2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

[bustaheims]

I don't know how at the very least Savard doesn't get let go, or at least reassigned, at some point soon. Until last game the team had a positive 5-on-5 goals differential. Their PK is 5th in the league, and actually 1st since Nov. 12th. A functioning powerplay would almost certainly have them in the playoffs right now.

A middle of the pack PP would be a huge difference for this team, for sure. There’s only been a few games they haven’t had an opportunity to bank points in if they could have capitalized with the man advantage. It’s really sinking this team.

 

[herman]

Their PP problems are way more than half due to coaching.

My only argument against this is that PP2 has the same coach and does that thing where they shoot lots and crash the net and generate chances.

 

[bustaheims]

My only argument against this is that PP2 has the same coach and does that thing where they shoot lots and crash the net and generate chances.

Then the coach is either trying something different with PP1 because of their skill level (which is my suspicion, considering the noticeable difference in approach) or he isn’t getting through to the guys on PP1. Either way, coaching is a big part of the problem.

 

[4EVRLEAFAN]

Our PP hasn't been right for years, even though we scored we also spent a lot of time in our own end chasing the puck and now with Marner gone (yeah I know stop talking about it) and Matthews not himself, well here we are, and I don't see anyway to fix it right now.

 

[cw]

Our PP hasn't been right for years, even though we scored we also spent a lot of time in our own end chasing the puck and now with Marner gone (yeah I know stop talking about it) and Matthews not himself, well here we are, and I don't see anyway to fix it right now.

Prior to this season, they've never been below 20% since 2016-17
They were 7th and 9th the last two seasons - some of that through Matthews injuries.
This season they're 14.1% and second last.
Their PK has been more of a problem historically - not the PP. This year, their PK is ok.

The point bustaheims & CarltontheBear made about the PP seems valid: a half decent PP (to be reasonably expected from the talent they have) would have them in a playoff spot.

Even if that had occurred, I'm with Mike Johnson: they're still not a likely Cup contender.

I was reading they would owe Berube a lot of dough if they canned him. So, as a cost saving measure, they could dangle a million $ or so for a coach who could come in and fix their PP. Doesn't count against the cap ...

 

[herman]

Then the coach is either trying something different with PP1 because of their skill level (which is my suspicion, considering the noticeable difference in approach) or he isn’t getting through to the guys on PP1. Either way, coaching is a big part of the problem.

I agree for the most part (slightly different plan).

I would also like to point to the pattern that this PP1 unit has done the same thing to multiple PP coaches. The entry scheme is the same for both, and the lesser skilled unit makes it work with greater frequency.

It all falls under the coaching purview, but I put a lot more of the onus and responsibility on the PP1 players (34-88 primarily) and their general lack of urgency at all phases throughout this stretch. Granted they’ve been the only PP goal scorers lately, their paycheques demand that they deliver a higher success rate.

Pacing themselves for the Olympics, perhaps? Ugh.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Our PP hasn't been right for years, even though we scored we also spent a lot of time in our own end chasing the puck and now with Marner gone (yeah I know stop talking about it) and Matthews not himself, well here we are, and I don't see anyway to fix it right now.

2019/20~6th -Paul McFarland
2020/21~16th -Manny Maholtra
2021/22~1st -Spencer Carbery
2022/23~2nd -Spencer Carbery
2023/24~7th - Guy Boucher
2024/25~8th - Marc Savard
2025/26~ 31st - Marc Savard
That's not exactly "hasn't been right". The PP can be fixed and it starts with Berube. Change the players on it. Move one or 2 of the stars off it. Create 2 units and the hot one gets the start. There's no competition here.

 

[bustaheims]

2019/20~6th -Paul McFarland
2020/21~16th -Manny Maholtra
2021/22~1st -Spencer Carbery
2022/23~2nd -Spencer Carbery
2023/24~7th - Guy Boucher
2024/25~8th - Marc Savard
2025/26~ 31st - Marc Savard
That's not exactly "hasn't been right". The PP can be fixed and it starts with Berube. Change the players on it. Move one or 2 of the stars off it. Create 2 units and the hot one gets the start. There's no competition here.

Yup. It’s failed in the playoffs, but has been incredibly successful in the regular season. There’s been bad stretches, but nothing like this.

 

[4EVRLEAFAN]

IDK guys, maybe I saw less than I think but to me our PP the past few years looked out of sorts, the puck getting shot down the ice a lot, a lot of play in our own end, short handed chances given up but we had the fire power to overcome it, so on paper it looked good but really wasn't, if that makes sense, again maybe it's just me...lol

 

[Chris]

What I've seen on the pp this year, and especially lately, is that (1) pp2 is more direct with less passing around/standing around the perimeter waiting for the perfect play, and (2) pp2 players put more effort into winning puck battles. It hasn't really translated to goals, and that's partly the lower level of talent overall, but the process has looked better.

I think both Matthews and Knies are injured (Knies, despite his point totals and occasional power moves, overall looks slower to me), Nylander is in some kind of funk, Rielly is not a shot threat and moves the puck too slowly. Tavares is a beast but he is slow.

Mix up the damn units!

The one thing I did like last game was on pp2 with Domi swinging high up in the zone and then swooping back in with speed. So of course he comes out of the lineup, but I suppose Maccelli could play the same role.

 

[Bender]

I don't know how many of us on here have been saying the same thing for months. The PP goes stale regularly when they get to passing too much around the perimeter (i.e., they take a 2-minute rest break). This time they've been stale all season.

Their PP problems are way more than half due to coaching.

I really don't buy that. I don't think they're saying get only 3 shots in 5 pps. I think Savard isn't a good PP coach but it's not like the players aren't given some latitude with being creative on the PP.