Toronto Maple Leafs preseason insights: Coach Berube’s strategy

After a long offseason of speculation, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ preseason is offering a dose of reality. With the season looming ever closer, coach Craig Berube has run a focused approach to setting his lineup.

Perhaps other situations around the league might call for more experimentation, but heading into his second year as head coach, it is clear that Berube is direct and purposeful. This should not come as a surprise, as Berube demands exactly this from his players. With a growing voice in the organization at large, the team is clearly taking on some of the traits that Berube exudes on the daily.

Let’s take a closer look at what the early days of preseason have revealed about Berube’s plan for the team.

Forward duos set?

While the blueline is more often associated with the idea of pairings, and the Leafs’ blueline is fairly stable, Berube clearly has certain tendencies when putting together lines. The idea that each forward can be a piece of the puzzle, appropriately supporting each other’s skillsets. Another tendency is to find a pairing of two forwards to anchor the identity of each line, adorning the duos with a more rotational option.

Having centres as a part of the equation is always useful, and so the Leafs have a lot to work with. Auston Matthews now has Matthew Knies as his primary winger, John Tavares alongside William Nylander is a long-held staple, and the new additions of Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua form a much-needed counterbalance as checkers. Of course, Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz provide the spine of the fourth line.

The wingers will rotate in and out as the chemistry is set. Tavares and Nylander would appreciate a bigger henchman to make space, while the Matthews and Roy lines might appreciate playmaking and transition abilities.

McMann

Size is en vogue for the Leafs, and Bobby McMann is a fairly clear option without much direct competition.

Berube needs McMann, a relatively unproven and unlikely late bloomer, to handle a key role for a team with championship aspirations. There has clearly been some tough love, as well as stretches of brilliance from McMann. Berube is tasked with pushing McMann and, hopefully, helping him rise to the occasion. If McMann falls short, this spot might even be the trade deadline upgrade of choice for the Leafs.

Skilled quartet

Elsewhere, the Leafs have several playmaking options in Max Domi, Matias Maccelli, and Easton Cowan. Though he is more of a shooter, Nick Robertson might qualify for this group as well. In a dire spot, Berube might opt to put one of these players alongside Tavares and Nylander, but chances are they are fighting for at most three spots. The Matthews line, the Roy line, and the Laughton line.

Berube might even opt for another penalty killing specialist in one of these spots as well, where Calle Jarnkrok or David Kampf might find themselves. The Florida Panthers turned around their series against the Leafs when swapping out an entire fourth line, setting a different edge to the lineup. Although important, the real battle is for spots in the top-nine.

The spot with Matthews and Knies is prime time, and the winger must be ready for top competition and a key role in all situations. More veteran players will get the first look, as Maccelli was replaced with Domi as soon as he got healthy. Domi has found success here before, a natural thought.

The spot alongside Roy and Joshua is a bit different. While they would certainly appreciate a puck mover, especially if they hope to hit 15 goals apiece this season, they will also be used in defensive roles. This winger will have to handle tough matchups and will have to do so without a true top-six scorer to help.

Maccelli found success with the Arizona Coyotes under similar circumstances, while Domi has the edge to cement a rough-and-tumble identity. The same might be true for Robertson as well. Their defensive games might play a big factor in the decision, as will chemistry.

Young guns

Is Cowan ready?

Enter Easton Cowan. Long term, Cowan might have the highest upside of the quartet. Early in camp, he got a look on the Roy line, as a spot on the Matthews line might be a bit rich right out of the gate. Putting Cowan in this role might put him in a position to touch the puck a lot, while hopefully instilling a defensive mindset into the prospect. In a sense, Cowan would have some built-in protection, though Berube might stoke a certain ruthlessness within if Cowan can embrace the role.

There is no guarantee that he is ready for NHL action, but Cowan has a chance to turn into a player who could perfectly complement either the Matthews or Roy lines. He has a long way to go before beating out Domi and Maccelli for their spots, but Berube giving him time on the Roy line is significant.

