Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Craig Berube's Thursday Move Confirms Latest Maple Leafs Speculation

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Oct 23, 2025 1:09 PM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs opened Thursday’s practice with a notable top-line shakeup.

According to David Alter of The Hockey News, William Nylander joined Auston Matthews and Bobby McMann on the first unit in a change speculated following Tuesday's loss against the New Jersey Devils.

While not the ultimate change—that'd be using the Matthew Knies in the top-line's left wing role to build a true star-laden—this shift marks head coach Craig Berube’s latest effort to inject life into a sputtering group that still hasn’t found its footing post-Mitch Marner.

Berube has already rotated Max Domi, Easton Cowan, and Matias Maccelli into the top-line right-wing spot, but none of them was able to retain the role or perform steadily through seven games.

#Leafs lines during practice Oct. 23/25

McMann-Matthews-Nylander
Knies-Tavares-Maccelli
Joshua-Roy-Cowan⁰Lorentz-Domi-Jarnkrok
Extra: Robertson, Blais.

McCabe-Carlo⁰Mermis-OEL⁰Benoit-Myers
Absent: Rielly⁰
Stolarz ⁰Primeau@BodogCA pic.twitter.com/w7YfEzdkHD
— David Alter (@dalter) October 23, 2025

The move comes amid a sluggish 3-3-1 start for Toronto, a team that led the East in puck control stats last season but has struggled to generate offensive production this season.

Nylander should provide a spark, as he leads the team with 13 points in seven games. The Swedish winger has been used in brief top-line shifts throughout the early season, but not as the de facto first-line right winger until now.

Thursday’s promotion was his first full practice run next to Matthews, who has just four goals, two of them into empty nets, and only two assists in seven games.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) celebrates with teammates.Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

“When you want to create offensive zone time, you've got to put pucks in with a purpose,” Berube said after Tuesday's loss. “Then you've got to go and get it. And you've got to be physical. That’s the bottom line.”

Nylander’s addition to the top line, however, forced a ripple effect throughout the lineup with an unforeseeable impact on the Leafs' results going forward.

John Tavares skated with Matthew Knies and Maccelli on the second line, while offseason acquisition Nicolas Roy centered Dakota Joshua and Cowan in the third unit.

Domi, who started the season as the top-line right winger, was dropped all the way down to the fourth line with Steven Lorentz and Calle Jarnkrok. Disgruntled forward Nicholas Robertson was the odd man out.

The Maple Leafs also announced defenseman Chris Tanev's placement on injured reserve while recalling Dakota Mermis from the AHL.

Toronto opens a back-to-back set against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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