"After that frustration it seemed like for two periods that problem was gone as William Nylander joined Auston Matthews on Friday night and made a strong case for what he brings that no other player can. Berube didn't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that putting the Leafs two best offensive players together would result in better offensive outcomes, but it looked like what the Leafs needed."
"Line rushes had Nylander rotating in for Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson getting reps next to Matthews. A rotation of McMann and Robertson on the top line also makes sense as it allows Berube to go with whichever one of them is the hot hand or freshest legs and relegating the other to a more sheltered fourth line role or situation usage capacity as well."
"The Leafs also now have a couple of games of evidence that shows that Knies, Maccelli, and Tavares works too. Putting Knies and Maccelli against second pairing defencemen instead of top pairing guys is right sizing Maccelli, while giving Knies a pretty nice advantage. The Leafs exploring this line clicking as well as having the Joshua-Roy-Cowan line clicking is as close as the Leafs have been to functioning top nine forward group this season."
Craig Berube criticized the top line for producing only one-and-done chances and failing to sustain pressure. Pairing William Nylander with Auston Matthews produced stronger offensive outcomes until Nylander's injury halted that progress. Monday practice showed Nylander rotating back into the top line with Matthews, with Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson alternating to provide a hot-hand or freshness option. McMann and Robertson are not 20-minute players, and rotation offers balance and sheltered usage for the other. The secondary forward groups — Knies-Maccelli-Tavares and Joshua-Roy-Cowan — have shown chemistry, and upcoming games should build confidence.
Read at TheLeafsNation
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]