Roberston’s woes

Meanwhile, Robertson is not as highly touted at this point. Due to his age and not being waiver-exempt, there is a much higher chance that Robertson gets a fourth-line role than Cowan. It would probably be best for all parties to have Cowan in the AHL playing top minutes and continuing to give Robertson a look in the NHL.

While he has yet to truly grab hold of a spot, Robertson has found ways to produce while in the lineup. The media is much more focused on replacing offence than Berube is, but Robertson might be more important this season if the Leafs are more starved for goals. Clearly, his defensive work has not been enough to keep him in the lineup, so to an extent, it is difficult to see him winning a role on the Matthews or Roy lines long-term. If he does get an opportunity in the top-nine he will have to be ready.

Crease concerns

With Joseph Woll gone from the team indefinitely, not to mention the condensed schedule ahead, the Leafs have a wrench thrown into their plans in net. For now, James Reimer seems to be the backup. Dennis Hildeby will have a shot, hoping to show a bit of improvement from some uneven results in a small sample last season.

Hildeby does have company, as Artur Akhtyamov is right there with him. Both are the same age and have already accomplished a lot in their young careers. Hildeby has a few NHL games and an extra season in the AHL than Akhtyamov. The familiarity might be the biggest separator, as their previous leagues, the SHL and KHL, respectively, are of quality.

It is true that the Leafs do not have an experienced third strong option, but this pair of waiver-exempt prospects is still quality. Hopefully, Woll is back soon, but this is a big opportunity for them both. Their play throughout the rest of the preseason will be key to monitor.

Special teams

Morgan Rielly is back on the top power play, for now. Seeing as Oliver Ekman-Larsson could not wrestle away the spot last season means this might be a bit safer, though the team has made an effort to support Rielly in remaining effective. Though some might question his defensive game, he is the Leafs main offensive defenceman. It will be a good thing to get him extra touches and some padded point totals. He joins Matthews and Nylander on the flanks, Tavares in the slot, and Knies at the net front.

Power play two features Domi and Maccelli on the flanks, McMann in the slot, Roy at the net front, and Ekman-Larsson on the point. This is a huge opportunity for Roy, whose face-off ability might give him an extra edge over Joshua. The fact that Cowan and Robertson are not involved is telling of their being further down the depth chart.

Meanwhile, the penalty kill has looked interesting. Naturally, Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe form the top defensive pairing. With Simon Benoit out, it is Ekman-Larsson alongside Brandon Carlo. It will be interesting to see if Benoit or Ekman-Larsson earns the spot, though it should be Benoit. Benoit is improving, and cementing a regular role on the penalty kill will pad his icetime.

Up front, Matthews and Knies stay together, an all-purpose top duo. Roy and Joshua stick together, perhaps the foremost checking duo. Much of the offseason storyline surrounds the loss of offence, but clearly, the Leafs have gained defensively. Laughton and Lorentz keep their partnership. Jarnkrok and Kampf have seen time, while Nylander and McMann are getting reps as an attacking duo.

Tea Leafs

Top players like Matthews, Knies, and Nylander are on both special teams, as are Roy and, to an extent, McMann. If Berube is using his top players so much, there should be a more even dispersal of even-strength minutes. The Leafs paid a steep price for Laughton, and having a fourth line that can play meaningful minutes is important for that reason.

This might also free up a more offensive player like Robertson to find a regular spot on the fourth line. As the Leafs have a lot of penalty killing options up front, penalty killing might not be a prerequisite for a fourth line role. This might allow the Leafs to get more creative with who best complements Laughton and Lorentz at even strength.

Loose ends

Philippe Myers still appears to be the best option for the seventh defenceman spot, while Dakota Mermis seems to be involved more than one might expect, and Matt Benning is another reliable but limited veteran. Henry Thrun and William Villeneuve are around, but Ben Danford might be as close as any to Myers. This is great news, as Danford’s development should not be measured in points. The fact that he is impressing at camp means that he is headed in a great direction.

Centre Luke Haymes has also found his way into some interesting positions so far, proving that he is indeed one of the team’s best prospects.