NHL Analysts Dig Into the Biggest Question Mark Facing the Maple Leafs Heading Into 2025-26
Photo credit: Kim Klement Neitzel - Imagn Images
With Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies needing a new linemate, the panel on TSN discuss the possibilities of who could fill that role heading into the new season.
Heading into the off-season, one of the biggest question marks facing the Toronto Maple Leafs, was how they were going to fill Mitch Marner's spot on the top line next to Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.
After a very business off-season that saw GM Brad Treliving address depth with players like Matias Maccelli, Dakota Joshua, and Nic Roy, the top-line conundrum remains without a legitimate top-6 addition having been made - despite his tired efforts.
With a myriad of options to choose from, the panel on TSN's OverDrive dove head first into who they think will fill that role next to Matthews and Knies to start the 2025-26 season.
Jamie McLennan believes there's a lot of players to choose from, and while it's an impossible task to fully replace Marner's offensive production, all the Leafs really need is a solid scoring option that can notch 50-60 points, like a Max Domi.
The one thing that Max Domi is capable of is playing better in the regular season. He's not that far removed from 72 points, but can he get 55?
Frank Corrado added in that the purpose of whoever jumps into that role is to feed Matthews the puck and to get him going again in the goal scoring department.
Someone's gotta have the purpose of saying 'I'm getting #34 the puck', whether it's Domi or Maccelli, someone's gotta take that role and run with it because there's a very big void there now.
If it isn't Domi, McLennan believes that Maccelli will get a look on the top line with head coach Craig Berube potentially giving the newcomers some extra leeway to build chemistry. Otherwise he could look to Joshua or even William Nylander to fill in that role.
I think Berube is going to give the newcomers a longer look in certain situations. Maccelli is a guy that has some creativity... It might be a scenario where Nylander goes up there... Dakota Joshua is a nice player.
Training camp is going to prove to be a vital battleground to figure things out ahead of the season opener. However, playing alongside Matthews and Knies will provide someone with a great opportunity to help the team moving forward.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 5 | 1313 ANSWERS NHL Analysts Dig Into the Biggest Question Mark Facing the Maple Leafs Heading Into 2025-26 Who should start on the first line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies? | ||
| Max Domi | 427 | 32.5 % |
| Mattias Maccelli | 458 | 34.9 % |
| Dakota Joshua | 220 | 16.8 % |
| Other | 208 | 15.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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