Are the Maple Leafs Making the Same Defensive Mistake Over

Sometimes the most interesting hockey observations don't come from a coach's press conference or a television analyst. They come from fans watching the same thing happen night after night. One Maple Leafs fan raised a point about Toronto's defencemen pinching in the offensive zone. It's a small detail, perhaps, but it gets at a bigger question: Are the Maple Leafs giving themselves enough defensive protection when they try to create offence?

The reader's suggestion was straightforward. When one defenceman moves down the boards to keep a play alive, the other shouldn't be caught too far up the ice. That player needs to stay in a position where he can help prevent an opponent from breaking out. It sounds simple. But simple doesn't always mean easy to execute.

For the Maple Leafs, When One Defenceman Goes, Who Covers?

There's nothing wrong with a defenceman joining the attack. In fact, good offensive teams need their defencemen to be involved. They create passing options, keep pucks in the zone and sometimes provide the extra player who makes a scoring chance possible. The problem comes when both defencemen get caught too deep, or when the player staying back isn't in a position to deal with a quick turnover.

Suddenly, a promising offensive sequence becomes a two-on-one or an odd-man rush coming the other way. And that's the part fans notice. Toronto can spend time working the puck around the offensive zone, only to give up a dangerous chance because one pass or one lost battle sends the play the other way. The reader suggests the middle defenceman stay just outside the blue line when his partner pinches. That provides some insurance if the puck gets away.

Of course, the right positioning depends on where the puck is, which opponents are on the ice and whether the forwards are doing their part to cover. It's not always as simple as telling one defenceman to stay home.

Playing Solid Defence Is About Trusting the Structure.

What I find interesting here is that this isn't necessarily a complaint about one defenceman. It's a question about the way the entire group is working together. If players aren't sure who is covering when someone moves forward, hesitation can be just as damaging as a bad decision. And if the forwards aren't supporting the defence, even a sensible pinch can become a dangerous gamble.

Fans sometimes focus on goals and assists because they're easy to count. But defensive structure often comes down to the little things that happen before a scoring chance develops. I'd like to see Toronto become a little more predictable in these situations. Not predictable to the opposition, but predictable to one another. When one player takes a risk, the other four should have a pretty good idea of how to cover it.

Sometimes the Best Defence Doesn't Make the Highlights.

That might not make for a spectacular highlight. But it could prevent the kind of breakdown that leaves a goaltender facing a dangerous chance. And sometimes, that's where better hockey begins.

For the Maple Leafs, a few changes could make their defence far better. Thanks to readers for pointing them out.