The Maple Leafs need to add some punch to their bottom lines and they could look to Pittsburgh’s Drew O’Connor to fill that role.
Brad Treliving and the Maple Leafs are struggling with the lower portion of their lineup. It’s been rough for the bottom six, with barely any production and looking like a group of misfits on the ice at times. Nick Robertson is invisible, Max Domi too. The other guys they’ve thrown in haven’t done any better either.
So with how bad they’ve been a new injection of life is needed and one NHL analyst believes that a Penguins forward holds the key to the Maple Leafs’ bottom six woes.
The addition of O’Connor would give Toronto a new look on the bottom six, and a versatile option that can play both wing and center. The Maple Leafs need someone like O’Connor to bring new life to their squad, and he’s certainly got the chance to make an impact.
Who Is Drew O’Connor?
Drew O’Connor is a big, young forward who will make a difference with Toronto. At 6’3, 200 pounds and with the ability to play both wing and center, he has the versatility that Craig Berube loves. He’s having a decent year, if unspectacular. With three goals and an assist he’s been off to a bit of a slow start but is coming off a 16-goal, 33-point season last year.
He’s not the best faceoff guy but can do in a pinch, and has the ability to shake off defenders with his frame. He’s also got two short-handed goals which shows that even on defense he has a mind for scoring. That’s the mentality Toronto needs as their bottom six seems like they want to forgo scoring in order to play more defensively.