Toronto Maple Leafs Should Find A No. 2 Center Without Matthews In The Lineup

The Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves at the top of the Atlantic Division at nearly the halfway point of the regular season.

That's an impressive feat when you consider they have endured many injuries, including those of veteran goalie Anthony Stolarz and forwards Max Domi, Max Pacioretty, Bobby McMann, Connor Dewar and David Kampf.

The most significant, however, has been the lengthy and multiple absences of captain Auston Matthews.

The three-time Rocket Richard winner missed a significant chunk of training camp, nine games in November and six games since re-aggravating an unspecified injury in Buffalo on Dec. 20. After practising with teammates in Toronto on New Year’s Day, Matthews indicated his injury issues could be something he will deal with for the rest of this season.

The Leafs overcame as many as eight forward injuries (including Matthews) in November and went 7-2-0 during that stretch, but they have only managed a .500 record (3-3-0) and averaged just 2.83 goals-for per game during his most recent absence.

Related: Could The Toronto Maple Leafs Add A Center Or Defenseman?

Former captain John Tavares has filled in admirably in stepping up into the top center role, but with the uncertainty of Matthews' health, adding a quality veteran up the middle is undoubtedly at the top of GM Brad Treliving’s shopping list.

Internally, the Leafs do not have a solution for a second-line center. Domi struggled higher in the lineup earlier in the season and has now found a fit playing on the third line between McMann and Nick Robertson. Kampf, Dewar and Pontus Holmberg do not have the offensive tools to play with the likes of Pacioretty and William Nylander.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman believes that Treliving has been looking for center help all season and that if they do make a deal, their preference is someone with term remaining. But they would pivot towards a rental if a longer-term solution did not emerge. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun mentioned Seattle’s Yanni Gourde as a potential match, while Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun believes Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders would be a fit.

At this time of year, the Leafs are normally looking to shore up their blueline, but with the summer signings of veterans Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the October extension of Jake McCabe and Friday’s re-signing of defenseman Philippe Myers to a two-year, $1.7-million deal, bolstering the Toronto blueline does not appear to be a high priority.

The Stolarz injury and questionable health history of Woll could have Toronto in need of a goalie before the deadline, but all things point to Treliving going all-in on center help before March 7.

Related: Five Maple Leafs Who Could Be Trade Options In The New Year

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