Marner and new PP alignment

[inthe6ix]

Marner on the move as Leafs alter power play - TSN.ca

Under the direction of new assistant coach Spencer Carbery, winger Mitch Marner has been moved from the middle to the flank of the Leafs' top power-play unit. Never mind that Marner has never played there before; it’s a change Toronto believes can work. And after the way the team crashed and burned on the power play from March onward last season, the Leafs are willing to get creative.

EDIT: Looks like Kristen was a little confused when she wrote the above piece, as Mitch is actually moving FROM the flank, TO the middle instead:

Click to read more...

 

[Sypher04]

Marner on the move as Leafs alter power play - TSN.ca

Tavares
Matthews Marner Nylander
Muzzin

this setup please

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Marner needs to be in the scoring area. He has a good shot in between the dots to the top of the circles. I have thought he needs to bring his entire game to the middle more for a long time. I wouldn’t mind the odd stretch pass being set up in certain circumstances too with Magic.
This might be his first 49 goal season with bringing it inside more. He’s a waste out on the wall

 

[The Iceman]

A couple of items. Some blow hard reporter was saying Marner refused to play any other spot of the PP last year.

And with the new crack down on cross checking I wonder if netfront is a safer position for stars to play than in the past?

 

[Knies iT]

This PP setup will work if Nylander adopts a shoot first mindset. Having two shooters on the flanks will open the middle for a JT redirect or a Marner bump pass.

Willy just seems to defer too often. That's fine 5 on 5 but in that spot he needs to let it go. It'll look like a completely different PP if he does that even though its a one player swap.

 

[The Iceman]

This PP setup will work if Nylander adopts a shoot first mindset. Having two shooters on the flanks will open the middle for a JT redirect or a Marner bump pass.

Willy just seems to defer too often. That's fine 5 on 5 but in that spot he needs to let it go. It'll look like a completely different PP if he does that even though its a one player swap.

Really 1 player swap positions and 3 new players.
Willy and JT were often on a different PP.
And if Sandin is PP1 there is your 3rd new player.

MAJOR PP overhaul was needed and apparently the steps are in motion.

 

[ACC1224]

A couple of items. Some blow hard reporter was saying Marner refused to play any other spot of the PP last year.

And with the new crack down on cross checking I wonder if netfront is a safer position for stars to play than in the past?

I don't think anyone believed that to be true.

 

[DarkKnight]

Marner on the move as Leafs alter power play - TSN.ca

Moved TO the middle from the flank.

And it’s about time they mixed things up, it was maddening last year. Listening to Keefe embracing it now is kind of nauseating to be honest, he’s the final arbitrator and last year he just sat by and watched an obviously flawed design continue. Is this the answer, maybe, but thank god something is changing….finally.

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Tavares
Matthews Marner Nylander
Muzzin

this setup please

I love Muzzin, but I can see this unit giving up a lot of SH goals if he’s the sole person on the blue line. He’ll easily be beat in a foot race

 

[DarkKnight]

I love Muzzin, but I can see this unit giving up a lot of SH goals if he’s the sole person on the blue line. He’ll easily be beat in a foot race

We need a shot from the point somewhere.

 

[Dreakmur]

I don't think anyone believed that to be true.

The fact that Marner is so aggressively saying he's willing to play anywhere makes me think it actually might be true...

 

[Dreakmur]

We need a shot from the point somewhere.

We need traffic in front. The hardest shooters in the NHL cannot score from 60 feet away unless the goalie's puck tracking is interrupted.

 

[DarkKnight]

We need traffic in front. The hardest shooters in the NHL cannot score from 60 feet away unless the goalie's puck tracking is interrupted.

Sure. Why is it either or? Reilly doesn’t shoot, he makes ten foot passes to the wall that anyone can do. We don’t utilize skill sets, perhaps put Morgan on the wall, but someone has to at least offer the threat of a shot. We were so predictable last year and the inability of the coaching staff to address that was maddening.

 

[The CyNick]

Get a bomb from the point. Will change everything. Until then, the PP will have success early in the season and falter late.

