The Toronto Maple Leafs‘ top-six lineup is as potent as it gets in the NHL. As for the league, the best combination brewing with the Maple Leafs might as well be the Auston Matthews, Gavin McKenna, and William Nylander line if it comes to fruition. However, the current formation set by head coach Jim Hiller is somewhat modest, in my opinion, and could use a boost.
Maple Leafs Top-6 Forwards
Even though the Maple Leafs’ top-six lineup has Kirill Marchenko in the mix, using him on the second line of the power play might be beneficial, provided that the Leafs have flexibility in all aspects of the top-six, where it will come in handy for the head coach, as the formation is also filled with depth players.
The critical aspect of the Maple Leafs top-six lineup is that the team can compete with points in its arsenal. Many fans are familiar with the gameplay of Matthews, as well as Nylander and former captain John Tavares. But Easton Cowan and a fresh-out-of-college McKenna in the mix, along with Marchenko and Jack Roslovic, give the offense a fine line of dominance waiting to happen.
The forwards mentioned above give the team a high-percentage scoring option as the season picks up and suggests stretches of win streaks, with battles against the league’s elite up for grabs. For fans, this is an encouraging look at the team and offers insight into how the line formations will work for the Maple Leafs’ top-six lineup.
Coach Hiller will have to be extra creative if he expects to compete against coaches such as Mike Babcock, Paul Maurice, or even Joel Quenneville. Their names are cemented in the NHL because of the stakes when teams square off against the Maple Leafs.
The Toronto Maple Leafs Top-Six Lineup Combinations Analysis
The Maple Leafs have unique names in their top six, and the main question is how the team will fare with chemistry. This is where coach Hiller will have to be creative: at times, he’ll throw everything at his opponents, and his forwards will need to be ready for anything, especially in the postseason.
The best part of the roster is the depth in the bottom-six. GM John Chayka has created a beast to be reckoned with, and it will show by the quarter mark of this regular season. The Maple Leafs will endure tough times regarding their gameplay, and it will show. They should handle that by playing at the players’ comfort level and showing they can take charge of their future.
By analyzing various top-six combinations, we can see a lineup of Marchenko, Nylander, and Matthews that would be an offensive powerhouse, similar to the Edmonton Oilers’ top line of Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, and Leon Draisaitl.
This would boost the Maple Leafs’ fan base and give other teams a run for their money. The Maple Leafs’ top-six lineup is composed of good players, and how they carry the Leafs roster will be the ultimate test for the team. The critical part will be how the team fares against high-percentage teams in the Eastern Conference, particularly the Atlantic Division.
For the most part, winning games shouldn’t be a problem; however, if injuries start to plague the team from aggressive play, where, in one’s opinion? If Matthews is being taken advantage of, he should stand up for himself and adjust his gameplay to be a tougher opponent, to say the least.
How do you feel? Will the Maple Leafs keep in contention in the Atlantic Division by the quarter mark of the season?
Main Image: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
