Bobby McMann will join Matthews and Nylander on the left wing. Matthews and Nylander are the Maple Leafs’ franchise players, and it’s a combination that should inject some much-needed scoring prowess into a dormant offence.

“They’re arguably our two best players,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of the McMann-Matthews-Nylander line. “Go out and control the game and do what you guys do best. We haven’t scored (more than) one or two 5-on-5 goals in the last four games, going back to the Edmonton game. We need some offence from those guys, they have to be responsible defensively, too.”

McMann is one of several Maple Leafs who are considered attractive trade candidates, ahead of Friday’s deadline. The 29-year-old addressed the rumours following Monday’s skate.

“I mean, that’s hard to put into words,” McMann said. “I’m not necessarily trying to speculate on officially leaving, either. I just want to battle here, and it’s been fun my whole career. I want to make the most of it and continue to put my best effort forward no matter the situation.”

Nick Robertson, Calle Jarnkrok and Troy Stecher will be healthy scratches for Monday’s game. Berube explained why he decided to sit Robertson, following Monday’s morning skate.

“I’ve got to make decisions in the lineup,” Berube said of Robertson. “I’ve felt like Nicky’s game has dropped off even before the break a little bit, and through the break here. He’ll get a reset.”

“I just think we have good depth at every position, in all four lines, we have guys who bring different traits,” Maple Leafs forward John Tavares said of the line changes. “At one point or another, through 60 games now, you get out there a little bit with each guy. Obviously, some guys a lot more than other, but even through practice, you get a feel of how guys play, and who they are as people.”