William Hylander
There can be only 1
- Aug 17, 2009
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Powerplay insanity
- Thread starter William Hylander
- Start date
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capfit9
Registered User
- Oct 29, 2009
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Malholtra took a lot of the heat last year, and for whatever reason the top unit isn't gelling together.
Time to switch it up, get Sandin and Spezza up on PP1.
Spezza made that sweet pass to Engvall and I was like damn, he made it look so easy. And then on PP1 we have a ton of passing around the outside with very little penetration through the middle, with quadruple the talent.
Agreed 100%. Spezza especially should 100% be on PP1. Dude still has an elite shot, and makes the right decision with the puck basically every time. He’s a great complement to our star players, really helps them settle down, establish the cycle, and finish too. But agreed on Sandin too - feel less strongly about him vs. Spezza, but I do think he’s our best D option for PP1. He’s not the 5-on-5 player Rielly is, but he’s got a better shot and higher IQ, he has the edge on the PP IMO.
Personally, I’d try a Matthews, Spezza, Nylander, Tavares and Sandin PP1, move Marner and Rielly to PP2. That’s a PP1 where everyone can shoot, Tavares as a net front presence, just versatile and dangerous. I think it’d be a very controlled, methodical and effective unit. Then Marner and Rielly can lead more of a high energy, risk taking, energy/chaos oriented PP2 (I’d go Marner, Rielly, Bunting, Kerfoot, Kase).
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SeaOfBlue
The Passion That Unites Us All
- Aug 1, 2013
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You need Marner and Rielly on different PP's.
I'd swap Marner and Bunting. Reintroduce the high tip from Tavares in the bumper position with Rielly's wrist shot, and have two of our best net-front trapezoid guys in Bunting and Tavares there to clean up rebounds.
If we start using Rielly with purpose instead of desperation, our PP opens up more for Nylander and Matthews on the flanks, and we get a ton of opportunities.
I'd swap Marner and Bunting. Reintroduce the high tip from Tavares in the bumper position with Rielly's wrist shot, and have two of our best net-front trapezoid guys in Bunting and Tavares there to clean up rebounds.
If we start using Rielly with purpose instead of desperation, our PP opens up more for Nylander and Matthews on the flanks, and we get a ton of opportunities.
Put Matthews and Rielly on the 2nd unit. Everything else has been tried.
PP 1
Sandin, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, Bunting
PP 2
Rielly, Matthews, Spezza, Kerfoot Simmonds
PP 1
Sandin, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, Bunting
PP 2
Rielly, Matthews, Spezza, Kerfoot Simmonds
SeaOfBlue
The Passion That Unites Us All
- Aug 1, 2013
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Seems like it would make more sense to just swap Marner and Bunting like I said, rather than having Rielly and Matthews go to the 2nd unit...
SeaOfBlue
The Passion That Unites Us All
- Aug 1, 2013
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Let Sandin and Marner run the 2nd unit, and I would let them do a few different looks with Engvall, Ritchie, and Spezza being the other guys.
One could be to adopt the Sweden U20 structure when Sandin was the PP QB for them. They deployed a 3-1-1 of sorts. His option to his left would be a one-timer to the RH Fagemo, and his option to his right would often be Nils Lundkvist, a RH defenseman who is a crafty playmaker but didn't have much of a shot.
Marner is Lundkvist, Spezza is Fagemo. Engvall and Ritchie are the huge 6'5" meat shields designed to make the sight-lines as difficult as possible for the goalie and to clean up rebounds.
However, Engvall also is used as a goal line passing option for Marner when the PK is being aggressive towards him and Sandin. Engvall then has one simple process that he needs to execute before the defender tries to strip the puck off of him: Hit Spezza who should creep into the slot for a one-timer, or failing that, throwing the puck at the net.
If the defense is crowding the middle, then you have Sandin, Marner, and Spezza up top getting pucks through on net. Don't wait for the perfect pass (although certainly go for it if it opens up). Just get a bit of space and let it rip in the best manner possible.
