""I have used the analogy of Winnipeg. No team is perfect, but that is a pretty darn good team that won the President's Trophy. When you look down the middle of the ice, you have Scheifele as the #1. On paper, you have Namestnikov as #2 and Lowry as #3, but again, it all comes down to deployment. "When you look at our roster now, you have Nic Roy, who can take a lot of defensive heavy lifting with defensive- zone starts, defensive faceoffs,"
"Provided John Tavares can remain productive - which I think is a good bet, but he's about to turn 35, so it's fair to question - this is the deepest center group the Leafs have entered a season with since Nazem Kadri was wearing the blue and white. Auston Matthews is a true 1C, and Nicolas Roy is a prime-aged, prototypical 3C who can contribute all over the ice."
An analogy to Winnipeg frames center-group structure: Scheifele as the first option, Namestnikov second and Lowry third, with deployment determining actual roles. Nicolas Roy can handle defensive-zone starts, defensive faceoffs and matchup responsibilities, allowing situational flexibility and freeing top players such as Auston Matthews, John Tavares and Scott Laughton. John Tavares approaches age 35, raising reasonable questions about sustained productivity. Auston Matthews is a true number-one center, while Nicolas Roy projects as a prime-aged, prototypical third center. Max Domi proved offensively skilled but defensively limited; Scott Laughton needs better linemates and role clarity to reach offensive potential.
Read at Maple Leafs Hotstove
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