Line Combos: Should the Leafs Stack the Top 6 in the Playoffs? **Poll Included**

[Puckstuff]

With the playoffs approaching, the big question for Berube and the geniuses who run the team is: should the Leafs stack their top 6 forwards or spread the talent across the top 9?

Personally, I think stacking the top 6 looks great on paper, but it leaves the third line seriously exposed—like really exposed. The Domi line scares the shit out of me defensively. Plus, Matthews and Marner have gone stale in the playoffs together when they can't take advantage of secondary matchups.

So what's the better approach?

Option 1 – Stack the Top 6 + weak 3rd line

Knies – Matthews – Marner
McMann – Tavares – Nylander
Laughton - Domi - Robertson

Option 2 – Balance the Top 9

Some variation of:

Knies – Matthews – Domi
Pacioretty – Tavares – Marner
McMann – Laughton – Nylander

 

[Sypher04]

While I generally believe in running 3 lines, I don’t think you mess with what’s working in the top 6, and even the 3rd line has started to come together. Leave it be.

 

[Drew4u]

You say the Domi line scares you defensively but want Nylander, who is their worst forward defensively, to play there. OK.

 

[All Mod Cons]

I've said all year I doubt Robertson, Reavo or Holmberg make the playoff roster, and I think that is still the case. Holmberg only if Pacioretty is out, but i think he'll be back.

 

[ACC1224]

Top two lines have been great, they won't change that.

As things stand Robertson won't see the ice in the Playoffs.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Whatever they do they better not overcommit to it if it smells funny. Need to be flexible and open minded to give yourself the best chance of success imo.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Leave the top six alone. Both lines are balanced well and score consistently. Breaking them up on the off-chance you might be able to create three lines that could score consistently is a risk not worth taking.

Pacioretty will play in the playoffs. Good chance he, Domi, and I assume Laughton will be able to take advantage of "easier" matchups and be able to pot some goals.

 

[thusk]

last 9 game leafs bottom 6 bring on 9 goal... 1 goal by game... Personally if bottom still producing at same rate, i don't know where's the problem...

 

[DarkKnight]

The top 6 is locked in, only an idiot would mess with success.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Knies Matthews Marner
McMann Tavares Nylander
Patches Laughton Domi
Lorentz Kampf Jarnkok

Extras Robertson and Holmberg

 

[Evilhomer]

Knies Matthews Marner
McMann Tavares Nylander
Patches Laughton Domi
Lorentz Kampf Jarnkok

Extras Robertson and Holmberg

This is exactly what it will be. If Patch stays healthy, that is a Cup-winning forward group.

 

[arso40]

You say the Domi line scares you defensively but want Nylander, who is their worst forward defensively, to play there. OK.

Where’d you get that idea from?LOL

 

[All Mod Cons]

Knies Matthews Marner
McMann Tavares Nylander
Patches Laughton Domi
Lorentz Kampf Jarnkok

Extras Robertson and Holmberg

100%. Everyone crying all season long about Reaves being in the lineup in game 49 away to Minnesota. Those are the fans that need disregarding.

At no point were Reaves, Robertson and Holmberg considered part of the playoffs roster. And that was obvious. Holmberg if Pacioretty can't go is the only option.

Fans here, spaz out so much about the 4LW on a Tuesday away game in January.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Where’d you get that idea from?LOL

It's the only area in which another right winger could possibly be better, so some people have to push that false narrative.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Before the trade deadline TOR had 3 lines set:

Knies Matthews Grebenkin
McMann Tavares Marner
Jarnkrok Minten Willy

PP1

Knies Matthews Grebenkin
Rielly Marner

PP2

McMann Minten Nylander
Domi OEL

But Treliving went and screwed that all up!

 

[hobarth]

Lorrentz/Matthews/Marner-I think Lorrentz can provide most of what Knies does
Robertson/JT/Nylander-this is a chance for Robertson who with better linemates can produce
Knies/Domi/McMann-a passer, 2 scorers, few other teams can match this depth
Kampf/Laughton/Jarnkrok-I'd actually think about playing Reaves instead of Jarnkrok

Of the top 3 lines, the most icetime should go to whichever line deserves it most, the next most icetime should go to, again, the one that deserves it most, each night, icetime shouldn't be based on rep or salary, it should be based on performance.

Having lines based solely on defense hasn't worked in the past, the more lines that can be balanced have a far greater chance of providing TO with viable lines in all situations. I think my lines mean TO has more lines to actually expect production from in all situations, both offensively and defensively.

TO's inability to put 3 viable lines together in the past has haunted TO, we can see TO with 2 lines now usually only has one going on any given night so only having 2 viable lines probably means TO is revisiting the past.

