It’s no secret that the Leafs are currently a little short down the middle. While they boast a strong set of NHL centres in Nazem Kadri, Auston Matthews, and Tyler Bozak, the depth behind them simply isn’t there. That’s especially true this season, with the news that William Nylander will stay on the wing for at least this year, though the team still sees him as a centre long-term.
Behind this group is a rag-tag collection of depth options, like Ben Smith, Frederik Gauthier, and Byron Froese. The former sees his contract expire this summer, which means there may be some centre spots on the NHL roster up for grabs.