Leafs (Un)Special Teams

[Menzinger]

They can fix the pp by tinkering with the systems - they've got more than enough skilled guys to run two units.

Tre may need to go shopping for a bottom six forward whose a pk specialist To help fix the other part. Fortunately they shouldn't cost too much in terms of trade capital

 

[leafs in five]

Laegersson seemed to be effective on the PK…but he doesn’t play anymore

how could the PK have been bad with an effective PKer on it

 

[Commander Clueless]

I don’t think it would take much to bring in some PK help. Obviously they have to be able to play a regular shift as well.

Perhaps the players are fine and this is another of those things we can blame on Van Ryn?

Why not both?

 

[ACC1224]

They can fix the pp by tinkering with the systems - they've got more than enough skilled guys to run two units.

Tre may need to go shopping for a bottom six forward who’s a pk specialist To help fix the other part. Fortunately they shouldn't cost too much in terms of trade capital

I must be the only one who thinks they should run PP1 for the whole 2 minutes.

Why not both?

That would be ideal.

 

[barilko05]

I must be the only one who thinks they should run PP1 for the whole 2 minutes.


That would be ideal.

They practically do. PP1 usually is on at least a minute and half. Also, stating that we can't seem to tie or take a lead,on a PP goal, as a previous poster alluded to, seems more the result of WHEN they are. As in...I would hazard a guess we have a disproportionate number of powerplays when we are either already leading, or when we are behind by more than 1 goal. I have no proof, of course, but hey...this is Bettman's NHL and we are the poster child for getting boned by stupid game management calls. And the stats bear that out big time.

 

[leafs in five]

on the GWG in Vancouver Nylander just leaves Pettersson on the far side when EP backs off toward the blueline for space and instead goes to cover the slot where Jarnkrok is already stationed which imo is already a questionable spot for one PK forward to occupy, where having two there seems like an obvious breakdown:

but then on the 6th goals he does something similar, leaves the point open to half cover Boeser in the slot. when the puck gets to Miller at the point Nylander tries to make up that coverage, but Miller's open enough that McCabe goes out to him too. Rielly seems to react to Nylander changing coverage and moves to cover Boeser in the slot, the result is leaving Petterson totally alone:

that's an unfortunate pose for Nylander to be captured striking but that aside it seems like it's both a scheme and personnel issue here, where the reads are bad but the scouting and the coverage seem to also be pretty weird? Jarnkrok also doesn't have his stick in the cross-point passing lane on the 6th goal, which is also just baffling because there is no one covering the other point man, compared to the support he has down low.

source:

 

[jaric1862]

I am shocked to come in here and see people wondering why the PK is so bad.

we only have two forwards who have been regular penalty killers prior to this year (Kampf, Marner) and our most relied upon defenders on the PK are slowing down (Brodie, Gio)

We no longer have Kerfoot, Holl, Engvall types who excel on the PK.

This was so predictable.

 

[1specter]

The PK falling off the way it has is very disappointing. It was basically automatic from like 2017-2022 (although fell apart a few times in playoffs..) but these past two seasons has been a serious regression especially this year where it's actually just awful. Goaltending is also a factor but that excuse can only go so far

 

[Darcy Tucker]

I hate to say it but this PK issue is why I was lamenting Lafferty leaving. We lost a super fast role player for Reaves. Gross.

 

[Buds17]

I am shocked to come in here and see people wondering why the PK is so bad.

we only have two forwards who have been regular penalty killers prior to this year (Kampf, Marner) and our most relied upon defenders on the PK are slowing down (Brodie, Gio)

We no longer have Kerfoot, Holl, Engvall types who excel on the PK.

This was so predictable.

The last line of defence arguably is the goalie (although I do think the team would benefit from adding a PK option or two in order to compensate for an overall lack of options/options who have thus far been subpar).

 

[Stephen]

They can fix the pp by tinkering with the systems - they've got more than enough skilled guys to run two units.

Tre may need to go shopping for a bottom six forward whose a pk specialist To help fix the other part. Fortunately they shouldn't cost too much in terms of trade capital

With the PP, I wonder if they want to just spit the stars in half and then stuff the two units with Domi, Bertuzzi, Liljegren and whomever else is going. Split the time in half and let them compete againt each other, allow the middle lineup guys to get some cookies and feel integrated.

