Is Maple Leafs' Defensive Secret Something Keefe Tried Years Ago?
Something interesting is happening with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and I wonder if we've seen part of this movie before. Jim Hiller wants the Maple Leafs to improve defensively, but his answer isn't simply to concentrate on defending. He wants them spending more time with the puck in the offensive zone.
That sounds a little like the Sheldon Keefe years, doesn't it?
Related: Roslovic Is Giving the Maple Leafs Something They Didn't Expect
Maybe the Maple Leafs’ Best Defence Is Having the Puck.
Remember those Toronto teams that could spend long stretches cycling the puck, moving it around, and making opponents chase? There was a belief that if the Leafs controlled the puck, they didn't have to spend nearly as much time worrying about defending. There was something to that idea. When you have the puck, the other team can't score.
But there's an important distinction worth considering. Possession for possession's sake isn't enough. A team can spend 40 seconds passing the puck around the perimeter without creating much danger. That's not necessarily controlling a game.
What Hiller seems to want is more purposeful possession. Better forechecking, quicker puck recovery, more pressure around the net, and fewer opportunities for opponents to move the puck in the other direction. That's a different kind of offensive-zone hockey.
Toronto has allowed 40 five-on-five goals, tied for the second-most in the NHL, and surrendered 36 shots against Utah. Those numbers suggest the defensive problems aren't going away by themselves. But perhaps the solution starts farther up the ice.
This Time, Maple Leafs’ Puck Possession Has a Defensive Purpose.
I think the Maple Leafs have a lesson here. They have players who can hold onto the puck, make plays, and create offensive opportunities. William Nylander is an obvious example. The challenge is getting everybody involved in keeping possession and making the opposition work for every opportunity.
It also requires discipline. Players can't simply chase offence and forget about their responsibilities when possession changes. That's where communication, positioning, and trust become important. I'm not suggesting Toronto should simply go back to the Keefe playbook. The game has moved on, and Hiller has his own ideas about how this group should play. But perhaps there's something worth recovering from those earlier years.
Can the Maple Leafs Finally Put Both Sides of the Game Together?
The Maple Leafs don't have to choose between being an offensive team and being a responsible defensive team. Maybe they can use one to help accomplish the other. After all, the easiest defensive shift might be the one where you never have to leave the offensive zone.