Former Leaf Reveals Who Should Play With Matthews and Marner

During yesterday's broadcast on TSN1050's First Up, analyst Dave Poulin voiced his opinion, suggesting that the ideal candidate to skate alongside Auston Matthews on the Leafs' top line should be Matthew Knies.

However, his colleague, former Leaf and current analyst Frank Corrado, offered a differing perspective today.

Corrado, while acknowledging Knies' top-six potential, argued that his play style might be better suited to support John Tavares on the second line. In his view, a different Leaf player should get the first chance to partner with Matthews.

Corrado's preference leaned towards Tyler Bertuzzi, a newcomer to the team, who he considered a fresh and intriguing option. He had this to say:

The rationale behind this choice was the success Matthews experienced when paired with Michael Bunting, a player similar in style to Bertuzzi.

Bertuzzi, Corrado argued, brings an even higher level of physicality and could create more space for Matthews.

Additionally, Bertuzzi's scoring ability surpasses that of Bunting, given his history of surpassing the 30-goal mark and impressive point production.

Highlighting Bertuzzi's playoff performance, Corrado emphasized its significance. In the previous post-season, Bertuzzi delivered 10 points in just 7 games, especially crucial during Bunting's suspension when he managed only 2 points in 7 games.

As the Leafs prepare for training camp next week and the start of the season, various line combinations will likely be tested. While Knies may receive opportunities to skate with Matthews, Corrado firmly advocated that the initial opportunity should belong to Bertuzzi.

As Read On Maple Leafs Daily:
Former Leaf disagrees with Knies as 1LW, reveals who he thinks should play with Matthews, Marner