Versatility Is Key for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Versatility will be key this year for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This coming year’s Toronto Maple Leafs should be able to use that as a springboard for success.  

With hockey being such a dynamic game, a team needs success in a variety of areas to achieve the ultimate goal.

If a team is versatile, they can beat you in many ways – and that is one of the reasons why the Leafs are justified in being early season Cup favorites.

Connor Brown

Perhaps the most versatile player on the roster, Connor Brown is a jack of all trades.

After putting up respectable OHL numbers, he was overlooked by many teams due to defensive concerns, “backed up” by his poor +/-. Leafs management wasn’t buying it and selected him in the 6th round.

We now know that defense is no concern for the winger. He is frequently among Babcock’s top choice for the first penalty kill unit and is often on the ice in crucial moments of defense. With 45 takeaways last year, he is also a relentless forechecker. In fact, for stretches last season, he was among the league leaders in offensive zone stick checks. For a time he even topped that list. It may seem like a niche stat but having a player that can do the little things is key in getting ahead in the little things.

After a 128 point season with the OHL’s Erie Otters and 20 goal season in his rookie NHL season, it’s clear that he has some offensive upside too.

The Leafs are a team with one of the most powerful offenses in the league. So it speaks volumes that Brown saw quite a bit of powerplay time last season.

Often overlooked is Brown’s ability to make it work with any line. Last season no player was given time on as many lines as him, and he made it work. Playing a checking game on the fourth line, or playing offensively on the wing of Matthews, he does it all.

Zach Hyman

A similar case to Brown, Zach Hyman is also one of the team’s top penalty killers. Even when tasked with defending powerplay, he manages to find offensive opportunities. His relentless pressure on the powerplay frequently forces turnovers and he can be found on breakaways or odd-man rushes constantly.

Playing centre before being drafted, this gives him the defensive awareness needed to be a great two-way player. He even finished 19th in Selke voting last season, and 25th in his rookie campaign. Even on the rare occasion that he’s called on to take a face-off, he still came in at 42.9% this past season. Respectable for a winger who’s only called in when the centre is waved.

Playing on a line with Auston Matthews and William Nylander, his offense isn’t something to look down at. He went under the radar in posting 15 goals and 40 points this past season, a significant increase from his 10 goal, 28 point rookie season.

Par Lindholm

A new addition to the roster, and likely fourth line centre, Lindholm is touted as an all around player. Capable of producing on the powerplay and killing penalties. With an average TOI of 19:12 last year, you can see how he was relied upon.

Throughout training camp, Babcock has sounded impressed with the Swede and it would be no surprise to see him as a regular on the penalty kill.

Coming in at fourth in SHL scoring for Skelleftea this past year, Lindholm finished just under one point per game with 47 in his 49 appearances.

He can produce all around, and his metrics below help show exactly that.

Final Thoughts

Part of last year’s success came from their number 11 ranked penalty kill, and it’s players like these who kept it running smoothly and at high efficiency. Add some two-way players like Nazem Kadri, a player who can defend and score, to the number 2 ranked powerplay, and it’s no wonder the Toronto Maple Leafs had such success when it came to special teams.

The Leafs may be loaded with offensive talent, but that isn’t all that makes them a strong team. They have players that can cover all aspects of the game, and amid questioning of their defense, they may have come at just the right time.

Thanks for reading!

Statistics courtesy of Hockey Reference, HockeyDB, SHL.se