Maple Leafs Hint at New Linemate for John Tavares and William Nylander

Tavares, who turned 35 last weekend, noted that Pacioretty, who is no longer with the franchise, was his most effective fit last season.

“I know me and him really clicked in a lot of ways,” Tavares said. “I think probably from our experience in the league and maybe our age and whatnot. His style of play, I thought, complemented [us] really well.”

Pacioretty spent last year with the Leafs after signing a one-year contract during the preseason. He appeared in just 37 games, scoring 13 total points.

The Maple Leafs are betting this season on McMann taking over the position. Head coach Craig Berube said McMann's size and forechecking could give the second line everything it needs.

“I like a big guy with those guys to forecheck, get in there and create loose pucks, help out [Tavares] in that situation,” Berube said.

McMann, 29, scored 20 goals and registered 136 hits last season. The late bloomer has built a reputation as a straight-line power forward since entering the league three years ago, and he's about to play the final season of his two-year, $2.7 million contract with Toronto.

Tavares acknowledged the physical side of McMann’s game as a positive but added that he must sharpen his awareness and playmaking to match Nylander’s creativity on the other side.

“Realizing how strong and how physically dominant he can be, as just a real strong up-and-down power winger, with obviously a great shot,” Tavares said. “To play certainly with someone like Willy, that’s so creative, so unique, that type of skill set that it can help open up the ice really, really well.”

McMann's longest stretch with the pair last season was just nine games. Whether he can turn this fall’s audition into a permanent stay remains the Maple Leafs’ lingering question, although that's how Berube has deployed his lines throughout the first few days of camp.