Leafs Preview: (Pt.1) Forming Leafs Top Line

Inside this edition of Leafs preview, let's take a sneak preview at the Leafs come October, when the real puck drops.

Part.1 Leafs Top Line

We are roughly 2 months away from the beginning of the NHL regular season. Many are wondering who will play on the new-look top line for the Leafs.

First of all, Brian Burke spent his due diligence to acquire Phil Kessel last off-season. He is a potent goal scorer who is a lock to play on the top line of the Maple Leafs. Now, here is the question: Who will play alongside Kessel?

Capitalizing on the Blackhawks cap situation, Burke brought in Kris Versteeg, a safe 50-point player so far in his career, and has good speed and agitating two-way ability. Tyler Bozak is a second year player with the team.

These are the three players I see as the top line of the Maple Leafs.

However, there are other candidates available:

Luca Caputi

Colby Armstrong

Nikolai Kulemin

Mikhail Grabovski

Bozak should do a good job centering Versteeg on the left-wing and Kessel on the right-wing. He should have no problem getting the puck to Kessel, and let Kessel do his thing offensively. Also, Versteeg will stir things up and use his speed to drive the net, provide good forecheck and be a good outlet option.

Yes, this is far from perfect as an usual top offensive line, but this is a much better start than what could have been without Kessel, Versteeg and Bozak from college. All three players are good acquisitions by Brian Burke. We can now see the results coming in from his rebuild.

Who do you like on the Leafs top line?