Official New Year Training Camp thread

[Throw More Waffles]

Highest Goals scored/60 on the powerplay since Keefe was hired in the NHL:

1. Edmonton
2. Toronto
3. St. Louis

With Babs during last season:

1. Edmonton
2. Tampa
3. Boston

19. Toronto

Id give Keefe some leeway when it comes to the PP.

So... uh... when Babcock split the PP into two units, our pp sucked. Keefe comes in and loads up a main pp unit, and the pp becomes great. So now you think Keefe should go back to the Babcock method? I'm confused...

 

[Throw More Waffles]

I think both coaches last year suffered with bad goaltending (which greatly affected the PK) but Keefe had to deal with 3/4 of the PK pairings being out for long stretches.

Goals against on the PK/60 under Babs ranking:

26th in the NHL

Under Keefe:

15th in the NHL

This can be misleading, as many leaf players had clearly given up on Babcock and his system.

 

[kevsh]

When Keefe was first hired, I believe our pp really took off. But then it levelled off, with us finishing in the middle of the pack. Hoping Malhotra can help us in that regard. With the talent we have, we should be able to finish in the top 5, but not by splitting the pp into 2 units. We need to have one top/main unit.

One good thing about this: They don't have to go to the 4th line after a full 2-minute power play, assuming Simmonds is a regular on the 4th (and as the lines currently look, no one from the 3rd line is on either PP).

And if Simmonds is playing on the 3rd Keefe can move Spezza up to that line for one shift (if Wayne needs the rest) then come back with the Matthews line.

 

[HoweHullOrr]

Ya, lets win it this year. Interdivisional play right into the semi-finals. Seems like an unique and really good opportunity.

Let's do it!!!

 

[zeke]

When Keefe was first hired, I believe our pp really took off. But then it levelled off, with us finishing in the middle of the pack. Hoping Malhotra can help us in that regard. With the talent we have, we should be able to finish in the top 5, but not by splitting the pp into 2 units. We need to have one top/main unit.

Its true.

While I don't like splitting up the PP at all, at the same time I can't deny that the PP fell off in a huge way at the end of the year.

 

[Captain Crunch]

Its true.

While I don't like splitting up the PP at all, at the same time I can't deny that the PP fell off in a huge way at the end of the year.

Indeed it did. As far as I'm concerned, if it takes putting Simmonds on pp1 just to screen the goalie and tie up a defender, if it's successful then we go with that. It has to be about team success, not so much individual, regardless of whether someone's feelings are hurt or not.

 

[zeke]

Indeed it did. As far as I'm concerned, if it takes putting Simmonds on pp1 just to screen the goalie and tie up a defender, if it's successful then we go with that. It has to be about team success, not so much individual, regardless of whether someone's feelings are hurt or not.

I really doubt simmonds will work there tbh.

But here's hoping.

 

[disgruntleddave]

Early on we're going to see a lot of penalties I assume. Having 2 decent units is preferable.

I'm sure if it comes to a PP late in the game and we're a goal or two down, we'll still see a loaded single unit for 1m30 to 2min like we saw last year.

 

[Captain Crunch]

I really doubt simmonds will work there tbh.

But here's hoping.

I agree. It's more like wishful thinking on my part.

 

[Zybalto]

So... uh... when Babcock split the PP into two units, our pp sucked. Keefe comes in and loads up a main pp unit, and the pp becomes great. So now you think Keefe should go back to the Babcock method? I'm confused...

No need to be confused, I just think Keefe should be able to tinker in the pre-season to see what works, especially in case of injury as he had to deal with that a lot last year.

The loss of Rielly was the biggest issue for the PP the second half of Keefe's tenure.

Keefe was really trying to get Barrie going on the PP and was pushing him out with the big boys more often but Rielly was always more productive and once he went down, there really were no other good options and the PP suffered as a result. Sandin had some time but wasnt quite ready out there.

PP under Keefe with Rielly in the lineup:

#1 in the NHL

PP under Keefe without Rielly:

#11 in the NHL

Thats not all on Barrie of course, it just shows another example of what happens when your Dcore gets decimated by injury and your team in short on D depth.

 

[Oscar Peterson]

Its true.

While I don't like splitting up the PP at all, at the same time I can't deny that the PP fell off in a huge way at the end of the year.

I was a fan of splitting up the units in 2016-17 because JVR, Bozak, and Gardiner were all really good on the PP and it gave us two really good units that I remember were both highly successful. However, the issue was that Babs still tried to run that the next year when we lost those players and instead had to throw Marleau, Zaitsev, Komarov etc. on the PP

I think it definitely COULD work again this year, but if it's not then I have no doubt Keefe will revert back to what we ran last year.

 

[Zybalto]

This can be misleading, as many leaf players had clearly given up on Babcock and his system.

There might be more than a bit of truth to that of course. The Leafs were insanely good on the PK under Keefe.

Check out this breakdown of the 36 goalies who played more than 100 minutes on the PK during Keefe's time with the Leafs:


Farthest average shot distance:

1. Andersen: 37.02
2. Jarry: 34.87
3. Price: 33.87

Lowest Expected goals against/60:

1. Elliot: 5.39
2. Andersen: 5.55
3. Fleury: 5.61

Fewest High Danger shots faced/60:

1. Andersen: 8.17
2. Holtby: 10.95
3. Saros: 11.02


Its what worries me about Andersen. He had maybe the best PK in front of him he's ever had in his career and was only 21st in save% on that list.

Just for context, this is who the top 3 teams were for 5v5 high danger chances against/60 last year:

1. Minnesota: 8.01
2. Boston: 8.75
3. Columbus: 8.81

Food for thought.