Is the Leafs Defensive play really that bad?

[Vaive50]

All everybody in the league (including us Leaf fans) is talking about is how bad the Leafs defensive play is. We all know that Freddy is not his best in October so how do you explain our GAA during our last 7 games, not including the empty netter from the Pens and Blues, the Leafs have a total of 14 GA in those 7 games and that's against some lethal offense in the Caps, Pens, LA (of last year), and the Jets (twice).

So even with October Freddy, we have a GAA of 2.00 after our first 4 games of the season (those 4 games were a GAA of 4.00). Let's just hope the rest of the season will continue with the GAA of 2.00 or better yet, continues to improve. Even the shots on net are basically even with the Leafs outshooting the opposition 219 - 217.

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[BertCorbeau]

The team defense has definitely gotten better and is looking like less of a major concern. Andy is also getting past those October issues too. The Leafs are mid-tier in terms of GA per game but what's more encouraging is that they're also in the middle in shots against per game so far. Considering the amount of shots they bled the last two seasons (in the top 4 for SA/game) this is an encouraging sign that they're improving defensively so far.

Of course I have no idea scoring-chance wise how much they differ from previous years.

 

[Notsince67]

The leafs D needs work but the bulk of the squad are replacement level players but help in on the way. I was ecstatic that Sandin is now playing in the AHL. Sandin and Lilly will be here before the party is over

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

nah it's fine. a few things to work out, but it's good enough to compete with. the thing is, there are gonna be holes on every team in a cap world. it's okay that the Leafs are no exception

 

[hotpaws]

The October Freddy ?

First Oct here Freddy missed camp due to an injury and basically was cold and had to play himself into form.

Last year he had a poor Oct .

But one bad October doesn't make for October Freddy .

We're still sloppy but Freddy's playing well , noshame in giving a goalie credit the odd time .

 

[Azazel]

They need to learn to clear the zone cleanly. Also more pressure to the boards and point to create mistakes and give teams less time to setup and make decisions. All teachable. The talent is there both defensive and offensive so with time I think we have a really solid defence.

 

[Polaris1010]

No more Bozak. No more JVR.

They were so weak defensively, the entire team had to compensate for that.

The line matching, the right defencemen for them, that plays into the game plan.

In order to be not continually exploited by that weakness, got to rearrange the chairs, which takes away from other parts of the team.

 

[Warden of the North]

No. Its overblown

People said the Pens D couldnt get it done during the Cup run, and immedialtely after they won, then all of the following season and right up until they repeated.

When youre good, people have to complain or nit pick something

 

[I am Canadian]

We give up far too many high end chances I would say.

Andersen is key to plugging our weaknesses.

 

[zeke]

our Dmen are always underrated.

look at those apparently elite Jets - they only have 3 dmen. the bottom 4 are a disaster.

meanwhile, our 6-7 guys made for a very solid 3rd pair last night.

 

[RoadWarrior]

The leafs cough up the puck too often but most teams aside from the Canes, Preds and Tampa are thin on the back end so it's league wide.

No question removing Bozak and JVR was addition by subtraction defensively.

However the leafs still need at least one more top 4 RHD. Hainsey is ok in a bottom pair role but he shouldn't be playing with Rielly anymore.

 

[zeke]

The leafs cough up the puck too often but most teams aside from the Canes, Preds and Tampa are thin on the back end so it's league wide.

No question removing Bozak and JVR was addition by subtraction defensively.

However the leafs still need at least one more top 4 RHD. Hainsey is ok in a bottom pair role but he shouldn't be playing with Rielly anymore.

why not? the top pair has been great this year.

the only weak spot on the defense so far has been the 2nd pair.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

who will be available at the trade deadline ?

 

[Alerion]

our Dmen are always underrated.

look at those apparently elite Jets - they only have 3 dmen. the bottom 4 are a disaster.

meanwhile, our 6-7 guys made for a very solid 3rd pair last night.

Dom Luscyzczysyn (spelling?) made the point that the Jets and the Leafs have extremely similarly skilled D corps in his preseason previews, except that the Leafs are devoid of talent on the right side and the Jets are devoid of talent on the left. He pointed out that while the Leafs got a ton of crap from media and public for having a weak blueline (which grades out to average in the league), the Jets slid by under the radar for having the exact same issue.

 

[saltming]

why not? the top pair has been great this year.

the only weak spot on the defense so far has been the 2nd pair.

Rielly really seems to have taken a step this year. 25 minutes last night. Let's see if that becomes the normal for him

 

[zeke]

Rielly really seems to have taken a step this year. 25 minutes last night. Let's see if that becomes the normal for him

babs playing the shit out of Mo in the 3rd really helped tilt the ice.

I have no idea why babs finds it so hard to play his best players as much as every other coach plays theirs.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

babs playing the **** out of Mo in the 3rd really helped tilt the ice.

I have no idea why babs finds it so hard to play his best players as much as every other coach plays theirs.

or at least play them more in the playoffs.

 

[Zybalto]

We gave up way too many scoring chances early in the year but things tightened up somewhat. Out of the bottom ten now for both 5v5 corsi against and high danger chances against/60

Shots against are way down too which is nice to see. I think we may actually be in the top half of the league now/60.

Last night, Rielly and Gards showed why they can be a lethal 1-2 punch from the back. Rielly was just all over the ice and has taken the reigns as a true high end number 1. Hainsey was adequate but not really one of his stronger games.

The Gards/Zaitsev pairing gave up 0 high danger scoring attempts which will ease some of the worries there.

Bottom pairing was solid as well even with Dermott on the shelf but hoping he comes back soon as he provided a dynamic aspect to the bottom pairing.

 

[saltming]

babs playing the **** out of Mo in the 3rd really helped tilt the ice.

I have no idea why babs finds it so hard to play his best players as much as every other coach plays theirs.

Iirc it's due to the sports science department recommendations. That said mo looks ready to take big minutes

 

[DarkKnight]

Thought Zaitsev had a strong game last night, he's a real key back there.

 

[Joey Hoser]

They were in the middle of the pack last year in GA and they are again so far this year.

But for some reason everyone is bound and determined to believe they're terrible.

Calling an average defense average doesn't make you a homer guys. It's ok.

 

[Gallagbi]

our Dmen are always underrated.

look at those apparently elite Jets - they only have 3 dmen. the bottom 4 are a disaster.

meanwhile, our 6-7 guys made for a very solid 3rd pair last night.

We ran guys out of town for playing like Buff did last night (and really does all the time).

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

We also do not live and die with our 6 defensemen; the forwards are just as responsible in the d zone. Tavares has definitely helped plus another year of experience under the belts of our young players. Our top 3 lines do not need to be sheltered unlike previous years.

 

[LeafGrief]

7 ES goals against in our last 6 games, which includes WSH, PIT, and 2x WPG. Defense has been great and Freddy has been shutting the door when we need to. The whole group has been playing quite well IMO.

 

[zeke]

We ran guys out of town for playing like Buff did last night (and really does all the time).

yep.....and buff is awesome - the jets were disastrous in the games he missed.

even the best dmen make awful plays.