This feels like rock bottom for the Maple Leafs, but not for the reason fans expect
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs have appeared to hit «rock bottom» according to one Leafs analyst.
The difficult start for the Toronto Maple Leafs at 9-10-3 has disappointed Leafs fans after an offseason in which it was stressed that a new identity was to be forged, but early results have not found success in their restructuring.
An analysis of the team by former NHLer and current analyst Mike Johnson exposes the heart of the Leafs issues, and why their struggles go beyond just an unlucky stretch of games.
What Mike Johnson exposed about the Leafs' on-ice process
Speaking on the Leafs losing record this season in a conversation with 'The Leafs Nation', Mike Johnson said that the Leafs record is justified with how the team has been playing, and that where they currently sit near last is a reflection of how the team has performed to this point.
It's always something or more than one thing this year with the Toronto Maple Leafs. It almost feels like, not that they're fortunate, but given their record is what it is, whatever, one game below .500, that's almost pretty good.
Like, they're not playing any better than that. You look at the process stuff, you look at the stats like I do, they are playing like a 25th or 26th best team in the league, that they are what their record says they are and they've done that and I don't think that's smoke and mirrors. They haven't been very good this year so far. - Mike Johnson
Like, they're not playing any better than that. You look at the process stuff, you look at the stats like I do, they are playing like a 25th or 26th best team in the league, that they are what their record says they are and they've done that and I don't think that's smoke and mirrors. They haven't been very good this year so far. - Mike Johnson
In speaking to the direct issues facing the team, Mike Johnson said that the Leafs most recent 5-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens served as a «rock bottom» game for Toronto, and is one that reveals one of the major issues facing the Leafs as a team right now.
That's got to be the rock bottom game, like, that's got to be it. I thought the rock bottom game was Carolina when the attempts were 95 to 35, that was 10 days ago. Like, I thought that was going to be the one where they push forward.
Now, there's no denying currently the roster is so hurt by injuries and so impacted by it, that it's going to be difficult.
But....when you don't have all your players there, and they're missing a bunch, then what you would love is to have a system that everyone can play well enough that keeps you in games, that gives you a chance to win games.
And I think that's the other part of the equation where not only do they not have the players right now, but they can't fall back to an air tight system to keep them around a game to even out shots, even out chances to make the games winnable when you're not at your very best.
Now, there's no denying currently the roster is so hurt by injuries and so impacted by it, that it's going to be difficult.
But....when you don't have all your players there, and they're missing a bunch, then what you would love is to have a system that everyone can play well enough that keeps you in games, that gives you a chance to win games.
And I think that's the other part of the equation where not only do they not have the players right now, but they can't fall back to an air tight system to keep them around a game to even out shots, even out chances to make the games winnable when you're not at your very best.
Why Toronto struggles to rely on their system when injuries hit
Mike Johnson points out what have been exigent injury troubles for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but says it can't be enough of an excuse for the team to not be playing better.
Positively, Johnson still believes Toronto can overcome their initial challenges, even if they're the same team that has cruised to the playoffs so easily in past seasons.
Although Toronto is without key forwards such as Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, the Leafs still have top talent such as William Nylander and John Tavares, but beyond that have capable players who aren't producing enough on offense.
The Leafs real problem more than anything has been on defense. Toronto is without Chris Tanev, Brandon Carlo, and recently after the game in Montreal, Jake McCabe.
Without them, Toronto has struggled defensively, with recent waiver acquisition Troy Stecher having been one of the Leafs more aggressive players, and one of the players aligned with the style of play Craig Berube wants.
Although judging Toronto with such a depleted roster, for a team that had clear depth in their system as reserve options, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been left without an answer as to how to look better with the roster they currently have.
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