Team: 2020-21 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Aug. 24, 2020

Published: Aug. 24, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Read an article recently by Jack Han detailing how Soccer's positional formation used to be more forward-heavy like Hockey, but over time coaches realized that the offense was being stifled by having too many forwards and not enough players to move the ball up the field. He argued that hockey could also see a paradigm shift in that way.

I attempted to create a lineup of (I inverted Forwards and Defense below) 3D - 2F with the center D being primarily used to assist in moving the puck up ice. I picked forwards who are used on the PK (in theory defensively responsible) and are better known for their passing skills (Marner, Mikheyev) or grit (Hyman) and less known for shooting ability to move to D.

Open to suggestion for optimal lines or which forwards are to drop back. Typical night Toronto would dress 9-9 (as opposed to 12-6 or 11-7) roster. I kept all natural centers as forwards for faceoffs. I tried to match forwards for handedness (one left, one right) and playing style (1 shooter, 1 passer) as much as possible.

The only trade I made was to open up enough cap space to carry 23 players. I sent Johnsson to Florida because It's quite possible they lose both Hoffman and Dadanov and they'll need wingers.