Craig Berube would have to shelter this line in order to make it effective, which means you can't get Matthews favorable minutes.
This not only sees no creativity but would be the stamp on the we're "running it back" theme.
Knies-Matthews-Marner
McMann-Tavares-Nylander
Robertson-Domi-Järnkrok
Dewar-Kämpf-Reaves/Holmberg
This is probably the worst thing that Berube could do.
manual
One thing is for sure: Moving Marner to centre makes the lineup a lot better because it gives the Leafs the option to use Tavares either at the wing or as the centre on the third line, both of which have their pros and cons, but both are also superior to using Domi at 3C which seems like a disaster waiting to happen.