At 6–5–2, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been just fine. Despite a horrid power play, the top six has been generally solid and the goaltending has been stellar.
Unexpectedly, the forward depth is as confusing as ever. Ryan Reaves is still playing, Nicholas Robertson, Pontus Holmberg, and Bobby McMann have been in and out, and Craig Berube hasn’t been able to find any consistent success.
The most confusing part of this whole situation is Max Domi’s usage, especially after his success alongside Auston Matthews last season. For the last little while, Domi has been anchoring the third line, but it’s not working.
Why isn’t Domi with Matthews?
Arguably the best stretch of Matthews’ career was at the end of last year playing with Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi. He absolutely dominated, leading his own line without the help of Mitch Marner or William Nylander. We’d never seen that before, but it was incredible.
And it makes the rest of the forward lines look so much better. So why hasn’t Berube tried something similar?
Matthew Knies has earned his spot on the top line, but why not let Domi move up in place of Marner? That way, you have Tavares, Nylander, and Marner in the middle six, providing much-needed depth for the rest of the forward corps.
Domi’s chemistry with Matthews was inarguable. They looked fantastic together, Domi playing the role of the elite playmaker in place of Marner. It’s what he’s best at, and he compliments Matthews perfectly.
Add in Knies, who is responsible defensively and forechecks like a maniac, and the line has all the makings of a top unit in the league. Matthews proved he doesn’t need another superstar playing beside him to carry a line last season. He’s that good.
For some reason, Matthews and Marner need to be glued together again, but it really doesn’t make too much sense. When the depth is the problem, lengthen the lineup. There’s no reason Berube shouldn’t at least try a line with Domi alongside Matthews.
Pairing Domi with the captain was basically assumed when Domi signed his extension in the offseason. It’s perplexing it hasn’t happened.
The Leafs need a middle-six centre
The most obvious hurdle to getting Domi into the top six is the fact the Leafs simply don’t have another centre they can plug into the third line. Holmberg has been pretty terrible, David Kampf doesn’t have an offensive bag, and Calle Jarnkrok doesn’t seem anywhere close.
So Domi and John Tavares have to centre the second and third lines.
With the situation unfolding as it is, the Leafs desperately need to add a middle-six centre. The depth isn’t good enough, and to compete with any real Stanley Cup contenders, Toronto will need much more consistent play out of the bottom half of the lineup.
Adding even a third-line centre would slide everyone down, letting Berube keep guys like Holmberg and Robertson out of the lineup and letting him get more creative with Tavares and Domi.
While it’s unlikely anyone as skilled as Ryan O’Reilly will be available—or the Leafs have the assets to get someone like that—a player of that style would be a perfect fit with Toronto (again).
It might work in the regular season, but having Holmberg or Robertson playing every night isn’t good enough. And the centre depth needs a lot of work.
The same old issues
It’s extremely discouraging that this problem is still persisting. It’s been years of this, and even when the team seems deeper on paper, the bottom six never seems to be good enough.
Are they just one middle six centre away? Maybe. But for now, building an ideal lineup—with Matthews and Marner separated—should be the way to go. It might mean Nylander at centre (remember that?), or even calling up Fraser Minten for a trial, but Toronto can’t keep running out there with Domi as the 3C.
Connor Dewar should be back soon, could he get some reps at centre? When Jarnkrok is back, he seems like the most obvious solution.
At least the defence and goaltending seem more stable than past seasons, but this forward corps isn’t good enough.
