Why the Toronto Maple Leafs won't win the Atlantic Division

Leafs bottom six forwards are in disarray

The Leafs have some useful talent among their bottom six forwards. The problem is that much of it is miscast. Max Domi is likely (or at least should be) going to play the wing with Auston Matthews, and the team has no clear answer for third-line centre.

If you assume that the Core Four + Knies and Domi make up the top-six, that leaves Nick Robertson, Calle Jarnkrok and Bobby McMann in competition for being the third line wingers, and possibly Pontus Holmberg or potentially one of Fraser Minten or Easton Cowan as the centre, though that seems like a longshot at this point.

Pontus Holmberg, like Domi, has the versatility to play wing and center. He is reliable defensively but his offensive ability at the NHL level is to be determined. He shouldn't be on a competitive team's third line.

Calle Jarnkrok has been an effective two-way player. He can also play within the top two lines when needed, but staying healthy has been a concern. The fourth line contains an odd mix of players. Connor Dewar served the Leafs well when he arrived last season. He has some offensive capability and kills penalties.

David Kampf also kills penalties but does little offensively. He is paid way too much for his role and the Maple Leafs should hope one of the team's prospects can beat him out of a job so they can trade him elsewhere.

Ryan Reaves fills out the fourth-line depth chart at right wing, though he is highly likely to lose ice time this year to whichever winger is left out of the top nine, and whichever rookies make the roster. The games where he positively affects the outcome are far outweighed by games where he is a liability.

The Maple Leafs main contenders within the Atlantic Division have more continuity and direction within their bottom-six forwards. One of the Leafs biggest weaknesses is the state of their third and fourth-line forwards. It must be addressed early in the season if they hope to win the division.