Leafs look to adopt defensive state of mind

[Pyrophorus]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=413480&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

People may have read this, but many people seem to forget that
we have a new coach with a new system. Its why I'm not with the
crowd who thinks we'll be 15th. Anyone who thinks this (including
MacLean and Kypreos), never mention these changes, nor think they'll
affect the Leafs.

Click to read more...

 

[smitty10]

Our defense isn't very good though.

 

[Leafs For Life*]

Our defense isn't very good though.

And we only have 1 DFD that's decent.

 

[threeGo]

We will score less and marginally improve in our defence due to not enough depth and experience. That's why we'll suck.

 

[Ricky Bobby]

I'm not going to say we'll be last but on paper we're definitely in the bottom third of the league.

Our upside is being one of the last few teams to grab a playoff spot (ala the Panthers last season) but our downside could be last.

Realistically I think we'll finish somewhere in between (like 4th-7th last overall in the league).

 

[Fogelhund]

We might be better than last year, but I don't think we have the horses yet. Much of our success, or lack of this year will come down to our goaltending.

 

[huge*]

Need a goalie for that

 

[Drew311]

We might be better than last year, but I don't think we have the horses yet. Much of our success, or lack of this year will come down to our goaltending.

So essentially we're dicked.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

I wonder what Kessel and Grabo think? Both guys like to lead lone ranger rushes up ice, can't see them dumping the puck in and hanging high, playing trap. Run and gun padding stats system no more.

 

[Bomber0104]

So essentially we're dicked.

Essentially, yes.

Gunnarsson has his work cut out for him.

 

[Confucius]

I've said it before this team was built for Wilson, now it has to be rebuilt for Carlyle. You can't make trucks out of Mustangs just because you change gears.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

I've said it before this team was built for Wilson, now it has to be rebuilt for Carlyle. You can't make trucks out of Mustangs just because you change gears.

Frankly I can't see some of our players playing a patient defensive style, Kulemin is a natural, he does this already. But some of these guys are not built to play a patient, chip it in, and cycle or trap game. See a lot of off years or realistic years from some more skilled players. This team isn't filled with Getzlaf and Perry type of players that can run and gun or cycle and dump equally well.

 

[Woodman19]

Our defense isn't very good though.

Well that's because defense is a team responsibility. We have never had a defensive system in my memory so having a coach who plays a trap system should significantly improve our goals against.

 

[Kingstonian84*]

And we only have 1 DFD that's decent.

You do realize that a defense first system involves the entire team committing to taking care of their own end right? I look at this system change over like potty training, there's going to be a lot of stinky accidents along the way as players learn how to play defense but I have no doubt we'll get there as a unit.

 

[Bomber0104]

Frankly I can't see some of our players playing a patient defensive style, Kulemin is a natural, he does this already. But some of these guys are not built to play a patient, chip it in, and cycle or trap game. See a lot of off years or realistic years from some more skilled players. This team isn't filled with Getzlaf and Perry type of players that can run and gun or cycle and dump equally well.

Good defensive players:

Kulemin, Steckel, Gunnarsson, Macarthur, Bozak...

?

Maybe including Macarthur and Bozak is being generous..

 

[Fogelhund]

So essentially we're dicked.

Maybe... probably.

 

[Kingstonian84*]

Well that's because defense is a team responsibility. We have never had a defensive system in my memory so having a coach who plays a trap system should significantly improve our goals against.

Just because were playing a "defense first" system doesn't mean were playing the trap, there are many ways to be effective defensievly. Carlyle isnt a trapping coach either, he's an "in your face" type guy and he expects his players to be aggressive in their own end to be physical and take time/space away from the opponent.

 

[Kingstonian84*]

Good defensive players:

Kulemin, Macarthur, Bozak, Steckel, Gunnarsson

?

Maybe including Macarthur and Bozak is being generous..

I'd also throw Brown in there, the guy is always giving it his all, and he has no problems sacfricing his body to block a shot either.

 

[DeathToAllButMetal]

Need a goalie for that

Yup. Defensive system or not, the whole thing falls apart depending on what's happening in net.

Even with a good goalie, though, the Leafs aren't built to play a Carlyle system. Not even close, either up front with the top six in particular, or on the blue line with thuds like Phaneuf and Komisarek, and not a single reliable shut-down d-man, let alone a shut-down pairing.

 

[exporta]

Good defensive players:

Kulemin, Steckel, Gunnarsson, Macarthur, Bozak...

?

Maybe including Macarthur and Bozak is being generous..

McClement?

 

[Bomber0104]

McClement?

Forgot we signed him.

Woops!

 

[Bomber0104]

I'd also throw Brown in there, the guy is always giving it his all, and he has no problems sacfricing his body to block a shot either.

I was thinking outside of 4th liners who play 5-10 minutes a game.

 

[Snow Dog]

I don't know if anyone here has ever played hockey,but with both goalies playing poorly last season the defense couldn't play as they needed to.You make alot of mistakes and play very tentatively if you can't trust your goalie.Look how good Brodeur has been making the Devils defense look for more than a decade.

 

[Rude Dog]

Watching Carlsle's system last year was gut wrenching. Giving Steckel way too any minutes and watching the Leafs get badly out shot (especially in 1st periods) doesn't give me much hope. They claimed the players on the ice didn't fit his style. Unfortunately not much has changed there. No question they had to improve their defensive zone coverage...wonder how it will effect Kessel. I guess we are about to find out.

 

[Bomber0104]

I don't know if anyone here has ever played hockey,but with both goalies playing poorly last season the defense couldn't play as they needed to.You make alot of mistakes and play very tentatively if you can't trust your goalie.Look how good Brodeur has been making the Devils defense look for more than a decade.

Works both ways.

Defence can make average goalies look great too.

St Louis is an example.