The Leafs' penalty kill has completely transformed thanks to one returning player
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs' penalty kill has undergone a quiet but drastic shift over the last five games. After struggling to find consistency earlier in the season, a specific roster adjustment has seemingly transformed the unit overnight.
Over the last five games, we've seen a much different Toronto Maple Leafs penalty kill. They've only given up one goal in 14 attempts, and it's turned their PK into the NHL's 15th best at 81.1%; a big jump from their previous rating where they were under 80% at points.
Guys are playing smarter, the team isn't getting caught in their own zone as much, and there's a different atmosphere now when Toronto is a man down. It doesn't feel as hopeless as it did earlier in the season.
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That's because in those five games, they've had Scott Laughton back and he's been outstanding since returning. Winning crucial face-offs, playing hard in every area, and generally causing chaos.
it's no coincidence that Toronto's PK improved when Laughton returned, as he's always had very good possession numbers while shorthanded, and has been heavily relied upon throughout his career to prevent chances.
Management effectively views Laughton as this year's answer to the David Kampf role, but with an added edge.
He provides the hard-working, defensively savvy presence needed to secure draws, but he also brings a level of trust that allows the coaching staff to deploy him against opposing top lines without hesitation.
The team doesn't have to rely so much on their stars like Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies; two players who has seen a lot of PK time this year. They already have Nicolas Roy, and now Laughton back. That's got your center covered, and other players like Steven Lorentz and Dakota Joshua who can flank the wing.
Implementing the 'Pressure Kill' strategy
Laughton might not be the biggest guy on the ice, but he plays with the biggest heart. He's as determined as ever to hound and frustrate opponents and his constantly active style is a big change from what we've seen previous.
Toronto kind of just stayed stagnant in their own zone, waiting for the opponent to make a mistake. But with Laughton, they have someone who is skating all over the ice and trying to make life a nightmare for the opposition.
That means the team should follow suit and act more aggressively. You're already down one man and you can't expect a team to fail by themselves; so putting on the pressure is critical to keeping opponents at bay.
It doesn't stop in their own zone though, as they'll need to be like Laughton and follow up, keep the pressure high, tail opponents and be glued to them. We saw how successful that can be when Nick Robertson swiped the puck from Matt Dumba and scored.
He was aggressive, he was looking to capitalize on his chances and without that extra pressure, odds are a goal does not happen, and while he could take more risks given the lopsided score, that's the aggression Toronto needs to show regardless of being up a bunch of goals.
This aligns perfectly with the heavy, physical style Craig Berube advertised coming into the season. The new additions are beginning to dictate the pace, and the performances like Laughton's are raising the standard across the special teams units.
But a lot of that success recently has to do with Scott Laughton, who quietly came in and turned a shaky PK into a fairly solid one.
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