Craig Berube makes unexpected healthy scratch ahead of game against the Winnipeg Jets

The Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled mightily in their last three games, and now, they're switching things up by shockingly scratching forward Nick Robertson.

After starting the year well, the Toronto Maple Leafs have dropped three straight games, including an overtime heartbreaker to the Boston Bruins, taking them to 4-4-1 on the season. Now, they do battle with the Winnipeg Jets, and ahead of the game, it appears that Craig Berube is showing that he's not afraid to switch it up if things aren't going perfectly.

According to reports on Monday, Berube has made a shock change to his lineup, reportedly scratching a talented young forward for the first time during the 2024/25 regular season.

With Nick Robertson coming out of the lineup, the Leafs turn once more to Pontus Holmberg, despite Berube scapegoating him early in the season, as they believe he can now turn things around individually and make an impact for a struggling bottom-six. After Robertson tallied just one goal in 8 games, it makes sense for the team to sit him for a game or two, and with that move, they've also shuffled the lineup, sending John Tavares back to the second line to play alongside William Nylander.

Defensively, the team have also brought back Conor Timmins, marking several huge changes after a three-game losing skid, and with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner yet to hit top gear, the hope is that this can help the rest of the team begin producing. The Winnipeg Jets are currently sitting at 8-0-0 on the season and riding high behind plenty of momentum, so this will be no easy task for Toronto, and with inconsistent play up and down the lineup, we will see if these changes can spark anything as they look to take down the Jets undefeated start to the year.

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