2021 Training Camp Thread

[CarltonTheBear]

Are they streaming any of the scrimmages this year given that there isn't a preseason? Or do we just get the tiny snippets and then have to wait another week to see the team on the ice.

Tiny snippets!

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1346870422890020866

 

[L K]

Are they streaming any of the scrimmages this year given that there isn't a preseason? Or do we just get the tiny snippets and then have to wait another week to see the team on the ice.

Tiny snippets!

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1346870422890020866

Who was in net there, Garret Sparks?

 

[Guilt Trip]

Are they streaming any of the scrimmages this year given that there isn't a preseason? Or do we just get the tiny snippets and then have to wait another week to see the team on the ice.

Tiny snippets!

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1346870422890020866

Who was in net there, Garret Sparks?

Haha...he guessed wrong

 

[OldTimeHockey]

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2021/01/05/sheldon-keefe-on-the-toronto-maple-leafs-power-play/

Split PP time! which is an elective surgery I'm sure many of you did not want to know existed.

Does having Joe Thornton around make you reconsider what the first power-play unit is going to look like?

Keefe: Yes, it does. Not just him, but Wayne Simmonds. We have given thought to that. We are not there yet, but the answer is we are going to establish two units from the start and look to build some chemistry there. I think we feel confident having the four forwards from last year play together. We feel confident in that group and feel we can go to it at any time. We also feel like there will be times that we will go to it, but we wanted to really work at establishing two units here with the depth that we have.

I would try to implement two completely powerplay concepts for each grouping. Matthews group being a puck moving option. The other group being a "funnel' option. Get everything to the net option. Throw a big body in front of the net like Simmonds.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Are they streaming any of the scrimmages this year given that there isn't a preseason? Or do we just get the tiny snippets and then have to wait another week to see the team on the ice.

Tiny snippets!

https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs/status/1346870422890020866

Who was in net there, Garret Sparks?

My question would be " who the heck line changed for the white team there?"

 

[cabber24]

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2021/01/05/sheldon-keefe-on-the-toronto-maple-leafs-power-play/

Split PP time! which is an elective surgery I'm sure many of you did not want to know existed.

Does having Joe Thornton around make you reconsider what the first power-play unit is going to look like?

Keefe: Yes, it does. Not just him, but Wayne Simmonds. We have given thought to that. We are not there yet, but the answer is we are going to establish two units from the start and look to build some chemistry there. I think we feel confident having the four forwards from last year play together. We feel confident in that group and feel we can go to it at any time. We also feel like there will be times that we will go to it, but we wanted to really work at establishing two units here with the depth that we have.

I would try to implement two completely powerplay concepts for each grouping. Matthews group being a puck moving option. The other group being a "funnel' option. Get everything to the net option. Throw a big body in front of the net like Simmonds.

I would stick to the $45,489,366 strategy for the whole 2 mintues.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2021/01/05/sheldon-keefe-on-the-toronto-maple-leafs-power-play/

Split PP time! which is an elective surgery I'm sure many of you did not want to know existed.

Does having Joe Thornton around make you reconsider what the first power-play unit is going to look like?

Keefe: Yes, it does. Not just him, but Wayne Simmonds. We have given thought to that. We are not there yet, but the answer is we are going to establish two units from the start and look to build some chemistry there. I think we feel confident having the four forwards from last year play together. We feel confident in that group and feel we can go to it at any time. We also feel like there will be times that we will go to it, but we wanted to really work at establishing two units here with the depth that we have.

I would try to implement two completely powerplay concepts for each grouping. Matthews group being a puck moving option. The other group being a "funnel' option. Get everything to the net option. Throw a big body in front of the net like Simmonds.

I would stick to the $45,489,366 strategy for the whole 2 mintues.

That's great and all. But, Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares draw most of the penalties against. That means they're on the ice prior to a good chunk of powerplays. You need another option.

 

[L K]

Vancouver is practicing with NHL referees.  I hear other GMs are mad at the Leafs over this

 

[herman]

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2021/01/05/sheldon-keefe-on-the-toronto-maple-leafs-power-play/

Split PP time! which is an elective surgery I'm sure many of you did not want to know existed.

