Honestly, I think that we are not talented enough up front to play a run and gun style of hockey. Maybe that's why we are losing games? We try too hard to bring the puck up, end up turning it over and don't play defensively enough.
Maybe the trap would be the answer? Just clog up the neutral zone, wait for mistakes.
It may be boring, but at least we would have a chance to win some games. And let's face it, it's even more boring watching the leafs shoot the puck in the middle of the goalie and turning the puck over to the other team.
New Jersey is a good reason in recent memory as to why this could be something we should look at.
If you look at the last few games, the Leafs have played well but have had bad bounces - either missing them or them going in (look at the Tucker goal that practically landed on his leg and went in, the one where Komisarek head-butted in), eventually the luck starts to turn the other way. It's frustrating but it'll come. The effort was there last week (aside from the 3rd when they just got crushed on that 4th goal). Once they get one game to go their way, I think a few will follow. Leafs aren't as bad as their record.
Honestly, I think that we are not talented enough up front to play a run and gun style of hockey. Maybe that's why we are losing games? We try too hard to bring the puck up, end up turning it over and don't play defensively enough.
Maybe the trap would be the answer? Just clog up the neutral zone, wait for mistakes.
It may be boring, but at least we would have a chance to win some games. And let's face it, it's even more boring watching the leafs shoot the puck in the middle of the goalie and turning the puck over to the other team.
New Jersey is a good reason in recent memory as to why this could be something we should look at.
yea but when the devils used the trap they still had a top 5 team
Honestly, I think that we are not talented enough up front to play a run and gun style of hockey. Maybe that's why we are losing games? We try too hard to bring the puck up, end up turning it over and don't play defensively enough.
Maybe the trap would be the answer? Just clog up the neutral zone, wait for mistakes.
It may be boring, but at least we would have a chance to win some games. And let's face it, it's even more boring watching the leafs shoot the puck in the middle of the goalie and turning the puck over to the other team.
New Jersey is a good reason in recent memory as to why this could be something we should look at.
maybe a new coach? like peter laviolette? a cup winner who can even coach the trap. i don't think wilson can coach that system... see: SJS
maybe a new coach? like peter laviolette? a cup winner who can even coach the trap. i don't think wilson can coach that system... see: SJS
The same Peter Laviolette that won the cup and then failed to make the playoffs in the remainder of his tenure, with a team far more talented than Toronto's.
Pretty much any team could play the trap when two line passes were illegal, there was no delayed offside and a goalie could play the puck anywhere. Right now to play the trap you need an elite goaltender, very defensive corps and forwards that are fanatically committed to being in position all the time. Trapping teams generally allow significantly more shots on goal than they take, the payoff being that those shots on goal are generally of from the outside and of low quality.
If Leafs start playing the trap as they are they get annihilated by any good forechecking team - my prediction.
Pretty much any team could play the trap when two line passes were illegal, there was no delayed offside and a goalie could play the puck anywhere. Right now to play the trap you need an elite goaltender, very defensive corps and forwards that are fanatically committed to being in position all the time. Trapping teams generally allow significantly more shots on goal than they take, the payoff being that those shots on goal are generally of from the outside and of low quality.
If Leafs start playing the trap as they are they get annihilated by any good forechecking team - my prediction.
Thats why Clemmenson played so well with NJ last year. The Devils didnt necessarily have to do it with Brodeur and played a more offensive style with him in net. But with Clemmenson, they collapsed so well and took all the lanes away, all anyone had left were low percentage chances.
The team's problem is there's no scoring. The defense hasn't been THAT bad the past few games. It's not the best in the NHL but it's decent enough to win. We just can't score because there's no scoring TALENT. Look at tonight. The team played a good solid game of NHL hockey and while the defense made some mistakes that is normal. Every team will make mistakes every single game of the season. The difference tonight was the Leafs didn't have an ounce of finishing power. They had shooting opportunities in prime locations at least 10 times tonight and didn't convert on a single one. Shots were either fanned on, sent wide of the net or straight into Luongo's crest.
The team's problem is there's no scoring. The defense hasn't been THAT bad the past few games. It's not the best in the NHL but it's decent enough to win. We just can't score because there's no scoring TALENT. Look at tonight. The team played a good solid game of NHL hockey and while the defense made some mistakes that is normal. Every team will make mistakes every single game of the season. The difference tonight was the Leafs didn't have an ounce of finishing power. They had shooting opportunities in prime locations at least 10 times tonight and didn't convert on a single one. Shots were either fanned on, sent wide of the net or straight into Luongo's crest.
We already play a 1-2-2 forecheck. Albeit an aggressive one. Cutting back to a sleepy 1-4 won't make much difference.
There's one thing this team needs to start doing, and that's execution. It'll come with patience.
I disagree, the OP has it right, this team needs to play a full out trap game right now to get our game back. I don't know why this happens but I noticed last year too we came out of the gate flying with an aggressive style that led to a not so good start, by the time January and February rolled around when we were getting our ***** handed to us in Cali and Vancouver after the long road trip, we stayed back the rest of the year and we ended up piling up pts we had a point in every game for like 6 or 7 games in a row if I remember correctly. So yes I do think it would make a big difference, I would rather have a sleepy winning team than an exciting wannabe run and gun team that has no one to actually gun the puck in the net. I've been calling for the trap since the 4th game. I don't understand what Ron Wilson is doing to be honest I'm not a big fan, he hasn't done anything since coming here and his style isn't what we're about.
