The Toronto Maple Leafs are making a solid, though inconsistent push for a deep playoff run but one concerning factor needs to change if they want to succeed.

It’s not a good thing when you’re 17 games away from the playoffs and there are still come major concerns about your offensive production. When led by a team of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander aren’t coming out with an explosion of offence it starts to get worrying.

The team has relied heavily on the ‘Core Four’ for the majority of their offensive outbursts in recent seasons, but they’ve had a bit of trouble scoring, at least at the rate they should.

William Nylander has 36 goals, John Tavares has 27, Auston Matthews with 23, and Mitch Marner with 21. That’s first, second, fourth and fifth in team scoring (goals) which isn’t a good look for the bottom half (though that’s an issue all season) but Matthews had 69 last season.

Is he dealing with an injury? Has he lost his touch? No clue, but something isn’t clicking with the captain. Yes he missed 15 games this season with injuries but at the end of the day, he needs to produce more and if he’s hurt; get it looked at BEFORE the playoffs.

Also, we’re tired of the same stuff not working. What’s the definition of insanity?

Toronto needs to split up their roster. Mitch Marner deserves to run his own line, as does Auston Matthews and John Tavares. William Nylander is a much better one on one option and can fit in about any situation (except with Tavares, it’s time to end that).

Here’s how the Maple Leafs could balance things out a bit more:

Knies – Matthews – Domi

Nylander – Laughton – Marner

McMann – Tavares – Jarnkrok

Lorentz – Kampf – Robertson

Yes, it looks weird, it looks disjointed, but humor this lineup for a moment.

Max Domi has historically played well with Auston Matthews, and gives him a reason to get the ball rolling (if he does what he did Thursday, that’s huge) and gives them a chance to rekindle that chemistry.

Scott Laughton bumps up to 2C alongside Marner and Nylander to provide a hybrid line of standout defense and incredible offense.

Marner and Laughton are both playmakers, we know what Nylander can do, and the team’s defense can allow the Swede to get more of his beloved breakaways.

John Tavares gets a bit less pressure on his shoulders, and can bring a huge offensive punch to the bottom half of the lineup. He and Bobby McMann work well together, and Calle Jarnkrok is great defensively and provides some secondary offense as well.

Nick Robertson hits the fourth line as the sparkplug alongside the rough and tumble Lorentz and the defensively minded Kampf.

Each line can do damage, with a playmaker and scorer on each line. There’s respectable to very solid defense throughout, and it allows a better flow come playoff time.

These things will both allow Toronto to balance the lineup more, and give the ‘Core Four’ more of an opportunity to shine in their own ways.

Bunching it all up hasn’t worked. If they spread things a little thinner, maybe things will last longer in the postseason.