 

[Dreakmur]

Sure. Why is it either or? Reilly doesn’t shoot, he makes ten foot passes to the wall that anyone can do. We don’t utilize skill sets, perhaps put Morgan on the wall, but someone has to at least offer the threat of a shot. We were so predictable last year and the inability of the coaching staff to address that was maddening.

One is way more important than the other. Traffic is king.

Rielly has a good wrist shot and a quick release. Most importantly, his skating abilities allow him to move across the line quickly, which opens lanes to the net. If we can create some havoc in front, that becomes a dangerous weapon.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I thought Marner looked like he was having a hard time getting himself to the bumper slot the other night but it was also likely due to the Leafs not setting up well on it, so not entirely on him.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

We need a shot from the point somewhere.

Maybe it is time to let defensemen shoot more by design this year. Last year we only let defensemen shoot as a last ditch option, if we couldn't get it to a guy on the wall.

Let Rielly skate in and shoot. With Tavares or Bunting in front of the net, you'd get goals.

 

[Antropovsky]

I don't think anyone believed that to be true.

Curious do we know if Dubas or Keefe responded to this rumor?

 

[Antropovsky]

Get a bomb from the point. Will change everything. Until then, the PP will have success early in the season and falter late.

Maybe put Spezza up there instead of Marner? Can't think of a different option, unless we go 5 forwards...which I think it has been done, but is not the norm for obvious reasons.

Spezza seems to always make the right plays, and a great arsenal of shots including a slap shot.

Nylander Tavares Matthews
Spezza Muzzin

 

[inthe6ix]

Just continue watching the TB PP1 do its magic in the 1-3-1 formation:

How Tampa unlocks its power play and why Stamkos would be a game-changer

What Point does out there as a bumper is exactly what Mitch should be emulating.

 

[ACC1224]

Curious do we know if Dubas or Keefe responded to this rumor?

No idea.

 

[zeke]

Just continue watching the TB PP1 do its magic in the 1-3-1 formation:

How Tampa unlocks its power play and why Stamkos would be a game-changer

What Point does out there as a bumper is exactly what Mitch should be emulating.

Note:

TB PP: 40 goals this year

Forwards: 39 goals
Dmen: 1 goals

 

[WTFMAN99]

Note:

TB PP: 40 goals this year

Forwards: 39 goals
Dmen: 1 goals

Hedman had 3 goals season prior to last and 2 goals this last one (playoffs)

Not world beating but they definitely are working with those 4 forwards as the primary scoring options which makes sense, they're close to the net. Lots of bang bang plays with Stamkos, Point and Kucherov.

 

[Antropovsky]

No idea.

Well if they didn't then I would assume there is truth to it. No coach/gm would allow a lie like that to be told without confronting it.

 

[Twine Tickler]

Mitch in the bumper position will be an absolute headache for teams. He is one of the best in the NHL at 1 touch passing. He always has his move predetermined before getting the puck on his tape, whether its how he receives the puck to fend off the pressure or a quick one touch pass. He is truly one of the best in the game at this aspect. This will be massively beneficial from the bumper spot given the fact that you have less time to make a play once you receive the puck. Not that the video below was a powerplay, but it perfectly illustrates Mitch's ability from that spot on the ice. I wouldn't be surprised if this is a look they are experimenting with. Have Sandin wheel a little down the wall, Nylander cover's his point, Auston drift's down lower, Pass goes from Sandin into Marner at the bumper and one touch to Auston down low. Similar to the second goal on this video @ 0:45 in



This same play could be run from both sides of the ice, as Willy and Auston would both be on their 1T side. If teams start to cheat to the 1T, JT is left alone at the goal. Way too much talent to contain.

I really hope they give this formation a very long look. I expect a couple games of growing pains, but this is really the right spot for Mitch. Not to mention JT at the net front. We don't have a massively heavy shot on that PP so the risk of injury to JT blocking a shot is not as high. Our shooters are Matthews and Nylander, both of which know how to place a puck.

JT not only presents himself as a viable option down low, but he is also great at tipping pucks and cleaning up the trash. I honestly can't see this formation not working out. Everyone is playing in a spot that highlights their skillset's perfectly.