Toronto Maple Leafs training camp: Early line combinations analyzed

The first line

To start camp, it’s Mattias Maccelli alongside Matthews and Knies. This always made the most sense to me, as Maccelli is the closest thing to a Marner-lite you’re going to find on the Leafs roster.

Maccelli is defensively responsible enough to play with the big guns, and can absolutely bounce back and become a 50–60 point guy. Last year was rough, but I’m glad to see the organization believes he can be an offensive spark, and last year (hopefully) was a fluke.

Domi will surely get a shot with Matthews and Knies as soon as Maccelli falters, and that’s fine. We know Domi can thrive beside Matthews, and we know he elevates his game in the playoffs.

The worry with Domi is a slow start like last year. Whoever ends up on the first line needs to produce, and a rotation of playing the hot hand is probably the way to go over the length of a full season.

Kampf and Jarnkrok out again

David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok playing with Michael Pezzetta is a bad sign. Both seem to be on the outside looking in again, with Nick Robertson moving into that third/fourth line spot to start.

There have been rumblings around trades for both of them all offseason, so the demotion makes sense. Still, both are capable NHLers and will be in the lineup when guys get hurt or slump.

If a trade can’t be found, the Leafs’ forward corps is going to be unnecessarily deep, with over $5M sitting in the press box every night.

A weird fourth line

I would think the Robertson line with Steven Lorentz and Scott Laughton is the fourth line. What I don’t know is what the goal of this line is.

Poor Robertson has been thrown into weird situations over and over again, and this feels no different. There’s no chance he’ll get to show off any offensive ability with Lorentz and Laughton, and if you’re going to make the fourth line a “shutdown” line, just play Kampf.

I hope Berube finds a better spot for Robertson, because this has all the makings of an early-season struggle from the winger and a demotion, but it won’t really be his fault.

Group 2

McMann on the second line

The early target for second line left wing is Bobby McMann. This does make sense, but I’m a bit skeptical. The trio of McMann, Nylander and Tavares did have success for a stretch last year, and McMann is someone Berube knows and is comfortable moving around the lineup.

My problem with McMann is how he absolutely disappeared in the playoffs. I guess it’s fine to stick him back on the second line until we’ve seen all the new guys in action, but it just feels like a line that won’t be out there once the postseason starts.

Hopefully, he proves me wrong, but McMann is one of the streakiest players I can remember. He’d better stay hot if he wants to stick with Tavares and Nylander.

The “new guy” third line

Both Dakota Joshua and Nic Roy are forming the third line, which is a dream come true. Domi or Maccelli will probably take Easton Cowan’s spot, who’s just a placeholder right now.

This feels like an actual, proven, amazing third line that the Leafs haven’t had since Nazem Kadri was here. It’s so refreshing to feel good about a bottom-six line, and I really think this is the biggest difference in this team from years past.

Both Joshua and Roy are great defensively while still able to produce offence. I fully expect them to form an elite third line, and they’re who I’m most excited to watch by a mile.