Full season of Matthews-Tavares-Marner

Team: 2020-21 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Aug. 7, 2020

Published: Aug. 10, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

As shown during the Columbus series, Toronto's line of Matthews-Tavares-Marner was incredibly dominant, and should be given to chance to play a full season (lines like this work for teams like Colorado and Boston). Only issue with this line was the fact that the other three lines sucked....

Truth is, Nylander is simply not a center anymore, which raises the need for a new 2C. Morgan Rielly is great offensively, which makes him redundant given the Leafs already have great offense. Moving Rielly who was great 2 years ago but struggled this year, for Max Domi who was also great 2 years ago but struggled this year, helps both Toronto and Montreal. Leafs get an aggressive 2C (Habs still have Danault, Suzuki, and Kotkaniemi) and the Habs fill a major need at LD (Rielly-Weber should be fun). The Leafs then start the season with a line of Hyman-Domi-Nylander but probably eventually swap Hyman with Robertson.

Then there's the defense...

Leafs fans need to accept that Dubas won't be able to acquire an elite RHD as they are simply far too expensive. The best he can do is construct a d-core that is solid, reliable, and can actually support Andersen.

Henri Jokiharju is a massive risk but he's cheap, young, and would likely play well next to Jake Muzzin. Moving Johnsson hurts but it frees up cap, and allows for Robertson to have an increased role. Buffalo already has some RHD depth and could really benefit from having Johnsson in a top six role.

I'm a big fan of Scott Mayfield who can provide a shutdown role the Leafs have been lacking, he also makes very little money relative to other d-men. Kapanen's speed probably makes him an immediate line-mate to Mathew Barzal, and he should help an Islanders team that has struggled severely with goal scoring.

Overall, the team isn't perfect but I think allowing the nuclear topline to play together is a huge plus. In addition, the defense still isn't ideal, but if Sandin and Lehtonen can produce, perhaps the Leafs could see a series win.

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