Maple Leafs About to Make a Huge Mistake With Playoffs Looming

The Maple Leafs had put their lines through the blender in recent weeks before Craig Berube went back to the combinations that worked earlier in the season.

There are still a few kinks that need to be addressed, primarily Scott Laughton's role in the lineup. However, there's another addition they are primed to make in the near future that can totally alter their chemistry and momentum.

Head coach Craig Berube was asked about Max Pacioretty's chances of playing in the playoffs on Thursday, and the fiery head coach responded in typical fashion by saying he was pretty confident about that, flashing a sly smirk during the media session.

Pacioretty last played on the 8th of February when the Maple Leafs took on the Vancouver Canucks. It was the last game before the 4 Nations Face-Off break, but he had tweaked something when they returned for practice a week later.

Pacioretty has a ton of post-season experience, he's a great locker room presence, and possesses a ton of veteran leadership. However, with how the Maple Leafs have been playing, is it worth the headache of reconfiguring the lineup all over again to bring in a bottom-6 player in the midst of a cold spell?

It hasn't been the renaissance season that both the player and team were hoping for as Pacioretty has just 5 goals and 13 points in 37 games across 13:30 TOI. He was also in the midst of a slump that extended to his previous 21 games with just 1 goal and 4 points, including no goals in his last 17 contests.

Best case scenario for Pacioretty is that when he's ready to make a return to the lineup, he finds a place on the fourth line, but the issue is that, currently, it's being filled out by Steven Lorentz, David Kampf, and Calle Jarnkrok. So the better question is who comes out for the veteran?

Kampf has been up and down this season, but he brings about some certainties on the defensive side of the puck, plays on the penalty kill, and is a versatile centreman that the Leafs need on the fourth line. While Lorentz and Jarnkrok are all but locks to remain in the lineup.

Bringing Pacioretty back into the fold will mean that Berube will have to shuffle the bottom-6 again, and that will be dependent on how Laughton adjusts to his role. If he continues to struggle, then it will make Berube's decision to change the formations and bring back Pacioretty that much easier.

There doesn't seem to be a definitive timeline for his return, but he is expected to be ready for the playoffs and it will be interesting to see how Berube adjusts his everyday lineup in anticipation of the veteran's return. If it were I, however, I would not mess with a good thing and would likely keep Pacioretty as a healthy scratch until illness or injury necessitates his presence in the lineup.