Toronto Maple Leafs: How the offence could line up with John Tavares
By James Reeve
FOURTH LINE
The team’s fourth line is currently the most fluid, with a number of players capable of stepping up or competing to lock down a spot.
The centre role will be an interesting story heading into the season, with free agent signing Josh Jooris likely to compete with Frederik Gauthier and Par Lindholm, unless another free agent is signed.
More from Toronto Maple Leafs
- Maple Leafs Rumours: Half of NHL teams interested in Ilya Mikheyev
- Toronto Maple Leafs: How to address the goaltender position
- Leafs reward Timothy Liljegren with extension after breakout season
- Maple Leafs: Jack Campbell situation becoming increasingly uncertain
- Jason Spezza retires, joins Toronto Maple Leafs front office
Let’s say Jooris wins out, he will likely share a line with Connor Brown and either Josh Leivo or Carl Grundstrom.
Brown dropping to the fourth line might be disappointing for many fans, but his grit and in-your-face style of play will be exactly what Babcock wants on his fourth line.
Grundstrom might get a serious look on this line for the same reasons, while Leivo has some offensive upside that could benefit the team on the back-end.
This line could change the most over the course of the summer, depending on signings and performance during the pre-season, but this one will no doubt be a tough line to break down with plenty of physicality.
Centre: Jooris/Gauthier
Left Wing: Grundstrom/Leivo
Right Wing: Brown
Next: Toronto Maple Leafs win John Tavares Sweepstakes
What do you think Toronto Maple Leafs fans? Would you be happy with the team lining up their offence in this way? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!