<p>It seems like <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/william-nylander-analyzes-whats-gone-wrong-team-sweden-4-nations-faceoff">the Four Nations</a> has brought the idea of William Nylander playing centre back to the forefront. It&#8217;s not a terrible idea, but it needs to be one that&#8217;s based in providing him with support and one that requires giving him an extending run at the role whether it is going good or bad initially. It&#8217;s also an idea that probably shouldn&#8217;t replace the idea of bringing in a proven third line (or better) centre for the Maple Leafs before the trade deadline.</p>
<p>While giving Nylander a look at centre is certainly interesting, it doesn&#8217;t really change the direction the Leafs should go in at the trade deadline. Here are a few areas the Leafs might want to put some focus into between now and March 8th to establish what Toronto&#8217;s needs are beyond another centre.</p>
<h2>1. Nylander driving his own line</h2>
<p>Even if Nylander is not at centre, the Leafs might be best off with him carrying a line away from Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Mitch Marner. Nylander has shown himself to be a capable puck carrier and distributor and can generate enough offence on his own that putting him with a top tier centre like Matthews or Tavares is required for him.</p>
<p>The move leaves the top six with Marner, Knies, McMann, Domi, and Pacioretty as capable wing options, as well as opens the door for giving Robertson a look with the Leafs most capable offensive producers as well.</p>
<p>As for Nylander, one of the remaining top six capable wingers joining his line along with (likely) Pontus Holmberg in the short term gives the Leafs a look at what a three line deep offensive attack can do for their 5v5 offensive output.</p>
<h2>2. Hakanpaa needs to live next to Morgan Rielly</h2>
<p>If Jani Hakanpaa is healthy <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/leafs-practice-notes-tavares-knies-hakanpaa">enough to play</a>, it is probably best to see what the giant stay-at-home defender can do next to Toronto&#8217;s most capable backend puck mover.</p>
<p>Rielly has been at his best when he&#8217;s been tethered to shutdown partner, and Hakanpaa at least represents a mystery box of what he can do compared the rest.</p>
<p>It would be nice to give Hakanpaa a little time to work his way up to that level of responsibility and the minutes that come with playing with Rielly, but with only seven games to try things out, with Hakanpaa&#8217;s health up in the air, it&#8217;s a pretty limited window to test whether this pairing can work and save the Leafs from a potentially expensive need at the trade deadline.</p>
<h2>3. Is Max Domi ready to thrive on the wing?</h2>
<p>Max Domi needs to stay away from the centre position at all costs. Whether it is Holmberg, Jarnkrok, Nylander, Marner, whoever playing centre instead of Domi, the Leafs need to find out if his struggles are related to being put in a tougher spot of the ice.</p>
<p>Domi played well late last season when placed on Auston Matthews&#8217; line, and it feels like that could still be a fit, especially if Marner plays with Tavares while testing out if Nylander can carrying a third line. The thing is, if Domi can only produce with Matthews, that isn&#8217;t ideal either, especially when Knies and Marner appear to still be the preferred linemates. There needs to be some time with Tavares in there too.</p>
<p>Even if Domi does put up better numbers on the wing, the Leafs might just want to use that hot streak as the means to <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/moving-max-domi-which-teams-dont-want-to-give-up-a-lot-of-assets-for-offence">move the forward</a> at the deadline. What Domi provides the Leafs with is remarkably similar to what Toronto gets from cheaper options like Pacioretty, McMann, and even Robertson, and with Jarnkrok returning, the Leafs will add a more versatile option they might want to keep around more than Max.</p>
<h2>4. Who works best with OEL?</h2>
<p>Oliver Ekman-Larsson isn&#8217;t consistent playing at the level of a top-four defenceman. He will play in this role out of necessity until the trade deadline, but the reality is he seeing too much time against top units (3rd-most on the Leafs) and that&#8217;s not ideal.</p>
<p>While it is likely that if the Leafs are shopping for a defenceman at the trade deadline, they will be looking for a partner for Morgan Rielly (unless Jani Hakanpaa is truly the answer), so that leaves Toronto with the need to explore who is the best fit alongside Ekman-Larsson on the third pairing that can make it one that Craig Berube can trust.</p>
<p>The options of Conor Timmins, Simon Benoit, and Philippe Myers all come with their pros and cons. Timmins would make for a capable puck moving duo, Benoit would require Ekman-Larsson playing on the right side but would be more of a shutdown unit that could be trusted in their own end, and Myers offers a bit more of a balance.</p>
<p>Hakanpaa, if he doesn&#8217;t fit with Rielly, is also a potential option and would create a situation similar to Benoit, but with OEL on the left side. And the Leafs do still have Matt Benning and Topi Niemela as potential options as well, although Brad Treliving&#8217;s preference has been to recall Marshall Rifai when a defenceman is required, so at best he&#8217;s probably the Marlies option on the blueline.</p>
<h2>5. Adopt, don&#8217;t shop (audition some Marlies)</h2>
<p>The Four Nations break provided an excellent opportunity for NHL rosters to get health. This is generally a good thing, but for teams wanting to know what they have in the AHL before venturing out into the trade market in the next couple of weeks, it is a bit more of a challenge.</p>
<p>The Leafs presently have Alex Steeves recalled. Despite <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-alex-steeves-scores-1st-career-nhl-goal-carolina-hurricanes">his excellent performance</a> on Saturday night, it&#8217;s hard to see a regular path into the lineup for Steeves with the competition of Pacioretty, Dewar, and Jarnkrok getting healthy soon. He&#8217;ll likely be returned to the Marlies with a few days of NHL pay when the former takes place. If the Leafs have a player who is pounding on the door looking for an NHL opportunity, it&#8217;s probably Steeves.</p>
<p>Joining Steeves on the laundry list of forwards worth taking a look at are Nikita Grebenkin, Fraser Minten, and Alex Nylander. You could easily expand that list out, but these are by far the most pressing candidates at forward.</p>
<p>On the blueline, Matt Benning, Marshall Rifai, Topi Niemela, and Dakota Mermis are probably the top options the Leafs would want to get a look at, but even someone like Mikko Kokkonen could be an interesting option. Most of the blueliners seem to offer a lot of what the Leafs already have at the bottom of the defensive depth chart with the exception of Niemela, who seems like he is capable of being a potential standout. That said, if he&#8217;s trade bait for Toronto the Leafs might not want Niemela&#8217;s adjustment to the NHL being the last things scouts see before the trade deadline.</p>
<p>Maybe the Marlies players getting time in the Leafs lineup in the next seven games isn&#8217;t so much the priority as it is to identify players the Leafs can move on from and potentially cheaply back fill with Marlies players. There is something to be said for dumping Domi, Reaves, Kampf, Timmins, and Jarnkrok and replacing them with Grebenkin, Minten, Nylander, and Rifai, while taking the cap savings to use on upgrades higher up in the roster.</p>
<p>The bottom of the roster looks good and the Marlies look capable of supplementing it, if Brad Treliving needs proof of that, I hope we see some recalls, if he knows it, I hope he&#8217;s got a plan for shedding salary.</p>


