Toronto Maple Leafs Completely Overhaul the First Line and Demote Matthew Knies
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies has earned his first demotion of the season as head coach Craig Berube attempts to figure this team out.
Matthew Knies is one of the best players on the Toronto Maple Leafs, and with eight points in seven games, he has certainly been a stud to start the year.
Unfortunately, the team as a whole is struggling, and head coach Craig Berube has to make some incredibly tough decisions in order to get this team back into winning shape.
Today at practice, the Leafs made numerous changes to the lineup, and as you are about to see, Knies was one of the many players impacted.
Matthew Knies sent down the Toronto Maple Leafs pecking order
The first line of the Maple Leafs consisted of Bobby McMann, Auston Matthews, and none other than William Nylander.
The second line had Matthew Knies, John Tavares, and Matias Maccelli, which should make for an interesting pair of players.
The third line was Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy, and Easton Cowan. Meanwhile, Max Domi was sent all the way down to the fourth line with Steven Lorentz and Calle Jarnkrok.
McMann - Matthews - Nylander
Knies - Tavares - Maccelli
Joshua - Roy - Cowan
Lorentz - Domi - Jarnkrok
Blais, Robertson
McCabe - Carlo
Mermis* - Ekman-Larsson
Benoit - Myers
Stolarz
Primeau
*Rielly absent but skated earlier
Knies - Tavares - Maccelli
Joshua - Roy - Cowan
Lorentz - Domi - Jarnkrok
Blais, Robertson
McCabe - Carlo
Mermis* - Ekman-Larsson
Benoit - Myers
Stolarz
Primeau
*Rielly absent but skated earlier
Overall, this is an interesting lineup, and we think that it could definitely lend itself well to some success this weekend against the Buffalo Sabres.
Having said that, the Maple Leafs need to be a lot better going forward; otherwise, this team is in a lot of trouble.
Only time will tell whether or not these changes actually turn the Maple Leafs into a winning hockey team.
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