The Toronto Maple Leafs will have some major lineup decisions to make this season.
Toronto saw Mitch Marner leave this offseason and has some question marks in the top-six. William Nylander could play on the top line, or the Maple Leafs could put Max Domi or Mattias Maccelli on the top line.
Yet, another question is who plays on the second line with John Tavares. Maple Leafs analyst Jon Seitzer of LeafsNation believes coach Craig Berube should have Scott Laughton move from center to the wing and play with Tavares.
“Here’s my case for looking at Laughton on Tavares’ wing,” Seitzer wrote. “Laughton brings both physical and defensive zone attributes to a line featuring Tavares and Nylander that could benefit from someone handling the offensive zone forecheck as well as acting as a reliable F1 in the defensive zone.
“Laughton brings his experience as a centre to a line where there is some debate about how long Tavares will continue in the center role,” Seitzer added. “It is more important to build an optimized second line than an optimized fourth line. Offensively, Laughton is a borderline second-line player and has done well in a supporting role with the Flyers when given offensively gifted players to work with.”
As Seitzer notes, Laughton can produce offensively and be a good second-line forward for the Maple Leafs. Yet, whether or not he will get that chance is uncertain, as Berube may want him as a third or fourth-line center and instead focus on a defensive role.
Laughton is entering the final year of his five-year, $15 million deal.
Laughton Was Part of the Maple Leafs’ Fourth-Line
Toronto made a bold move to acquire Laughton at the trade deadline, and the Maple Leafs paid a hefty price.
The Maple Leafs traded a first-round pick and Nikita Grebenkin, who was one of Toronto’s top prospects. Laughton was supposed to be an impact third-line center; however, he struggled to produce and was demoted to the fourth line during the season.
“I wanted to create a line of Laughton, Lorentz, and Jarnkrok,” Berube said of the demotion. “Just more of an identity line. A checking line.”
Laughton struggled in his Maple Leafs tenure, and Berube believes he was too focused on playing perfectly.
“I think he’s trying to probably play the game without making mistakes, and he’s overthinking things instead of just playing. Go Laughts, just play. Be aggressive, do your thing. That’ll come around, I do believe that. He wants to do well, and he’s just got to loosen up and go play,” Berube said.
Laughton recorded 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 points in 20 regular-season games. He added 0 goals and 2 assists in 13 playoff games.
Knies Has Intriguing Option for Maple Leafs Top Line
Toronto will have a new-look top line with Marner now playing for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Ahead of training camp, Matthew Knies hinted at William Nylander playing on the top line with him and Auston Matthews.
“Willy is pretty dynamic,” Knies said to The Toronto Sun. “That wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.”
Nylander playing on the top line does make sense, but whether or not Berube will do it is uncertain.
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