It seems like <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/william-nylander-analyzes-whats-gone-wrong-team-sweden-4-nations-faceoff">the Four Nations</a> has brought the idea of William Nylander playing centre back to the forefront. It's not a terrible idea, but it needs to be one that's based in providing him with support and one that requires giving him an extending run at the role whether it is going good or bad initially. It's also an idea that probably shouldn't replace the idea of bringing in a proven third line (or better) centre for the Maple Leafs before the trade deadline.

While giving Nylander a look at centre is certainly interesting, it doesn't really change the direction the Leafs should go in at the trade deadline. Here are a few areas the Leafs might want to put some focus into between now and March 8th to establish what Toronto's needs are beyond another centre.
<h2>1. Nylander driving his own line</h2>
Even if Nylander is not at centre, the Leafs might be best off with him carrying a line away from Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Mitch Marner. Nylander has shown himself to be a capable puck carrier and distributor and can generate enough offence on his own that putting him with a top tier centre like Matthews or Tavares is required for him.

The move leaves the top six with Marner, Knies, McMann, Domi, and Pacioretty as capable wing options, as well as opens the door for giving Robertson a look with the Leafs most capable offensive producers as well.

As for Nylander, one of the remaining top six capable wingers joining his line along with (likely) Pontus Holmberg in the short term gives the Leafs a look at what a three line deep offensive attack can do for their 5v5 offensive output.
<h2>2. Hakanpaa needs to live next to Morgan Rielly</h2>
If Jani Hakanpaa is healthy <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/leafs-practice-notes-tavares-knies-hakanpaa">enough to play</a>, it is probably best to see what the giant stay-at-home defender can do next to Toronto's most capable backend puck mover.

Rielly has been at his best when he's been tethered to shutdown partner, and Hakanpaa at least represents a mystery box of what he can do compared the rest.

