Sportsnet contributor Luke Fox recently revealed some less than stellar defensive metrics for the Maple Leafs that show they are playing at a bottom-three pace.
With the Maple Leafs struggling early on this season, a lot of their concerns regard their blueline where the once tough and sturdy defense has been fairly porous this season, with the team giving up the fourth-most goals in the NHL with 87 so far.
There was some goaltending injuries that may have played a factor, but the defense has given up too many chances and aren't playing as they used to, where they would be outshot but the high-danger chances were minimal.
It's been a reversal of fortune for Craig Berube, and some new stats show that the team is playing less like former Atlantic Division champs and more like a bottom-three team.
Where the Leafs are giving games away in their own zone
Luke Fox of Sportsnet revealed some unsightly stats when it comes to Toronto's defensive metrics and rankings this season and they don't look good at all:
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According to Fox's post, the Maple Leafs are 29th in goals against (3.63/), 31st in shots against (31.3), 31st in slot shots against (15.5/), 29th in offensive zone possession against (7:15), and 30th in rush chances against (7.4) while ranking dead-last at 32nd in cycle chances against (11.7).
To simplify that in one collective thought -- Toronto's defense has not been able to stop the opposition whatsoever.
Teams are able to have their way with the puck in Toronto's zone, and coupled with the Maple Leafs' lackadaisical clearing efforts at times, it gives them even more chances to do damage.
Plus, when you're trapped in your own zone you can't change, and that eventually leads to a lot of tired bodies. Tired players lack energy and focus, which will then lead to more opportunities for the opponents.
It's a vicious cycle that Toronto can't seem to break themselves out of. Yes the loss of Chris Tanev has hurt the team defensively, but the others have yet to step up besides Jake McCabe and he can't play all three pairings.
What these numbers demand from Craig Berube and Brad Treliving now
If it were a perfect world, the team would be fully healthy and have everyone able to contribute. But that's not the reality and with Tanev and Brandon Carlo still absent for the time being, the team needs to work with what they have.
Saturday's game will see Simon Benoit miss the game for personal reasons and see Philippe Myers slot in.
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It's a situation Toronto wanted to avoid, as Myers has been largely ineffective this season but injuries have necessitated his usage.
But he isn't going to change anything. Right now the team needs to get a different look on the backend and that involves Brad Treliving biting the bullet and using his AHL players.
That means William Villeneuve, Henry Thrun, and Matt Benning should all be given serious looks. Thrun was acquired for Ryan Reaves but has toiled in the minors.
He has 119 games played in the NHL, it's not like he's a rookie. It's worth a shot to see what he can do especially given how bad Toronto's numbers have been.
Villeneuve has been stuck in the AHL for awhile now, and while he is a Kyle Dubas pick, he's a serious needle-mover who can skate, bring a lot of offense, and play respectable defense.
Benning, another Sharks acquisition in the Timothy Liljegren deal can also step in when needed. He, much like Thrun, is no stranger to the NHL with nearly 500 career games.
The team can't really afford to make a huge splash on the trade market, and their current options aren't living up to their expectations. It might be best to at least take a look at what they have before making any drastic changes.