Toronto Maple Leafs Bottom Six: Craig Berube Edition
The Toronto Maple Leafs bottom-six group is the same as last season. However, what can we expect from new head coach Craig Berube? The first thing that comes to mind is a lot more forechecking.
The Toronto Maple Leafs bottom-six group is the same as the end of last season. However, what can we expect from new head coach Craig Berube? The first thing that comes to mind is a lot more forechecking.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will use some combination of David Kampf, Pontus Holmberg, Calle Jarnkrok, Max Domi, Ryan Reaves, Connor Dewar, Nick Robertson and Bobby McMann in their bottom six. They will have some competition from Leafs rookies Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten. Both will try to earn a roster spot when training camp begins.
Who knows how Berube will want to use Max Domi, who re-signed for four years at $3.75 million a season,but he could play anywhere from third-line center to riding shotgun with Auston Matthews.
Having Domi in the top six opens a spot in the bottom six for Cowan or Minten to earn. Domi has done a decent job as a center the past two seasons, but he could benefit from playing with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and team captain John Tavares. (Salary cap information from puckpedia.com)
A bottom six consisting of Kampf, Holmberg, Dewar, Reaves, McMann, and one of Minten or Cowan may seem underwhelming, but head coach Berube will not expect anything flashy. Hard work and good forechecking are to be expected from this group. That's not to say that these players won't produce much offense because they certainly have the talent to do so.
Here is a look at what to expect from the Leafs bottom six this season.
Third Line
My early pre-training camp prediction for what the Leafs third line will look like is Jarnkrok on the left wing, Holmberg playing at center, and McMann on the right wing.
Bobby McMann
Last season, McMann registered 15 goals and nine assists for 24 points in 56 games. He will be looking to improve on his rookie season stats. Staying healthy and playing 75 games or more should help him accomplish that. I'm predicting 20 goals and 35 points from McMann this season.
(All stats from hockey-reference.com)
Calle Jarnkrok
Jarnkrok registered ten goals and 11 assists for 21 points last season in 52 games for the Leafs. He scored 20 goals during the 2022-23 season in 73 games. The Leafs will need him to stay healthy and reach the 20-goal mark again. Jarnkrok is being counted on to provide secondary scoring. I'm predicting 18 goals and 32 points for Jarnkrok. These numbers might increase if Jarnkrok gets some playing time in the top six.
Pontus Holmberg
Holmberg registered seven goals and ten assists for 17 points in 54 games last season. The Leafs will need more from the 25-year-old Swede in his third NHL season. His faceoff-winning percentage went up last season from 42.5% to 46.3% but he needs to try and get it close to 50% or better. Head coach Craig Berube expects his players to be defensively sound. Winning faceoffs and having control of the puck limits how much Holmberg and his linemates have to play defensively. I predict that Holmberg will register ten goals and 25 points this season.
With Berube as the head coach, the third line will be expected to provide secondary scoring and play well defensively. They could see a lot of time playing against the other team's top line.
Fourth Line
Berube will likely use the Leafs fourth line more often than former head coach Sheldon Keefe did. It will be the fourth line's job to create energy. Controlling the puck in the offensive zone will be the key to their success. I think Berube can get the most out of Ryan Reaves, Connor Dewar, and David Kampf.
David Kampf
David Kampf registered eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 78 games last season. His previous two seasons with the Leafs were 27 points in 82 games (2022-23) and 26 points in 82 games (2021-22). Kampf needs to be a leader on the Leafs penalty kill, but he also needs to try and get back to being a 25+ point producer. My prediction for Kampf is eight goals and 26 points this season.
Ryan Reaves
Ryan Reaves registered four goals and two assists for six points in 49 games in his first season with the Leafs. He's not expected to be a big point producer, and that's not why Leafs general manager Brad Treliving signed him. Reaves is expected to hit, fight, and protect the puck along the boards. For this season, I predict that Reaves will register five goals and 13 points.
Connor Dewar
Connor Dewar recently re-signed with the Leafs for one year at $1.18 million. He will likely start the season on the fourth line, but I think he'll move up to the third line from time to time. Last season, he registered 11 goals and eight assists for 19 points in 74 games split between the Minnesota Wild and the Leafs.
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For the Leafs, he recorded one goal and four assists for five points in 17 games. Dewar is not a big guy (5'10, 183 Lbs.) but he plays hard, and I think he'll thrive under Craig Berube. I predict that Dewar will register 12 goals and 22 points this season.