Maple Leafs Make Surprising Roster Changes

The Toronto Maple Leafs continue on their hot streak as they face off against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. While they have been rolling of late, head coach Sheldon Keefe has shuffled up his lineup which is a surprise to some.

Mitch Marner is back on the team's top line with Auston Matthews, along with Nick Ritchie who only has two points and has spent a lot of time on the team's fourth line. Meanwhile team leader in points and perhaps Toronto's best player so far this season, William Nylander, was benched in the final minutes of Saturday's game against the Buffalo Sabres and now finds himself demoted to the team's second line.

Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner back together at Leafs practice today:

Ritchie-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Kase
Bunting-Spezza-Simmonds

Extras: Semyonov, Anderson

— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) November 15, 2021

Ondrej Kase who has scored in three straight games was playing on the team's top line recently and has been moved back down to the third-line. Seems like Keefe is looking for more balance throughout his entire lineup after it was only Tavares, Nylander, Marner and Matthews scoring for 15 straight goals the past couple of weeks.

Leafs are 2-4-1 in games with Matthews/Marner and 8-1-0 in games with Matthews/Nylander. Make it make sense

— Аlex Hobson (@AHobsonMedia) November 15, 2021

The Maple Leafs are 10-5-1 on the season, two points back of the division leading Florida Panthers. The team hosts the Predators, New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins this week and look to remain as one of the hottest teams in the NHL.

Toronto Maple Leafs since October 27th:

8-1-0 record (T1 in NHL)
+11 goal differential (T2 in NHL)
3.33 goals per game (6th in NHL)
2.11 goals against per game (T5 in NHL)
36.4 power play % (3rd in NHL)
87.0 penalty kill % (6th in NHL)#LeafsForever

— Gluttons For Punishment Podcast (@theGFPpodcast) November 15, 2021

Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports