At first it seemed crazy, but in hindsight the Toronto Maple Leafs' decision to start the season with Joe Thornton on the No. 1 forward line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner made all the sense in the world.
What better way to introduce a new contributor into the system?
Or better, how else would you almost ensure a new player will instantaneously feel good about themselves?
Sure enough, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe dusted off the strategy again for the club's major deadline acquisition, having Nick Foligno start his tenure with the two superstar forwards following a week spent on the couch, quarantining.