[Charron] Pourquoi Brodie manquera aux Leafs (plus de citations dans les commentaires)
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Evening_Calm
@Maple Leafs de Toronto
[Charron] Pourquoi Brodie manquera aux Leafs (plus de citations dans les commentaires)
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Evening_Calm
9 Comments
https://theathletic.com/3906300/2022/11/17/tj-brodie-maple-leafs?source=user-shared-article
« When it comes to the Leafs and T.J. Brodie, we find that Brodie, despite playing more often against tough forwards (who are far more likely to attempt to gain the blue line with control than depth forwards), actually stops more controlled entries against than any other player on the Leafs except Rasmus Sandin. When attacking players attempt to enter against Brodie, they are successful 49 percent of the time, compared to 54 percent of the time against the rest of the Leafs group. This doesn’t seem like a huge margin, but consider that the other defenders on the Leafs that consistently play against top competition are much worse in this regard »
« On average, when a player gains the offensive zone with control against a Leaf defender, they create 0.28 scoring chances per offensive zone entry, which is slightly lower than the NHL average of 0.30. Against Brodie, however? Just 0.15 scoring chances per controlled entry against, or half the league average, while playing usually against the best forwards the opposition has to offer. »
« But what this should also highlight is the type of player, or at least how effective a player needs to be to crack that Maple Leafs top four. The team likely won’t bring in anybody to play a pure defensive role that can only slot in on the third pair (note that Jordie Benn, who has been in the lineup for just two games, has played almost all of his time alongside Rielly, not on the third pair). That third pair role for the Leafs is more suited to more offensive-minded players such as Sandin. Many of their shifts are taken in the offensive zone with Auston Matthews on the ice, which explains why nearly every permutation winds up with a Corsi For Percentage of something close to 55 percent. »
« If the team does look for a Muzzin replacement, though, it will need to be a player that can essentially do what’s highlighted above. They’ll need a player of a similar calibre, who can do it against tough matchups, that is also a clear upgrade over Holl (which isn’t as easy as it sounds. For all his faults, Holl is roughly league average in terms of entry defence and scoring chance suppression, doing so usually against pretty good opponents. In addition, 64 percent of his defensive zone exits come with control, which is the highest percentage among regular Leafs defencemen). There’s no immediate need to make a move, even with the schedule stacked the way it is over the next two weeks. The team is going to have to suck it up and get good efforts from Benn and Mark Giordano, each playing a little higher in the lineup than they probably should be. »
« While it’s easy to be drawn to the defenders that make big hits and clear the crease, playing with poise and intelligence is a little more important in this era of hockey. Doing small, nearly invisible things well in sequence, such as connecting on a hard pass or making a stick check that slows down the opposition, can help lead your team to really good results. »
I wish we had 3 Brodies
Is gud at stop gol
« Let’s just start off this post by saying that the Toronto Maple Leafs are not a poor defensive team, at all, despite what often gets talked about on the broadcasts. Since the start of last season, per Natural Stat Trick, the Leafs are seventh in shot suppression, ninth in scoring chance suppression and fifth in goals against. Using only this year’s numbers, the team is eighth best, 11th best and sixth best in those same categories. A lot of ink and pixels tend to be spilled over how the Maple Leafs are going to solve their defensive issues, but in my view, it’s the offence that’s more concerning to me. »