If the Leafs want to switch it up, they can also choose to deploy the Marlies' 2-2-1 look that worked well with a strong puck-handler alongside Liljegren or Sandin. It was a fair bit of freewheeling, and would highlight Marner's passing abilities a lot more, but I don't know if that would work too well against a highly disciplined PK unless you can execute a number of clean, quick, and sometimes difficult passes to open up space. It is easier to use your feet to open up space in the AHL than it is in the NHL, and that may be why it would be less of an attractive option for the Leafs.
Then of course, they can always go to the 1-3-1 as well, but I don't think Marner works well in the bumper spot nor as a fixture on the flank. I wouldn't want Sandin to be a fixture on the flank either. Therefore, I think the 3-1-1 or an effectively executed 2-2-1 works better with those guys on the ice, and leave the 1-3-1 and 1-2-2 to the Matthews/Tavares/Rielly/Bunting/Nylander unit.
ZEBROA
Registered User
- Dec 21, 2017
- 3,938
- 2,555
How are the pps right now?
PP1 Tavares Nylander Marner Matthews Spezza.
or is that to much. They just need to switch positions like crazy. Make the box paralyzed. Switch it up a little. It would be a lot harder to read. And to play ,but they are skilled enough to do it.
PP1 Tavares Nylander Marner Matthews Spezza.
or is that to much. They just need to switch positions like crazy. Make the box paralyzed. Switch it up a little. It would be a lot harder to read. And to play ,but they are skilled enough to do it.
Bunting needs to be on pp1 causing havoc in front of the net.
There goaltender has a clear look and there defenceman block shots because they aren't worried about blocking out our player.
Taveras on the second unit
There goaltender has a clear look and there defenceman block shots because they aren't worried about blocking out our player.
Taveras on the second unit
Honestly it's all Marner, he's completely lost all confidence on the PP and just kills it every time he touches the puck.
They tried him in the bumper but he refused to play it, first touch he followed the puck out and went back to his normal half wall spot and someone else had to fill in for him. Now he's right back on the half wall full time and killing plays over and over again.
They tried him in the bumper but he refused to play it, first touch he followed the puck out and went back to his normal half wall spot and someone else had to fill in for him. Now he's right back on the half wall full time and killing plays over and over again.
mapleleafs34
Registered User
- Apr 7, 2011
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Literally just swap Sandin & Rielly.
Having a point shot threat will do wonders for opening up the PP.
Having a point shot threat will do wonders for opening up the PP.
Rielly is not the problem, it's Marner, the PP was even worse with Sandin there last season and horrible with Barrie the year before.
Barrie looks pretty good on the Oilers PP and on the Avs PP in the past, Sandin looks pretty good on the second unit so it's not like they were the problems. Only 2 playeys have been constants on the dysfunctional first unit, Marner and Matthews.
Barrie looks pretty good on the Oilers PP and on the Avs PP in the past, Sandin looks pretty good on the second unit so it's not like they were the problems. Only 2 playeys have been constants on the dysfunctional first unit, Marner and Matthews.
ShaneFalco
Registered User
And somehow, even after more than a year without a goal, he manages to stay on said PP
But hey, make him happy and let him come to work in Mickey Mouse shirts
ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
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ACC1224
Super Elite, Passing ALL Tests since 2002
- Aug 19, 2002
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Welsh Maple Leaf
Registered User
- Jan 9, 2017
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Welsh Maple Leaf
Registered User
- Jan 9, 2017
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Why are we making things up? Marner can’t refuse anything given the state on his performances in the last 2 years.
ToneDog
56 years and counting. #FireTheShanaClan!
You have to at least try Marner off PP1 and Spezza in. What do u have to lose? Pissing off the kid?
Marner or Nylander need to move down, they are being wasted on the top line. What kills me is the power play doesn't look bad, they just can't seem to finish. A pretty common problem this season. I'm hoping the win injects a little more confidence into the group because this is ridiculous. I will say this, I'd rather be figuring it out now though, than in April.
Watching the games, they played him in the bumper to start the season and he would immediately vacate his spot at the first opportunity and force someone else to cover it.
Movement is fine but he would barely stay in the bumper at all.
notDatsyuk
Registered User
- Jul 20, 2018
- 12,000
- 10,169
I think the biggest problem with our top PP is no net presence. Tavares doesn't screen the goalie at all, but stands to the side, waiting for a tip or rebound. We pass around the outside a lot because the goalie can always track the puck, and is always in position.
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