Leafs Coach Craig Berube Identifies Frontrunner to play with Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a big hole to fill on the top line, and Craig Berube has identified the frontrunner to play with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.
After a long summer, training camp is finally upon us, and as the Maple Leafs open their camp on Wednesday, it's become a full-on media frenzy.
Leafs GM Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube appeared early on Wednesday, fielding a multitude of questions from the Toronto media, but one of the more interesting ones answered by Berube had to do with who will play with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies on the Leafs' top line.
During his media availability, Berube revealed that there's a very clear type of player that he's eyeing for that role.
"You're looking for someone who can make plays, a guy who can pass the puck."
Berube identified
Max Domi as the frontrunner for the gig, though he did also suggest that
Matias Maccelli could receive a look there.
Domi, meanwhile, may have the edge in the race, as he has some pre-existing chemistry with the pair or Arizona forwards.
There were
a couple of dark horse options named earlier this month as potential candidates to line up next to Knies and Matthews, but Berube's comments today have basically ruled out both of
Dakota Joshua and
Bobby McMann, at least to start, as neither are particularly strong playmakers.
Previously on Maple Leafs Daily
| POLL |
SEPTEMBRE 17 | 1966 ANSWERS Leafs Coach Craig Berube Identifies Frontrunner to play with Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies Which Leafs forward do you think starts the season on the wing with Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews? |
| Domi | 889 | 45.2 % |
| Maccelli | 790 | 40.2 % |
| Nylander | 154 | 7.8 % |
| Other | 133 | 6.8 % |
| List of polls |