We also knew it would take some time for the lines to form and the players to find their spots in the lineup. Nearly two months into the season, with American Thanksgiving upon us, where have we started? What has changed? Where are we now?
Here were the Leafs‘ opening night lines:
Milan Michalek – Nazem Kadri – Leo Komarov
JVR – Tyler Bozak – Mitch Marner
Zach Hyman – Auston Matthews – William Nylander
Matt Martin – Peter Holland – Connor Brown
Morgan Rielly – Martin Marincin
Jake Gardiner – Connor Carrick
Matt Hunwick – Nikita Zaitsev
In October, the Leafs’ top-four defence group, according to even strength time on ice, were Morgan Rielly, Nikita Zaitsev, Martin Marincin, and Connor Carrick.