Leafs analyst rips Toronto's bottom-six, calling them 'just warm bodies'
Photo credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Former Maple Leafs defenseman and analyst Jay Rosehill held nothing back with his latest critique of the team -- targeting their bottom-six forward group.
There were several discussions this offseason about how the Toronto Maple Leafs could improve their lineup with the loss of Mitch Marner. The team settled on a unified approach, trying to build with depth as opposed to pure star power.
So far the results have been less than spectacular, and with pressure on GM Brad Treliving to make a move soon -- time is not being kind to Toronto right now.
But a true sticking point seems to be the lack of consistent production from their bottom-six, which was seemingly transformed this summer but has led to no improvement in scoring or defense.
Toronto's bottom-six becoming a growing frustration for some
It's something Maple Leafs analyst Jay Rosehill took issue with on the Leafs Morning Take podcast.
On the Nov. 29 edition of the Leafs Morning Take podcast, Rosehill held nothing back in his criticism towards the bottom-six group and called out the team's inability to play the way they were presented.
Rosehill stated:
The problem was you tried to build this team to play heavy and all that s***. There's nobody heavy on this team. F**** Dakota Joshua? Are you kidding me? He's heavy? Like is Janrkrok going to do anything? Bobby McMann?
The whole bottom six are just warm bodies at this point in time and they are rendered ineffective. It's like so many of them can't keep up to the league, and the style of play the opposition is playing.
It doesn't matter if it's Chicago, Pittsburgh, Carolina -- take your pick. They're just overmatched. Is that a Craig Berube problem? Well last year they won the Atlantic and they had the Florida Panthers in the palm of their hands for the first half of the series.
They have success under that system and they tried to build around guys who play with that structure but no effectiveness whatsoever.
The whole bottom six are just warm bodies at this point in time and they are rendered ineffective. It's like so many of them can't keep up to the league, and the style of play the opposition is playing.
It doesn't matter if it's Chicago, Pittsburgh, Carolina -- take your pick. They're just overmatched. Is that a Craig Berube problem? Well last year they won the Atlantic and they had the Florida Panthers in the palm of their hands for the first half of the series.
They have success under that system and they tried to build around guys who play with that structure but no effectiveness whatsoever.
Rosehill's opinion reflects his, and his statement is merely one analyst's take on the situation.
The Leafs have not publicly responded to Rosehill's comments either as of this writing.
However he does bring up a good point in that Toronto made it their sworn duty this offseason to try and balance the roster, and while they brought in names who fit on paper, so far it's anything but.
How Toronto can improve their bottom-six without a drastic change
First and foremost, the Leafs should avoid using Max Domi at center unless it's an emergency. His minimal defensive impact and negligible offensive production can't be relied upon.
Right now the players who may qualify for a bottom-six role would look like this:
- Nicolas Roy
- Dakota Joshua
- Max Domi
- Calle Jarnkrok
- Scott Laughton
- Steven Lorentz
- Bobby McMann
- Matias Maccelli
- Dakota Joshua
- Max Domi
- Calle Jarnkrok
- Scott Laughton
- Steven Lorentz
- Bobby McMann
- Matias Maccelli
There is a way that the team can adjust things without making drastic changes, and some odd shuffling may help.
If Toronto wanted to sit Domi and Maccelli to give themselves a bit more size and tenacity they could line up as such:
McMann - Roy - Jarnkrok
Joshua - Laughton - Lorentz
Joshua - Laughton - Lorentz
This gives the third line two potential scoring options in McMann and Jarnkrok and the addition of the latter will help significantly with defense on that line.
The fourth line becomes a bruiser line of sorts, with both Lorentz and Joshua on the wings, and as we've seen in the past Lorentz can add offense at times.
But if Berube wanted to add the playmaking back into the fray here's how he could maximize their potential:
Jarnkrok - Roy - Maccelli
Domi - Laughton - Lorentz
Domi - Laughton - Lorentz
This gives his third line the defensive help it needs still but also adds in much more speed and creativity capable of putting up points.
Domi moving to the fourth line wing saves him from playing up the middle, and still allow him to use his playmaking ability to find Lorentz and Laughton who have both shown to be able to score.
Plus it'll help cover a bit for his defensive lapses and with the relentless forechecking engine of Lorentz and Laughton -- Domi hopefully won't tire out quickly.
It's certainly not a perfect fix, and the players still need to start contributing more consistently, but since there has been no public indication of an imminent external move, they need to find ways to adjust internally.
All lineup suggestions and roster decisions discussed here are personal opinion and do not reflect the intentions of the Maple Leafs or their coaching staff. Jay Rosehill's comments are his own and do not represent the views of the organization or the wider fanbase.
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