Auston Matthews will once again have a superstar winger on his right side.
William Nylander moved up to the Toronto Maple Leafs' top line alongside Matthews and Bobby McMann at Thursday's practice, per David Alter of The Hockey News.
The question of who would occupy Matthews' right wing has been an open one since Mitch Marner's departure for the Vegas Golden Knights in the off-season.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has experimented with Max Domi, Easton Cowan and Matias Maccelli, but none have paid dividends through seven games.
Now, he'll try pairing his top two forwards. Nylander has enjoyed a strong offensive start to the season, leading the team with 13 points (two goals, 11 assists).
Matthews, meanwhile, is tied for tops among Maple Leafs with four goals, but half came on empty netters and he has just two assists.
Matthews, Nylander and McMann (two goals, one assist) forming a new top line created knockdown effects throughout the lineup.
John Tavares, who has mostly been stapled to Nylander over the past few seasons, skated with Knies and Maccelli. The third line featured Nicholas Roy — acquired for Marner in the sign-and-trade — centring Dakota Joshua and Cowan, while the fourth line consists of Domi in between Steven Lorentz and Calle Jarnkrok.
Winger Nick Robertson appears to be the odd man out with the shuffle.
Meanwhile, top defenceman Morgan Rielly was absent from practice, though the reason was not immediately clear. Earlier Thursday, the Maple Leafs placed blue-liner Chris Tanev on injured reserve and recalled Dakota Mermis from the AHL.
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