ShaneFalco
Registered User
It’s early, but Jake Gardiner and Nikita Zaitsev are getting buried playing together, carrying only 43% of shot attempts while largely sharing ice time with the Leafs’ top two lines. Last season, the pairing controlled nearly 49%. The year before, it was 48% in limited minutes.
It has never been a good pairing and that is continuing through to this season. Zaitsev struggles to move the puck cleanly and Gardiner is nonchalant at the best of times with the puck. It’s not a good combination for puck movement, especially in a top-four role. Conversely, Rielly – Hainsey are humming along at over 59 CF% playing with the same top forwards and even more responsibility.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are outscoring a high-scoring league
It has never been a good pairing and that is continuing through to this season. Zaitsev struggles to move the puck cleanly and Gardiner is nonchalant at the best of times with the puck. It’s not a good combination for puck movement, especially in a top-four role. Conversely, Rielly – Hainsey are humming along at over 59 CF% playing with the same top forwards and even more responsibility.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are outscoring a high-scoring league