Toronto Maple Leafs: Potential forward lines for next season

Without Mitch Marner, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ forward corps is going to look a lot different next year.

There’s no longer a solidified duo for the first line, which means people are either sliding up, or someone new will have to play beside Auston Matthews. We’ve seen success from Matthews and Max Domi before, will that be tried again? Craig Berube didn’t seem to like it last year. Mattias Maccelli is a bit of a Marner-lite, so would that work? We’ll have to find out.

Whatever happens, the team’s dynamic is going to be different. You can’t just replace 100 points in today’s NHL, and the Leafs might score a bit less. But the newfound depth can also give Toronto a chance to spread the wealth, and create a more cohesive top-12. Let’s take a look at what could happen.

Philosophy

Last year, the Matthews and Marner line got the most difficult assignments every night. They were Toronto’s best defensive forwards, and Berube chose to play them against other top lines. It kind of worked? But it’s something I don’t think they can do again this year without Mitch.

Instead, the Leafs can now create an actual shutdown line. They have the personnel to have a good or even great third line for the first time in what feels like forever. This trio should go up against the opposition’s top players as much as possible, and leave Matthews and his linemates to feast on weaker players.

Scott Laughton, Nic Roy, David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok, Bobby McMann, Max Pacioretty (?). Take your pick. But the depth Toronto has can now create a legit third line, capable of shutting down top units around the league. 

This makes Matthews’ life easier, Matthew Knies’ life easier, and honestly, it makes the most sense. I thought it was something they should have tried last year, but I understood the hesitancy. Marner is also an elite defensive player, and Berube utilized him accordingly. But now that he’s gone, there’s a new way of winning.

The first line

There are two guarantees on line one: Matthews and Knies. They are a dynamic duo who have proven they can be elite together. More playmaking and play-driving from Knies will make this line even scarier, and we all know what Matthews can do.

The other winger comes down to two names for me: Domi and Maccelli. I’m sure both will get a shot, but to me, Domi makes the most sense.

Either guy will make the top line incapable of being a defensive juggernaut. Neither is even average in their own zone, so this line should be an offensive force. And we’ve already seen how well Domi gets the puck to Matthews.

I’ve never seen Matthews play better than in the Boston Bruins series in 2024. Paired with Domi, he looked absolutely dominant. He took matters into his own hands, something he lacked when playing with Marner, and Domi was amazing at getting him the puck in dangerous areas. Add Knies into the equation, and you’ve got a scary offensive trio.

The second line

As it stands now, we’re heading into another year of the John Tavares and William Nylander pair. It’s not ideal, and I think Brad Treliving knows a legit 2C would be great, but it is what it is.

Their other winger should be Maccelli.

We saw success with McMann last year, but he absolutely ghosts in the playoffs. I don’t trust him like that anymore, and Maccelli gives Tavares another playmaker. I’m excited to watch a Maccelli–Nylander combo, as I think they complement each other really well. 

Obviously, these guys would have to be sheltered. Heavily. But they could be a dynamic offensive line, on the rush or in the zone. 

The third line

Now we get to the fun part. There are so many options for line three, but I think the Leafs have a fantastic trio that could shut down top competition while still being a threat offensively.

Laughton—Roy—McMann

I love the Roy acquisition, and I think he and Laughton will make for a great pair. They’re both a bit nasty, fantastic defensively, and can still put the puck in the net a bit.

McMann is a bit of a placeholder, but if he meshes with them, he is another guy who can skate, score, and forecheck.

All three have scored 15 goals before, and still have the ability to do so. This is the matchup line, meaning they play against the Kucherovs or the Stutzles of the world. They’ll free up the top two lines, and give the Leafs a real third line for the first time in a while.

The fourth line

As it stands, Kampf and Jarnkrok are still on the team. That might not last forever, but they are still capable NHLers who can be net-positives on a fourth line. With the freshly re-signed Steven Lorentz still around, I think the three make a very obvious fourth line.

They won’t score, but they will give the Leafs another defensive zone line that can help free the top-six and hopefully prevent the puck from going in. 

The misses

With this combo of 12, Nick Robertson sees himself on the outside looking in. I don’t really see a spot for him unless he forces himself into the top-six, but without doing so, he just doesn’t belong on shutdown lines.

Michael Pezzetta will play, and so might Ryan Reaves. But those aren’t core guys who should be in the lineup every night.

There’s also a chance of Max Pacioretty coming back, and if he does, I’d assume Jarnkrok is the odd man out. But as of now, that hasn’t happened,

A deep 12

Honestly, these lines are really good. Even without Marner, the top-nine is capable of scoring a bunch, while the third and fourth lines are playoff-calibre.

It feels like this is the deepest forward corps the Leafs have had, and it makes sense when you take out $11M on one guy.

We’ll see what happens, but I’m still confident the Leafs can be a very, very good team this year.