Maple Leafs Experimenting With Key Addition To Dangerous New Third Line

With preseason officially underway, it's clear that the Maple Leafs' forward group is deeper than it's been in years. Players once thought to be on the way out have looked sharp early in camp and through exhibition games, making lineup decisions that much tougher.

Add in the injury scare with Max Domi coupled with his brief absence to attend his grandfather's funeral, and things only became more complicated.

Now that Domi is back, though, Toronto appears to be experimenting with what could quietly become one of the more dangerous third lines in the NHL.

Craig Berube has spoken throughout camp about how the duo of Dakota Joshua and Nicolas Roy can match up against anyone. When you throw Domi into that mix, the Leafs suddenly have a third line that's versatile and hard to contain on both sides of the puck.

Yes, Domi can be a little loose defensively at times, but Roy and Joshua's structure and reliability more than balance that out. Combine their underrated scoring ability, size, grit, and tenacity with Domi's playmaking vision, and you've got a line that's both physical and capable of contributing offensively, which the Maple Leafs have longed for.

Joshua and Roy have already shown an aptitude on the offensive side of the puck, and all three thrive in the dirty areas of the ice. This line has the makings of exactly what you want from a third unit: tough, opportunistic, and a nightmare to play against.

If the chemistry clicks and they fully adapt to Berube's system, this could be a trio built perfectly for heavy forechecking, underrated finishing ability and fierce playoff battles -- almost like they're the kind of line designed to take a team like the Florida Panthers head-on.