The Toronto Maple Leafs have more bottom-six forwards than I have had girlfriends in my lifetime. This means that this training camp could turn into a fire sale. Which Maple Leaf player will be sent down to the Marlies? When the waiver wire starts, who will be put on waivers and who will we lose? When the Maple Leafs made the trade for Marner and brought in Nicholas Roy, the days of Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf were numbered.
This is where my brain catches fire. Bobby McMahon, Nick Robinson, and others will fight for six spots. Actually, they are fighting for five spots, because you have to figure Roy has got one of them. They didn’t bring him in to send him down to the minors.
LW Joshua Dakota - Centre Bobby McMann - RW Nicholas Roy
Roy would take the draws. I put him on the right because he can shoot right. McMann has to keep it up this year, and he is capable of doing that. If Roy matches his totals from last year, this line could succeed. Dakota scored 18 goals two years ago. If this line can score 50 goals between them, there will be dancing in the streets.
LW Steven Lorentz - Centre Scott Laughton - RW Calle Jarnkrok
The fourth line was hard for me to put together. It is almost a crapshoot. I love Laughton and Lorentz. They are excellent penalty killers. Jarnkrok is a feisty winger who can mix with the best of them. I suspect Nick Robertson will be dealt with sooner or later.
The Leafs have become a more complete team. With the addition of Dakota and Roy, the bottom six is definitely stronger, as I mentioned in the below article. They also bring in some extra offence. Will it be proven in the standings? Only time will tell.
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