The Toronto Maple Leafs Demote Their Captain After A Massive 6-2 Victory

After their impressive 6-2 victory over the Flyers, the Toronto Maple Leafs are riding high. But as they gear up to face the Carolina Hurricanes, fans will notice a significantly shuffled lineup.

Sheldon Keefe is not one to rest on his laurels, it seems. Despite the convincing win, Keefe is opting for some strategic adjustments to his lineup. The necessity for change was partly forced by Calle Jarnkrok's exit from the last game due to injury, but Keefe's tweaks go well beyond a simple one-for-one swap.


John Tavares is sliding into the third-line center spot, pushing Max Domi up to center the second line alongside William Nylander and Bobby McMann. The top line sees Pontus Holmberg and Tyler Bertuzzi flanking Auston Matthews, while Noah Gregor steps in on the fourth line, taking over for Ryan Reaves. On the defensive front, with Benoit sidelined, Connor Timmins is stepping up into a more prominent role.