 

[Maple Leaf]

I would see if Chara is still in shape PTO

 

[Jojalu]

One does not get upset on internet forums.

I still stay the PP is NOT clutch. Neither of us has proof that it is or it isn't. My eye test tells me it isn't. Being 8th over on the PP when it rarely scores when you need it is kinda like having a 70 goal scorer when his team can't win the cup. What is the point!?

Indeed, Go Leafs Go !!

Define clutch.

Is a PP goal that gives them a 3-1 lead where the score ends up 4-3 not clutch?

Without it, they don't win.

A late tying PP goal is going to be rare for many reasons. Usually there are not a lot of penalties called later in 1 goal games, and even if they are, the chamces of scoring remains at 1 out of 4.

A PP goal to start a game and take a 1-0 lead is clutch, as you win more often than not when scoring first.

 

[wingman75]

Define clutch.

Is a PP goal that gives them a 3-1 lead where the score ends up 4-3 not clutch?

Without it, they don't win.

A late tying PP goal is going to be rare for many reasons. Usually there are not a lot of penalties called later in 1 goal games, and even if they are, the chamces of scoring remains at 1 out of 4.

A PP goal to start a game and take a 1-0 lead is clutch, as you win more often than not when scoring first.

Clutch to me would be any PP goal that makes it a 2 goal deficit or less, or gives the team the lead, or increases it to 2, m a y b e 3. Anything outside that is just percentage pumping. Not that it doesn't have other positive value in the bigger picture.

It's kind of like a strike when bowling, it's worth more depending on what happens after.

Look, I have no proof if they do or don't score in the clutch, it feels like to me they do not, certainly not often enough. The clutchness also takes a hit if they cannot build on it when trailing.

 

[Arzak]

I would see if Chara is still in shape PTO

On one hand I'm sure you are joking, on the other...

I think he might be in shape - relatively speaking, there was an article about him running the Boston marathon last year. He slow as f** for sure, but could probably steal 4-5D position here and be what Reaves is not , f*ck our D and ex-enforcers ...

 

[Captain Crunch]

The teams PP currently sits 8th (24.6%) while the PK sits at 27th(76.4%).

They used to say that if you add up the two percentages and its > 100 you're doing well but for me, both of these areas could be doing much better.

Without better PK numbers in particular, this team is going no where come playoff time. Is this a personnel or systems issue? Better goaltending would certainly help.

PP to me looks predictable most times. It seems lately they are using more movement which is good. For me I would always run PP1 the full two minutes.

Do not agree with this until I see this unit become less predictable. There are times when they do absolutely nothing, so PP2 would definitely need to be put out there. Of course the other problem with that is how much more ice time Keefe is giving his star players throughout the game. Until the minutes are better distributed, that would certainly catch up to them, especially come playoff time.

 

[Captain Crunch]

How can the PK so bad with an elite penalty killer on it?

But I think having Gio or Brodie out there counterbalances that unfortunately.

 

[Captain Crunch]

The Leafs tend to play a standard 1-3-1 formation with the drop back pass almost exclusively as their zone entry scheme.

The main puck carrier is usually Rielly, who drops it back to either Matthews or Marner.

If Matthews takes it, expect him to pass to the adjacent winger, usually Marner, somewhere in the neutral zone, who then gains the offensive zone. I assume this is because Matthews can't set himself up for the one timer. But it could also be because Matthews stops skating once he crosses the blue line and the other team forms a pocket around him and chokes him off.

If Marner takes the dbp, expect him to make his entry around either side of the last player nearest the strong side wall. Marner will bring it in as far as he can until he runs out of room, then he either makes a play or dumps it. Leafs are a good puck retrieval team so they will dump it in a lot more than a casual fan might expect for what is supposed to be a "puck possession" team.

If Rielly is the recipient of the drop back pass (which means Marner usually is the one who dropped the puck), expect him to make an end to end rush where he will gain the zone by coming across the opposition's blue line behind the wall of players that all form along there. Once he has gained the zone expect him to carry it all the way into the opposition's end where he will either take a shot or circle around the net where he can either take a shot or make a play before returning to his natural position at the blue line.

Those are the main zone entries the Leafs will run.

