Leafs appear to have solidified line combinations early; projected lines here

Through 8 games so far this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have amassed a 5-2-1 record, collecting 11 of a possible 16 points to open the year. The Leafs currently sit in a 3-way tie for 2nd in the Atlantic Division, in a 4-way tie for 3rd in the Eastern Conference and in a 5-way tie for 5th in the National Hockey League. Certainly not a bad start by any stretch of the imagination.

The Leafs took to the ice for practice on Monday, with line rushes looking identical to the combinations they had deployed in Nashville. The projected lineup for tomorrow's game against the Los Angeles Kings is as follows:

Jarnkrok-Matthews-Marner
Bertuzzi-Tavares-Nylander
Knies-Kampf-Domi
Gregor-Holmberg-Reaves

Rielly-Brodie
Giordano-Liljegren
Lagesson-Klingberg

Last October, around this time, the Leafs compiled a 4-4-2 record. While the core group is the same, the supporting cast this year appears to be much stronger. Here's the lineup they had rolled out 1 year ago today:

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Jarnkrok
Robertson-Nylander-Malgin
AstonReese-Kampf-Engvall

Brodie-Holl
Sandin-Rielly
Giordano-Kral

It's not even a comparison really. This year's group is far more formidable than last year's group was, both on paper and on the ice.

If the Leafs can pull out a win tomorrow night, it will bring their record up to 6-2-1 through the month of October, which would put them on pace for 118 points, far superior to the 82 points they were on pace for at this point last season - and consider this; the Leafs eventually cleaned things up, went on a hot streak and finished last year with 111 points. Imagine the potential for this season if/when the Leafs really starts to click.

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