As the 2014-15 NHL season approaches, the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to make some defensive-zone changes. After being named the worst sports franchise in North America in ESPN’s “Ultimate Standings” for 2014, it’s about time to switch up the style of play.
The Maple Leafs have made the postseason just once (2013) in the last decade, and the Boston Bruins’ incredible Game 7 comeback prevented them from advancing past the first round. Last season, the Leafs finished sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 38-36-8 record and gave up nearly 36 shots per game, a sure sign that the play from the blue line needs to be reworked.
Head coach Randy Carlyle made some adjustments at training camp Saturday that will hopefully make the defense more effective this season and decrease the vulnerability of goaltenders Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer.
“We’re going to try something a little different,” winger Joffrey Lupul said, via The Canadian Press. “I think it’s going to take a little bit of the second-guessing out of it. … It’s nothing that no one’s never seen before.”
One of the goals is to increase the Leafs’ puck possession, something that is much easier said than done. Carlyle said the players will need to switch up their responsibilities and learn to be more patient rather than swarming to the puck. He believes the addition of veteran blueliner Roman Polak, acquired during the 2014 draft for Carl Gunnarsson, will be beneficial.
The team plans on using the preseason to do some trial and error and hopefully work out the kinks.
“As a coaching staff, you pick your poison on the things that you’re going to shove at the players, and I guarantee you every coach is shoving defensive-zone coverage,” Carlyle said.
The Leafs will get the first chance to put their plan into action in their preseason opener Monday against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Photo via Marc DesRosiers/USA TODAY Sports Images
