Leafs to start the year

Team: 2018-19 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 19, 2018

Published: Jul. 19, 2018

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

I don't think there are any huge moves left this offseason. While it has been well documented that there is a glaring hole on defence, predominantly the need of a number one right hand defensemen, there just are not a lot of options out there right now.

The lines I have constructed follow a similar trend with one play maker, on sniper and one hard working 2-way forward.

Hyman-Tavares-Marner
This line makes a lot of sense because all three are extremely good defensively, Marner can set up Tavares while Hyman does the dirty work in the corners and in front of the net.

Kapenen-Matthews-Nylander
Similar concept as the first line. This line would have speed to burn with Kapenen on the wing. They experimented with this last year and the line seemed to do really well. In addition, we have seen already that Nylander and Matthews work brilliantly together.

Marleau-Kadri-Brown
This is essentially a shut down line with scoring upside. While Marleau may not be the point per game he was earlier in his career, he is still a great defensive forward and can put the puck in the net. Kadri as we saw last year is a legitimate shutdown centre and Brown is a coach favourite so he would be played 15 minutes a night anyways and can really commit to defence.

Johnsson-Lindholm-Ennis
This line in my opinion is essentially deciding what the leafs want to do with their star forwards. With the first two lines, those are on most teams the first lines and should average 19 minutes a night each. Kadri's line would be reserved for a shut down role or a secondary shutdown role and would average 16 minutes a game leaving the last line to play on average 6 minutes a game. They could use these minutes to really refine the detailing in Johnsson's game and introduce lindholm to the NHL slowly. The two would work well together because the former is a sniper and the latter a playmaker. Ennis on the wing is simply because he can play defence and would add some veteran presence on the line. They could play Grundstrom but given their previous treatment of Kapanen and Johnsson, I think they will let him dominate in the nil and give him a late season audition should they flip a player for defensive help or demote someone like Ennis.

Either way, these lines would support the best group of forwards in the NHL.

On defence its a bit more murky, they could use the exact same pairings as last years on the basis that Rielly and Gardiner were top 30 in the league. Zaitsev will most probably play better. Dermott will continue to develop. Carrick/Brogman/Ozhiganov/Rosen/Holl will be able to sufficiently satisfy the 6-7 position. The biggest deficiency is a partner for Rielly in which they have Hainsey, but that is not a problem because he showed last year that he was less than stellar only in the playoffs and that was due to over use. We can acquire someone as a rental at the deadline (like a Myres or even a Harmonic should they be available) and go about it from there.

In net we are solid, may think about moving Mac at the deadline if Sparks and Pickard keep tearing it up.

I think the lines come playoff time would be:

Hyman-Tavares-Marner
Kapenen-Matthews-Nylander
Marleau-Kadri-Brown
Johnsson-Lindholm-Grundstrom

Rielly-Hamonic/Myres
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Dermott-Hainsey

Anderson
Mac/Sparks/Pickard