Leafs Going to Experiment With Marner on D Situationally in Preseason

[Tufted Titmouse]

Why can’t Rielly and Gio play the PP and then we have two quality PPs, and teams can’t focus on one PP?
Pretty much run lines one and two.

Mostly because you want WN, MM, AM and JT all seeing the maximum amount of PP time possible, and that's on PP1. It's like in baseball - you hit your best guys at the top to maximize at bats.

 

[ACC1224]

Why can’t Rielly and Gio play the PP and then we have two quality PPs, and teams can’t focus on one PP?
Pretty much run lines one and two.

You want the best players to play more not less.
IMO, top unit should play all 2 minutes.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

All I am gonna say is if Mitch and Rielly are on top of new revised PP it will be an unmitigated DISASTER .. you can't have 2 peewee shots on top of a PP .. put Muzzy or Gio out there and let them unload in front of a good screen we will score much more

 

[IPS]

All I am gonna say is if Mitch and Rielly are on top of new revised PP it will be an unmitigated DISASTER .. you can't have 2 peewee shots on top of a PP .. put Muzzy or Gio out there and let them unload in front of a good screen we will score much more

Dubas has never believed in having a dangerous point shot on the PP.

Our style of PP can work in the regular season (it's had very good years and bad years) but in the playoffs our PP is always underwhelming.

In all of our playoff runs with this core we had one year where our PP converted at over 20%, and that was the first series against Boston with Babcock as coach.

Under Keefe, our PP in the playoffs has been utterly abysmal.

2020: 15.4% (T-16th)
2021: 13% (14th)
2022: 14.3% (11th)

The missing element has been so blatantly obvious too - it's the lack of threat from the point. Our shooting threat is incredibly predictable, smother #34 on the right circle and you've already shut down most of the Leafs PP.

 

[Fogelhund]

All I am gonna say is if Mitch and Rielly are on top of new revised PP it will be an unmitigated DISASTER .. you can't have 2 peewee shots on top of a PP .. put Muzzy or Gio out there and let them unload in front of a good screen we will score much more

From what I've read, this isn't for the PP. This is for those times late in a game, when we are behind, and need a spark. Putting four forwards, and a D out... I would assume, before you would normally pull a goalie.

 

[kb]

Quick, name the last time there was a goal on the PP from a bomb slapshot from the point?

It ain't 1982 anymore guys. You don't need a bomb, you need a quick release and the ability to get the puck through traffic. That's far more important than a "bomb from the point". Almost like you guys never watch modern hockey.

 

[ACC1224]

Dubas has never believed in having a dangerous point shot on the PP.

Our style of PP can work in the regular season (it's had very good years and bad years) but in the playoffs our PP is always underwhelming.

In all of our playoff runs with this core we had one year where our PP converted at over 20%, and that was the first series against Boston with Babcock as coach.

Under Keefe, our PP in the playoffs has been utterly abysmal.

2020: 15.4% (T-16th)
2021: 13% (14th)
2022: 14.3% (11th)

The missing element has been so blatantly obvious too - it's the lack of threat from the point. Our shooting threat is incredibly predictable, smother #34 on the right circle and you've already shut down most of the Leafs PP.

A big shot has always been the missing piece. Amazing the success they have even when predictable, an additional option would make it lethal.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

From what I've read, this isn't for the PP. This is for those times late in a game, when we are behind, and need a spark. Putting four forwards, and a D out... I would assume, before you would normally pull a goalie.

That is fine if that is da plan .. in fact go just 5 forwards and go hard to net .. we suck eggs at holding blue line anyways late in games .. better to have more forecheck on da loose pucks after shots

 

[Notsince67]

That is fine if that is da plan .. in fact go just 5 forwards and go hard to net .. we suck eggs at holding blue line anyways late in games .. better to have more forecheck on da loose pucks after shots

So diminish the importance of Marner and pretend 2 forwards is better than 1 at D??? He really bugs you, doesnt he?
They want Marner at D because he is excellent defensively and controls the puck well when players are in front of him. He draws players to him to make space. Few players in the world are like this. This wasn't a blind positional strategy. It was the proposed strategic use of a superstar playmaker who can control an entry in that way. I know it's difficult for you to swallow but it is a Marner strategy.

 

[zeke]

I'd wager Marner never plays D this year btw.

 

[Fogelhund]

If you want a point shot, maybe try Robertson on the point for a couple of PP’s. Matthew’s claims he has the hardest shot on the team.

 

[Fogelhund]

Weird. Can’t seem to post a Sportsnet link, without it pointing just at this video.

Keefe said he would like to see improvement in the Leafs’ play along the offensive blue line. Marner can help with that. His 20 blue-line holds at 5-on-5 last season were the most in the league at the forward position. A player is credited with a blue-line hold when he successfully prevents an opposing exit attempt.

Copy and paste this and delete the space.