Does having Joe Thornton around make you reconsider what the first power-play unit is going to look like?

Keefe: Yes, it does. Not just him, but Wayne Simmonds. We have given thought to that. We are not there yet, but the answer is we are going to establish two units from the start and look to build some chemistry there. I think we feel confident having the four forwards from last year play together. We feel confident in that group and feel we can go to it at any time. We also feel like there will be times that we will go to it, but we wanted to really work at establishing two units here with the depth that we have.

I would try to implement two completely powerplay concepts for each grouping. Matthews group being a puck moving option. The other group being a "funnel' option. Get everything to the net option. Throw a big body in front of the net like Simmonds.

Yeah, I would do the same.
Funnel 3.0, by Jim Hiller:
JvR Simmonds
Bozak Spezza - Kadri Tavares - Marner
Rielly

Shooting Gallery
Goal line QBs: Nylander (alt, backdoor) - Thornton (primary)
Pew-pew from the slot: Robertson/Vesey - Matthews, rotating sides regularly
Suppressing fire: Lehtonen

 

[OldTimeHockey]

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2021/01/05/sheldon-keefe-on-the-toronto-maple-leafs-power-play/

Split PP time! which is an elective surgery I'm sure many of you did not want to know existed.

Does having Joe Thornton around make you reconsider what the first power-play unit is going to look like?

Keefe: Yes, it does. Not just him, but Wayne Simmonds. We have given thought to that. We are not there yet, but the answer is we are going to establish two units from the start and look to build some chemistry there. I think we feel confident having the four forwards from last year play together. We feel confident in that group and feel we can go to it at any time. We also feel like there will be times that we will go to it, but we wanted to really work at establishing two units here with the depth that we have.

I would try to implement two completely powerplay concepts for each grouping. Matthews group being a puck moving option. The other group being a "funnel' option. Get everything to the net option. Throw a big body in front of the net like Simmonds.

Yeah, I would do the same.
Funnel 3.0, by Jim Hiller:
JvR Simmonds
Bozak Spezza - Kadri Tavares - Marner
Rielly

Shooting Gallery
Goal line QBs: Nylander (alt, backdoor) - Thornton (primary)
Pew-pew from the slot: Robertson/Vesey - Matthews, rotating sides regularly
Suppressing fire: Lehtonen

A big issue I've seen in recent years regarding the powerplay is the inability to adjust. If you're running a powerplay from the goal line, you have to be willing to flip it to the walls, or flip it to the top of the umbrella if the situation calls for the change. There's going to be games that the powerplay simply clicks. There's other times when the other team's penalty kill has it all figured out and you need to adjust.

If you can't gain the zone, you can't just keep doing it the same way.
If you can't get set up in the zone, you have to create the room to do so.

One of my least favourite plays from the power play(and all teams seemed to start doing it) is the drop pass at the blueline breakout. It puts 4 players at the blueline standing still and one player facing a line that is clogged with 8 players. I'm a big believer in hitting the blueline with speed and slowing it down when you get it down low. The breakout/break-in that we saw from Toronto's powerplay for a good chunk of the year was stagnant at the blueline. Turnovers between the top of the circles and the blueline are disastrous.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

That's great and all. But, Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares draw most of the penalties against. That means they're on the ice prior to a good chunk of powerplays. You need another option.

The Leafs did have the 2nd best PP in the league under Keefe so even with things like this being an issue from time to time it was still incredibly successful. But I am ok with at least giving this a shot, I just hope minutes will be managed properly. And if it doesn't work Keefe knows he can just go back to the loaded up group.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

That's great and all. But, Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares draw most of the penalties against. That means they're on the ice prior to a good chunk of powerplays. You need another option.

The Leafs did have the 2nd best PP in the league under Keefe so even with things like this being an issue from time to time it was still incredibly successful. But I am ok with at least giving this a shot, I just hope minutes will be managed properly. And if it doesn't work Keefe knows he can just go back to the loaded up group.

I didn't realize the 2nd best PP part. That's encouraging.
I have no issue with spreading out "the wealth". If you have enough wealth to spread out, it can work really well. If you start having players that simply can't fill the holes on #1 and #2 powerplays created by spreading that wealth, you have no choice but to top load one of your powerplays.

