What’s Wrong With the Maple Leafs? (Roundtable)

Andrew Boehmer

I’m of the opinion that there are multiple issues with the Toronto Maple Leafs, stemming from the forwards all the way to goaltending.

If I have to narrow in on one in particular, I’d say it’s the number of giveaways per game. I get so tired of careless plays where the Leafs lose possession of the puck. Their outlet passes get picked off what seems to be about 50% of the time and if they just fix that one area of their game, outlet passes, then their breakouts would be better and hopefully would result in more offensive zone entries and sustained pressure.

The boys in the Sportsnet booth said it well the other night against the Minnesota Wild, the forwards aren’t really helping the defense out too much by being so pushed forward on the ice.  They need to bring it back a little bit and make those one-two quick passes and get it out of there. The group is so talented that  to be making this careless mistake over and over again is extremely frustrating. Spread the forwards out within the defensive zone and make smart board play plays up the ice until you have pressure. Then make your change on the fly (without having to rush, causing a too many men penalty – which we see far too often) and sustain pressure.