It would be nice to give Hakanpaa a little time to work his way up to that level of responsibility and the minutes that come with playing with Rielly, but with only seven games to try things out, with Hakanpaa's health up in the air, it's a pretty limited window to test whether this pairing can work and save the Leafs from a potentially expensive need at the trade deadline.
<h2>3. Is Max Domi ready to thrive on the wing?</h2>
Max Domi needs to stay away from the centre position at all costs. Whether it is Holmberg, Jarnkrok, Nylander, Marner, whoever playing centre instead of Domi, the Leafs need to find out if his struggles are related to being put in a tougher spot of the ice.

Domi played well late last season when placed on Auston Matthews' line, and it feels like that could still be a fit, especially if Marner plays with Tavares while testing out if Nylander can carrying a third line. The thing is, if Domi can only produce with Matthews, that isn't ideal either, especially when Knies and Marner appear to still be the preferred linemates. There needs to be some time with Tavares in there too.

Even if Domi does put up better numbers on the wing, the Leafs might just want to use that hot streak as the means to <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/moving-max-domi-which-teams-dont-want-to-give-up-a-lot-of-assets-for-offence">move the forward</a> at the deadline. What Domi provides the Leafs with is remarkably similar to what Toronto gets from cheaper options like Pacioretty, McMann, and even Robertson, and with Jarnkrok returning, the Leafs will add a more versatile option they might want to keep around more than Max.
<h2>4. Who works best with OEL?</h2>
Oliver Ekman-Larsson isn't consistent playing at the level of a top-four defenceman. He will play in this role out of necessity until the trade deadline, but the reality is he seeing too much time against top units (3rd-most on the Leafs) and that's not ideal.

While it is likely that if the Leafs are shopping for a defenceman at the trade deadline, they will be looking for a partner for Morgan Rielly (unless Jani Hakanpaa is truly the answer), so that leaves Toronto with the need to explore who is the best fit alongside Ekman-Larsson on the third pairing that can make it one that Craig Berube can trust.

The options of Conor Timmins, Simon Benoit, and Philippe Myers all come with their pros and cons. Timmins would make for a capable puck moving duo, Benoit would require Ekman-Larsson playing on the right side but would be more of a shutdown unit that could be trusted in their own end, and Myers offers a bit more of a balance.

Hakanpaa, if he doesn't fit with Rielly, is also a potential option and would create a situation similar to Benoit, but with OEL on the left side. And the Leafs do still have Matt Benning and Topi Niemela as potential options as well, although Brad Treliving's preference has been to recall Marshall Rifai when a defenceman is required, so at best he's probably the Marlies option on the blueline.
<h2>5. Adopt, don't shop (audition some Marlies)</h2>
The Four Nations break provided an excellent opportunity for NHL rosters to get health. This is generally a good thing, but for teams wanting to know what they have in the AHL before venturing out into the trade market in the next couple of weeks, it is a bit more of a challenge.

The Leafs presently have Alex Steeves recalled. Despite <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-alex-steeves-scores-1st-career-nhl-goal-carolina-hurricanes">his excellent performance</a> on Saturday night, it's hard to see a regular path into the lineup for Steeves with the competition of Pacioretty, Dewar, and Jarnkrok getting healthy soon. He'll likely be returned to the Marlies with a few days of NHL pay when the former takes place. If the Leafs have a player who is pounding on the door looking for an NHL opportunity, it's probably Steeves.

Joining Steeves on the laundry list of forwards worth taking a look at are Nikita Grebenkin, Fraser Minten, and Alex Nylander. You could easily expand that list out, but these are by far the most pressing candidates at forward.

On the blueline, Matt Benning, Marshall Rifai, Topi Niemela, and Dakota Mermis are probably the top options the Leafs would want to get a look at, but even someone like Mikko Kokkonen could be an interesting option. Most of the blueliners seem to offer a lot of what the Leafs already have at the bottom of the defensive depth chart with the exception of Niemela, who seems like he is capable of being a potential standout. That said, if he's trade bait for Toronto the Leafs might not want Niemela's adjustment to the NHL being the last things scouts see before the trade deadline.

Maybe the Marlies players getting time in the Leafs lineup in the next seven games isn't so much the priority as it is to identify players the Leafs can move on from and potentially cheaply back fill with Marlies players. There is something to be said for dumping Domi, Reaves, Kampf, Timmins, and Jarnkrok and replacing them with Grebenkin, Minten, Nylander, and Rifai, while taking the cap savings to use on upgrades higher up in the roster.

The bottom of the roster looks good and the Marlies look capable of supplementing it, if Brad Treliving needs proof of that, I hope we see some recalls, if he knows it, I hope he's got a plan for shedding salary.

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