After an impressive pre-season, I wrote that the Maple Leafs’ special teams was looking reinvigorated: new systems in place making them more aggressive, faster, and outright more successful. Through the first nine games of the regular season, that’s only been partially true.
The Maple Leafs’ penalty kill has been the only aspect of their special teams unit that has held fans back from going completely ballistic before getting to November. Currently sitting at 9th in the NHL with an 83.8% success rate, the penalty kill has been performing better than last year (76.9%, 23rd in the NHL) and has looked far more dangerous in the way the unit plays. Cutting the ice in half with an aggressive attack from the forwards that’s followed by quick rotations to cover by the defence has taken away time and space from opposing power plays like we haven’t seen this team do before. The penalty kill has been exciting to watch. The same can’t be said for the powerplay thus far.
Throughout the preseason we saw new setups, different zone entries, and unique offensive zone motions with players and the puck simultaneously that made it feel as though once they got their reps in, they would be one of the most dangerous power plays in the NHL. To this point, that hasn’t been the case. After nine regular season games, the power play has looked the same as playoffs’ past. It’s looked predictable, stagnant, and ultimately just not very dangerous. With a 10 percent success rate (3-for-30) the Maple Leafs rank 29th in the NHL. It’s simply not good enough for a group that has $47 million dollars of fire power.
It’s time for a change amongst the group, not because they aren’t talented, aren’t interested, or aren’t capable… but because we’ve seen the same thing for years with this group and it just feels like we’re going in circles at this point.
My suggestion for a switch up would be as follows:
PP1: Knies, Domi, Matthews, Nylander, and Ekman-Larsson
PP2: Tavares, Marner, Pacioretty, Robertson, and Rielly
Breaking it out into two balanced groups allows for flexibility. If one group isn’t firing, try the next! There’s also more opportunity to plug and play amongst the other cast outside of the Core Four. Putting in the hot hand at any given moment can help elevate that player and those on the ice with them.
We’ve seen a few times where they’ve set up the power play with someone below the goal line operating as a quarterback from the bottom up. Domi seems to fit this role perfectly as a primary passer. Knies, to me has quite honestly earned an opportunity for more minutes and an elevated role with this group. This isn’t about punishing anyone, but 10 percent on the power play isn’t a recipe for success and giving your four best offensive players the ability to be more of a focal point and not have to stress so much about sharing the wealth. These guys are world-class players and it’s feeling more and more like these struggles are weighing on them. Loosen up, shoot the pill, and be the superstars you are.
