Craig Berube Shakes Up Maple Leafs Lineup Ahead of Critical Battle of Ontario
The Toronto Maple Leafs are at a crossroads, and head coach Craig Berube isn’t waiting around to see if things will fix themselves.
Coming off a tough loss to the Florida Panthers and staring down a must-win game against the Ottawa Senators, Berube made a bold and much-needed change to his lineup on Saturday.
In a move that feels long overdue, he’s overhauled the lines, creating a fresh look that could reignite the offense and bring some much-needed chemistry to the ice.
Craig Berube is shaking things up.
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) March 15, 2025
It appears the Leafs will line up like this tonight:
Knies — Matthews — Domi
McMann — Tavares — Marner
Nylander — Laughton — Järnkrok
Lorentz — Holmberg — Robertson
David Kämpf looks to be the odd man out
A New-Look Lineup with Big Potential
Berube’s changes are a stark departure from the status quo, and they’ve already sparked excitement among fans. Here’s the breakdown:
- Max Domi reunites with Auston Matthews on the top line, a pairing that has historically clicked. Domi, coming off his best game of the season against Florida, gets a well-deserved promotion and a chance to rekindle his magic with Matthews.
- Mitch Marner and Bobby McMann join John Tavares on the second line, though the combination of two playmakers might require Marner to channel his inner sniper and start shooting more.
- William Nylander finds himself on the third line with Scott Laughton and Calle Jarnkrok, a move that could give Nylander more breakaway opportunities while easing some of the pressure on him to carry the offense.
The most surprising shift? David Kampf is out, replaced by Pontus Holmberg. While Kampf has been reliable, Berube seems determined to find a way to reintegrate Nick Robertson into the lineup, and Jarnkrok—who’s earned a night off—gets a breather.
Why This Move Matters
This isn’t just about one game. Berube’s new lines could be a trial run for the playoffs, offering a glimpse of how the Leafs can better utilize their star power in high-stakes situations.
The pressure is on, and the Battle of Ontario is the perfect stage for this revamped lineup to prove its worth.
If Berube’s gamble pays off, the Leafs might just find the spark they’ve been missing—and keep it burning all the way to the playoffs.
Image - Sergei Belski-Imagn