Sports News: World and National Sports Headlines, Score Updates, Highlights, Stats & Results - Sportsnet.ca article/mitch-marner-on-defence-an-idea-so-crazy-it-just-might-work/

 

[Hellcat]

Broken foot in 5,4,3,2 ....

Weird. Can’t seem to post a Sportsnet link, without it pointing just at this video.

Keefe said he would like to see improvement in the Leafs’ play along the offensive blue line. Marner can help with that. His 20 blue-line holds at 5-on-5 last season were the most in the league at the forward position. A player is credited with a blue-line hold when he successfully prevents an opposing exit attempt.

Copy and paste this and delete the space.

Sports News: World and National Sports Headlines, Score Updates, Highlights, Stats & Results - Sportsnet.ca article/mitch-marner-on-defence-an-idea-so-crazy-it-just-might-work/

View attachment 590522

Is there anywhere this kid cannot play?


Wednesdays Headline ... Leafs to try Marner in Goal ... ...

 

[Razz]

This Leaf fan is happy to see our coaching staff find innovative ways to leverage our superstars to win games. Guess I'm weird or something...

 

[TheRumble]

All I am gonna say is if Mitch and Rielly are on top of new revised PP it will be an unmitigated DISASTER .. you can't have 2 peewee shots on top of a PP .. put Muzzy or Gio out there and let them unload in front of a good screen we will score much more

None of the best powerplays in the league - regular season or playoffs, prominently feature point shots.

You guys all need to take off your rose tinted glasses for the 90s. That's not how powerplays work anymore.

 

[ShaneFalco]

None of the best powerplays in the league - regular season or playoffs, prominently feature point shots.

You guys all need to take off your rose tinted glasses for the 90s. That's not how powerplays work anymore.

apparently the Leafs don't know how powerplays work in the playoffs either

 

[ACC1224]

None of the best powerplays in the league - regular season or playoffs, prominently feature point shots.

You guys all need to take off your rose tinted glasses for the 90s. That's not how powerplays work anymore.

Why not reply to those posts that say they should “prominently feature point shots” ?
I don’t read every post but I haven’t seen anyone mention that.

 

[TheRumble]

Why not reply to those posts that say they should “prominently feature point shots” ?
I don’t read every post but I haven’t seen anyone mention that.

Because I have the ability to read posts and summarize their meaning and intent without having it spelled out for me to the letter.

It's a concept called "reading comprehension."

 

[ACC1224]

Because I have the ability to read posts and summarize their meaning and intent without having it spelled out for me to the letter.

It's a concept called "reading comprehension."

Yours needs work.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Franson's point shot is all we need. Heavy, low, gets on net consistently, and next to no wind up on it.

 

[IPS]

None of the best powerplays in the league - regular season or playoffs, prominently feature point shots.

You guys all need to take off your rose tinted glasses for the 90s. That's not how powerplays work anymore.

They don't "feature" a point shot, they have it as an option to open up their other weapons.

If the PK commits hard to defending certain areas of the ice, other options will naturally open themselves up.

 

[Jmo89]

Broken foot in 5,4,3,2 ....



Is there anywhere this kid cannot play?


Wednesdays Headline ... Leafs to try Marner in Goal ... ...

He probably manages to win one of the game 6's these past two playoffs.

 

[zeke]

 

[JT AM da real deal]

So diminish the importance of Marner and pretend 2 forwards is better than 1 at D??? He really bugs you, doesnt he?
They want Marner at D because he is excellent defensively and controls the puck well when players are in front of him. He draws players to him to make space. Few players in the world are like this. This wasn't a blind positional strategy. It was the proposed strategic use of a superstar playmaker who can control an entry in that way. I know it's difficult for you to swallow but it is a Marner strategy.

Why do you think I don't like Mitch? Mitch has amazing hand eye skills, super amazing edgework and phenom vision and playmaking skills .. but he also is terribly weak which manifests itself in his shot and his power and he has a very short stride length which limits him in races .. as a coach you need to look at players for what they truly are when developing plans for their use .. again I have never had any issues with Mitch he is a great kid .. and I am happy for him that he is setting up his family for a much better life .. I place all da blame for his CAP overspend on Dubie .. although we Leaf fans should be all against da CBA and CAP .. Leafs could spend triple on player wages and it would not affect team finances in slightest .. da players would all be better off .. and da best players would play on best teams and you would see playoff hockey every night when you go buy a ticket and/or sponsor da team .. hockey will eventually go this way much like elite soccer teams and leagues

 

[Sniper99]

Quick, name the last time there was a goal on the PP from a bomb slapshot from the point?

It ain't 1982 anymore guys. You don't need a bomb, you need a quick release and the ability to get the puck through traffic. That's far more important than a "bomb from the point". Almost like you guys never watch modern hockey.

Shea Weber scored a few from the point. Several players did and still do in modern hockey.