Conor Timmins Has Been Maple Leafs Best Statistical Defensemen
Timmins has battled various nagging injuries and illnesses, so his low games played number is not entirely due to Keefe keeping him out of the lineup. But Timmins has spent his fair share of time in the press box this season when he has been the Maple Leafs best statistical defender.
Despite only playing 24 games so far this season, Timmins ranks second among Leafs defensemen in points per 60 minutes while also averaging the second most takeaways per 60 minutes on the defensive side of the puck. While on the ice at five-on-five, Timmins ranks the highest among Maple Leafs defensemen in all of the following:
- Corsi % (Shot Attempts)
- Fenwick % (Unblocked Shot Attempts)
- Shot On Goal %
- Scoring Chance %
- High-Danger Chance %
- Expected Goal %
The knock on Timmins is that he takes too many penalties, which is a fair assesment as he has the highest minor penalties per 60 average among Maple Leafs defensemen. But this is something I think would come down with consistent playing time.
Timmins is only 25 years old, and has only played 90 career NHL games, and has yet to play more than 31 games in a season.
He has not played enough or consistently enough to get used to the speed and strength of the opposing players in the NHL.
Regardless, having a guy that is averaging one minor penalty every four games he plays is not going to hurt you, especially when that guy impacts the game positively in every other way.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have arguably the worst defensive core of teams that will make the playoffs, and it is crazy to think that Conor Timmins may not make the playoff roster despite being one of the Leaf's top performers when on the ice.