How the Maple Leafs third line of ‘misfits’ has benefited all of Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy and Bobby McMann

Although Roy and Joshua emerged as potential linemates in the preseason, they struggled to find the third piece to complete that line. Maccelli got some runway with them for a while, but the line never really took off like the team had hoped in the preseason. Combine that with Roy dealing with an injury that put him out of action in November and Joshua’s poor play, which resulted in a few scratches here and there, and it was a recipe for disaster for all parties involved. While not a new signing, Bobby McMann also suffered from a well-known inconsistency, going six games without a point in November. So of course the solution was to pair all three struggling players together, right?

Oh well. It turned out that this was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Joshua told reporters after the win over the Panthers that while it’s great that his line is clicking now, finding a way to keep the momentum going is twice as important.

“We’re building on it,” Joshua said when asked about the momentum the line has created. “It’s fun to see them go in, and now the hardest part is continuing with it.”

When the Leafs brought in these players, the profile immediately fit what Berube envisioned for his bottom six. A big, strong, defensively responsible line capable of shutting down the secondary attack and shutting down the opposition. Especially considering how much of a dump-and-chase team this version of the Leafs has been given to play, getting guys like Roy and Joshua on board is critical to fully embracing the identity they hope to build for themselves.

The biggest reason for the line’s newfound success is that Joshua is no longer relied on to be the main scoring threat on that line. Roy is a pass-first player, and Maccelli is even more so than Roy, so it makes sense that Joshua wasn’t getting any bounces his way when he was constantly expected to be first on the forecheck and on the boards. With McMann’s presence there, it gives the Leafs a bit of a dual threat on that line, and since McMann has that north-south speed that Berube loves so much, they get two options for board battles, where one can chase the puck and the other can get to the net or leave themselves open for a shot attempt. This is exactly what led to Joshua’s goal against Florida.

The game starts in the defensive zone with a faceoff win and a flick of the puck up the middle by Troy Stecher. Joshua leads the forecheck, which the Panthers are preparing for, and then suddenly McMann comes after him to double the pressure. McMann eventually wins the footrace and finds Joshua in front of the net in front of the goal. If you keep your eyes on the target, it’s easy to mistake Joshua’s #81 for John Tavares’ #91. It was such a beautiful goal, and the type that Berube clearly imagines Joshua would score when he was playing at his best.

Consistency has been an issue for the Leafs all season, so it’s too early to say this line will continue to flourish as they have over the past few games. We’ll need to see them win more than three games in a row. But when the team is at its best, Roy and Joshua will play an important role in that. And now that they have found a combination that offers opportunities for both players, there is some optimism that the worst days are behind them for all three players.

Sponsored by bet365