My Opening Night Lines 20-21 Deep Dive

Team: 2020-21 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Oct. 23, 2020

Published: Oct. 23, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Just my opinion, feel free to reply with suggestions.

Mikheyev - Matthews - Marner
Matthews and Marner should be a lock for opening night as they spent months building chemistry last year alongside Hyman. Mikheyev can take over as the worker/grinder on the line. He's younger than Hyman and signed an extra year at a cheaper price.

Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Is Kerfoot a better winger than he is a centre? Most people would agree, which is why I have him slotted next to Tavares and Nylander. Contrary to popular belief, Tavares is well below average at defending, as well as Nylander (xGA and EV Def). Kerfoot could be a great defensive supplement to the other two. Adding Thornton as a 3C allows this solid line to reunite.

Robertson - Thornton - Hyman
Some may think this line is risky, but it could be tried opening night and would be really cool if it works. The young sniper Robertson alongside an older mentor playmaker in Thornton. A perfect grinder to supplement them in Hyman, whose production might fall on this line, but this helps lower the AAV on his next contract.

Engvall - Spezza - Simmonds
Not playing Vesey may seem controversial, but Engvall offers the same size, more speed, and better defensive play. Spezza at centre is a solid option even at 37. Good on faceoffs, defensively responsible, wicked shot. Simmonds should start on the fourth line, as we have no idea if the prolonged offseason has given him a second wind, or if he's just succumbing to age. If he can improve his underlying numbers and production, he could move into the middle 6.

Honourable Mentions:
Jimmy Vesey (Could replace Robertson and play with Kerfoot. I just like what Engvall brings more)
Alexander Barabanov: (Expected to make the team, but we don't know what he is yet)
Boyd, Brooks, Malgin (Scratches, might get some playtime here and there)

Muzzin - Brodie
Most would have Rielly here, but pairing Muzz with Brodie would offer a more defensive pairing that can get most D-zone starts. Muzz resembles more of a Giordano type that Brodie had success with.

Rielly - Dermott
We know what Rielly is. Elite offensively, mediocre defensively (Terrible xGA). Putting him on a pairing exclusively for o-zone starts will let him flourish. Dermott's underlying numbers were great it sheltered minutes last year (especially defensively), and he can make a jump into the top-4. Playing him on the right against tougher competition may seem risky, but he may be the only option that can really play there.

Lehtonen - Holl
Lehtonen looks like the real deal over in the KHL and he'll probably start on the third pair and have control of the second power play. Holl may seem more of a fit for the second pair right now, but long term he projects as a good 5-6 defenseman. Good on the penalty kill and can move the puck.

Honourable Mentions:
Sandin + Liljegren (First callup, will be full time in 21-22)
Bogosian (Rotating with Holl/Dermott/Lehtonen, offering physicality)
Rosen (Injury fill in)
Marincin (Last-resort, great on the PK, nothing else)

Once again, these are just my opinions, I'd really like to hear the lines you guys have!
Thanks for reading