Burla
Joined: Jun. 2018
Posts: 366
Likes: 55
"The Leafs Defence is awful!"
Okay, first I challenge you to go to dailyfaceoff, look at their line combos, look at their standing in the league and then reply in this forum.
Babcock is the leagues most line matching obsessed coach, except it might work with this Elitie Offensive team.
There are 4 Zones in the league where faceoffs are taken, I could see the Leafs deploying their D completely depending on the Zone, while having the forwards do their work.
DEFENSIVE ZONE.
HAINSEY-ZAITSEV 100%
Nikita can rush the puck better than people think, but we remember this pair because of the PK. I think they get zone starts in the Defensive Zone. They go on the ice when there is a Faceoff in the Leafs zone. If there is an Icing with another pair, first whistle these 2 come on the Ice.
Defensive Neutral Zone.
Reilly-Gardiner 75%
Both great skaters to get the puck up, both great vision to make passes, Gardiner has the net when needed and Reilly takes the man, good communication and great passers.
Dermott-Carrick 25%
They are similar to Reilly-Gardnier, only more likely to get caught in their own Zone, Neutral Zone draws with the 3rd and 4th line of the ice, these guys can make Deadly passes to Tavares, Marner, Nylander, Matthews. Defense is easy when your team has the puck.
Offensive Neutral Zone.
Dermott-Carrick 75%
Reilly-Gardnier-25%
This is a more likely opportunity to score, if the top 6 is on, R+G if the bottom 6 is on D+C.
Offensive Zone
Reilly-Gardnier 60%
Dermott-Carrick 40%
You are trying to score, all 4 of these players can both score and set others up.
When you deploy your defense correctly suddenly the team looks better.
I think Ultimately the minutes will look like this.
Reilly 25-27 mins Gardnier 23-25 mins
Hainsey 14-17 minutes Zaitsev 18-20 mins
Dermott 16-20 minutes (depends the team they play) Carrick 14-16 minutes (strictly offensive)
This does not bring Ozzi or Holl, but I do not think I can make a call until I watch them both in pre-season and see how they play. Point being, Karlsson, Doughty, OEL, it's true we don't have a number 1 defensman. But with 2 #1 centers and 2 #1 right wings, if you have defense that are good at doing their job, you will have a good team.
This is a great team.