 

[herman]

A big issue I've seen in recent years regarding the powerplay is the inability to adjust. If you're running a powerplay from the goal line, you have to be willing to flip it to the walls, or flip it to the top of the umbrella if the situation calls for the change. There's going to be games that the powerplay simply clicks. There's other times when the other team's penalty kill has it all figured out and you need to adjust.

If you can't gain the zone, you can't just keep doing it the same way.
If you can't get set up in the zone, you have to create the room to do so.

One of my least favourite plays from the power play(and all teams seemed to start doing it) is the drop pass at the blueline breakout. It puts 4 players at the blueline standing still and one player facing a line that is clogged with 8 players. I'm a big believer in hitting the blueline with speed and slowing it down when you get it down low. The breakout/break-in that we saw from Toronto's powerplay for a good chunk of the year was stagnant at the blueline. Turnovers between the top of the circles and the blueline are disastrous.

I agree. Under Babcock, the powerplay was amazing in season 1 with the Marner funnel, and the Matthews/Nylander catch and release attack run. Putting Matthews with Marner looked good for a hot minute but fizzled shortly thereafter because Marner, the most creative passing magician on the team, kept trying to feed a very well covered Matthews, while everyone basically stood still until the puck got close. Even when they changed the system to flip sides, it was the same standing turret attack.

Entry drop pass is fine if it's an option and not The Way. Wingers have to time their swing from the red line to the OZ with the carrier(s), and maybe even cross lanes for fun. I'm okay if the D man waits at the line or even drifts back, in case of turnover.

In any case, standing still is death for offense (see Team Canada juniors).

 

[herman]

That's great and all. But, Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares draw most of the penalties against. That means they're on the ice prior to a good chunk of powerplays. You need another option.

The Leafs did have the 2nd best PP in the league under Keefe when he added Nylander to the unit so even with things like this being an issue from time to time it was still incredibly successful. But I am ok with at least giving this a shot, I just hope minutes will be managed properly. And if it doesn't work Keefe knows he can just go back to the loaded up group.

Willy can fulfill any PP role interchangeably: blueline bomb, halfwall QB, goal-line playmaker, slot bumper, crease grease, one-timer/wrister from either circle, entry and setup wizard

 

[L K]

That's great and all. But, Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares draw most of the penalties against. That means they're on the ice prior to a good chunk of powerplays. You need another option.

The Leafs did have the 2nd best PP in the league under Keefe so even with things like this being an issue from time to time it was still incredibly successful. But I am ok with at least giving this a shot, I just hope minutes will be managed properly. And if it doesn't work Keefe knows he can just go back to the loaded up group.

I didn't realize the 2nd best PP part. That's encouraging.
I have no issue with spreading out "the wealth". If you have enough wealth to spread out, it can work really well. If you start having players that simply can't fill the holes on #1 and #2 powerplays created by spreading that wealth, you have no choice but to top load one of your powerplays.

It doesn't feel like it because our team struggles to get PPs so they have games where you don't get any PP goals because it's hard to score when you get 1-3 opportunites at most.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

It doesn't feel like it because our team struggles to get PPs so they have games where you don't get any PP goals because it's hard to score when you get 1-3 opportunites at most.

Once Keefe was hired the Leafs had the 2nd best PP%, the 8th highest amount of powerplay goals, but the 2nd least amount of powerplay minutes.

 

[herman]

Because the Leafs are off the ice today, there won't be as much to discuss.
So I'm going to bump this really good deep dive into the Leafs PP from the past two seasons by Shawn Ferris and Olivia Lin again :
https://seventhatauston.wordpress.com/2020/06/15/a-thorough-review-of-the-changes-made-under-paul-mcfarland/

and a similar analysis by Kevin Papetti
https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2020/08/20/systems-analysis-fixing-the-toronto-maple-leafs-power-play/

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/kristen_shilton/status/1347216473215918082

heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

That should say Matthews and Tavares but whatever I'll take it.

 

[herman]

Can one player win the Art Ross, Rocket Richard, Hart, Lady Byng, and Selke in one season?

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1347177316770869249
https://twitter.com/lukefoxjukebox/status/1347240363715604480