Once they gain the zone they set up in formation as quickly as possible, with Matthews and Nylander on the dot on their off wings ready for the one timers, Rielly quarterbacking the point, Marner is bumper, and Tavares is net front.

Once upon a time a 25% power play would have been tops in the league.

But the other problem is teams don’t fear a point shot from us. They sag off and plug up the middle. This was why Muzzin was so valuable, and management has never addressed this, as well as Rielly never having improved on it.

 

[Nineteen67]

The PK was one of the unknowns going into the season and they haven’t completely figured it out yet.

We are told over and over that this is a skilled team, yet they can’t find 6 -8 guys with the most basic of the basic skill, skating, swinging stick and getting in the way.

 

[Arzak]

The PK was one of the unknowns going into the season and they haven’t completely figured it out yet.

We are told over and over that this is a skilled team, yet they can’t find 6 -8 guys with the most basic of the basic skill, skating, swinging stick and getting in the way.

They are not trying to get it away.

We are trying to set up Marner on PK. Defending is a secondary task at best. It's stupid, but that's how we roll.

It was bad when the result was average PK with( at least by reputation) the best PK player on the planet part of the unit. It's in your face now that we moved from bad to worse.

 

[Captain Crunch]

They can fix the pp by tinkering with the systems - they've got more than enough skilled guys to run two units.

Tre may need to go shopping for a bottom six forward whose a pk specialist To help fix the other part. Fortunately they shouldn't cost too much in terms of trade capital

Yes they do, but now what to do on defence? I really hope the rumours are true and nothing major is going to happen until possibly in the summer.

 

[Captain Crunch]

how could the PK have been bad with an effective PKer on it

It was actually quite good back in November when Lagesson was on it, up around 85% or so, but other than that it certainly has been bad. If only we had a dman who could play with Rielly, then I would take Brodie out and have Lags playing, preferably in the bottom 6.

 

[Captain Crunch]

on the GWG in Vancouver Nylander just leaves Pettersson on the far side when EP backs off toward the blueline for space and instead goes to cover the slot where Jarnkrok is already stationed which imo is already a questionable spot for one PK forward to occupy, where having two there seems like an obvious breakdown:View attachment 808865

but then on the 6th goals he does something similar, leaves the point open to half cover Boeser in the slot. when the puck gets to Miller at the point Nylander tries to make up that coverage, but Miller's open enough that McCabe goes out to him too. Rielly seems to react to Nylander changing coverage and moves to cover Boeser in the slot, the result is leaving Petterson totally alone:
View attachment 808870
View attachment 808872
that's an unfortunate pose for Nylander to be captured striking but that aside it seems like it's both a scheme and personnel issue here, where the reads are bad but the scouting and the coverage seem to also be pretty weird? Jarnkrok also doesn't have his stick in the cross-point passing lane on the 6th goal, which is also just baffling because there is no one covering the other point man, compared to the support he has down low.

source:

Great analysis! Thanks!

I am shocked to come in here and see people wondering why the PK is so bad.

we only have two forwards who have been regular penalty killers prior to this year (Kampf, Marner) and our most relied upon defenders on the PK are slowing down (Brodie, Gio)

We no longer have Kerfoot, Holl, Engvall types who excel on the PK.

This was so predictable.

Agreed, and not resigning Lafferty has hurt also.

 

[Captain Crunch]

The PK falling off the way it has is very disappointing. It was basically automatic from like 2017-2022 (although fell apart a few times in playoffs..) but these past two seasons has been a serious regression especially this year where it's actually just awful. Goaltending is also a factor but that excuse can only go so far

I like Gio, he is a true warrior, but it has become clear as day he should only play occasionally. Also, Brodie's continued downward spiral has hurt. This defence not having been addressed by management is pathetic!

 

[Captain Crunch]

Define clutch.

Is a PP goal that gives them a 3-1 lead where the score ends up 4-3 not clutch?

Without it, they don't win.

A late tying PP goal is going to be rare for many reasons. Usually there are not a lot of penalties called later in 1 goal games, and even if they are, the chamces of scoring remains at 1 out of 4.

A PP goal to start a game and take a 1-0 lead is clutch, as you win more often than not when scoring first.

I have no proof either, but it just seems that when they have gotten a PP opportunity in these clutch situations, especially in the playoffs, they come up empty. And it also seems to be them not being able to enter the zone or losing the ozone faceoff.