Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies promoted as Keefe tries to improve lineup balance

TORONTO — Sheldon Keefe is trying to solve the puzzle that is the Toronto Maple Leafs' forward lines.

Sure, the club has had little issue generating shots or scoring goals through its 2-1 start, but the bulk of those quality looks have been driven by its quartet of superstars and its lethal power-play.

The contribution disparity between the Leafs' top end and the Core Four's supporting cast has been reflected in opportunity.

Auston Matthews (23:45) and Mitch Marner (23:20) are being leaned upon heavily, while William Nylander (20:33) and John Tavares (18:42) are right behind them.

Conversely, the bottom six forwards are all averaging less than 14:10 per game.

Max Domi, a $3-million acquisition, is at a scattered 12:17 and is searching for his first goal as a Leaf. He's not used on the penalty kill, and his second power-play unit gets the scraps.

Highly touted rookie Matthew Knies is at 12:12.

Such lopsided deployment between the haves and have-nots is unsustainable through 82 games, and the coach knows it.

"I think Knies has a lot more to offer us," Keefe said Wednesday, explaining the latest middle six spat out by his blender.

"It's more than Max. Knies's minutes are too low as well. It's a challenge. Players got to find their game individually. I got to help them along with that. At the same time, you've got a lot of guys that you're trying to introduce and get going and get comfortable and all of that. All four of our left wingers are new. So you're trying to find the right mix for everybody. But everybody is responsible for the minutes that they do get."

As he searches for the optimal deployment, Keefe has promoted Knies to the left of the red-hot Tavares-Nylander duo, Domi's initial assignment, in advance of Thursday's rematch against the Florida Panthers. 

The Panthers made quick work of the Leafs in Round 2 of the 2023 postseason en route to the Stanley Cup Final.

"There's some extra motivation there, especially with what happened last year," Marner said.

"But we want to play our best hockey on this road trip and really get the ball rolling here and play Leafs hockey."

Toronto has surrendered at least four goals in each of its early-season outings, and Keefe called for tighter defence in the aftermath of Monday's 4-1 home loss to rebuilding Chicago.

To that end, Keefe has couched Domi (minus-3) with the responsible Calle Järnkrok and Fraser Minten on a new-look third line. A safer option considering the coach won't have last change during the upcoming five-game road trip.

Change has trickled to the blue line, too.

Stay-at-home Mark Giordano is getting paired with the puck-moving John Klingberg, while Timothy Liljegren's stability will hopefully get Jake McCabe (a team-worst minus-5) back on track.

"No one's hitting any panic button or anything like that," Giordano said. "But we don't want to give up the goals we've been giving up. Anytime you sit where we are, chances against and goals against, we got to clean it up for sure. 

"If we clean that up, we're going to be good — because we're pretty good the other way, I'll tell you that much."

One-Timers: Tyler Bertuzzi missed Wednesday's practice due to maintenance but is expected to play in Sunrise.... The Maple Leafs held their annual Halloween party Tuesday night.... Ryan Reaves, 36, says his distaste for Corey Perry, 38, harkens back to the first time they shared the ice together. The two veterans exchanged words and some light scuffling in Monday's Blackhawks victory over the Leafs, but they've never dropped the gloves. Perry scored the game-winner. Toronto travels to Chicago for a rematch in November.... Ilya Samsonov gets the first start on the road. He's a perfect 2-0-0 this season but needs to tidy up his .839 save percentage.