On the d I'd put OEL with Carlo, leave the McCabe/Tanev duo alone and pair Rielly with Benoit/Myers.

 

[steelcurtain6]

While I generally believe in running 3 lines, I don’t think you mess with what’s working in the top 6, and even the 3rd line has started to come together. Leave it be.

Third line may be even more effective if it is Laughton, Domi and Patches. Have the 4th line Lorentz Kampf Jarnkrok. If Patches needs a break shift him with Jarnkrok. Also gives you 4 PK guys (Kampf, Jarnkrok, Laughton, Lorentz) to go with Matthews, Marner and Kneiss.
I recall they were using Willie on the PK for a bit> Whatever came of that?

 

[arso40]

Third line may be even more effective if it is Laughton, Domi and Patches. Have the 4th line Lorentz Kampf Jarnkrok. If Patches needs a break shift him with Jarnkrok. Also gives you 4 PK guys (Kampf, Jarnkrok, Laughton, Lorentz) to go with Matthews, Marner and Kneiss.
I recall they were using Willie on the PK for a bit> Whatever came of that?

Not this year Bérubé thinks an injured Matthews is a better option LOL I think they should put marner bacc with kampf and go from there Matthews shouldn’t be pk’n

 

[notbias]

The secondary scoring has been atrocious in every single playoff.

Live and die with the top 6 again, I guess.

I wanted Nylander as 3RW (or move Tavares to 3C) for a long time... but seems pointless at this point to try to figure out what works.

Just roll with what they are doing now since the top 6 is hot and hope they remain hot in the playoffs and can overcome the lack of bottom 6 scoring.

 

[kevsh]

Some variation of:

Knies – Matthews – Domi
Pacioretty – Tavares – Marner
McMann – Laughton – Nylander

Looks great, will never happen.

I don't know if it's in their contracts or it's just a matter of the inmates running the asylum, but there's a reason that regardless of which coach is behind the bench, none of the Core 4 have ever played on the 3rd line for more than a couple of periods.

I think the lines as we see them now (as of last game at least) will pretty much remain intact, subject to Pac's return. In which case, if any one of Jarnkrok or Laughton is struggling they'll likely be demoted to make room.

 

[Puckstuff]

The secondary scoring has been atrocious in every single playoff.

Live and die with the top 6 again, I guess.

I wanted Nylander as 3RW (or move Tavares to 3C) for a long time... but seems pointless at this point to try to figure out what works.

Just roll with what they are doing now since the top 6 is hot and hope they remain hot in the playoffs and can overcome the lack of bottom 6 scoring.

A lot of the goals from that second line come from the chemistry between Nylander and McMann. Nylander and J.T. can link up as well, but that’s because they’re both really good—not because they need each other to be productive or have this elite chemistry. We could drop Nylander down (or Tavares to 3C), and the output wouldn’t suffer in my opinion if they leave McMann with Nylander.

I'd like to see these pairs run their own line:

1. Knies-Matthews
2. Tavares–Marner
3. Nylander–McMann

But they’re not going to do it… and the third line will likely get exposed, and secondary scoring will disappear in the playoffs. Heck we don't even have secondary scoring now... so if the top 6 is less hot come playoffs, there's going to be little support.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Looks great, will never happen.

I don't know if it's in their contracts or it's just a matter of the inmates running the asylum, but there's a reason that regardless of which coach is behind the bench, none of the Core 4 have ever played on the 3rd line for more than a couple of periods.

I think the lines as we see them now (as of last game at least) will pretty much remain intact, subject to Pac's return. In which case, if any one of Jarnkrok or Laughton is struggling they'll likely be demoted to make room.

I think what they have been doing recently, with the top 6 as is and Willy getting the odd extra shift with the third line, has worked well.

 

[fbuford]

Well, they had their chance to add a useful player to the 3rd line, an offensive or defensive stalwart ...

Yet, they got a useless player in Laughton.
The Leafs' biggest issue over the last 5-7 years has been A LACK of offensive support.

What did they do? Acquire an offensive blackhole in Laughton.

 

[Donnie740]

Just have to laugh at the “fans” who want to spread out the talent across three lines like they’re playing an NHL ‘25 video game.

The top two lines will play somewhere between 40mins and 45mins in the playoffs. The 3rd and 4th lines will split the remaining 15mins to 20mins.

Why would anyone with even the slightest understanding of hockey want to have Marner or Nylander only playing 10mins to 12mins on the 3rd line?

It absolutely defies logic.

 

[TMLAM34]

Knies - Matthews - Marner
McMann - Tavares - Nylander
Laughton - Domi - Jarnkrok
Lorentz - Kampf - Holmberg

Don’t really see Robertson starting game 1 in the lineup. If Patches is healthy, maybe he goes in for Holmberg.