Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe compares his players to a peewee hockey team
New year, same old Leafs. It feels like every year the Toronto Maple Leafs Achilles heal has been their defensive structure. In a new year with a new GM, their defense is still not sharp. In a press conference, Sheldon Keefe threw an uppercut at his defensive core.
Sheldon Keefe says his defence plays peewee level hockey
Keefe compared Toronto's defensive breakdown to being less than «peewee stuff».
«This is the National Hockey League. That's peewee stuff,» Keefe said after the game. «You play on the power play in the National Hockey League, they should not get behind you coming out of the penalty box.»
«This is the National Hockey League. That's peewee stuff,» Keefe said after the game. «You play on the power play in the National Hockey League, they should not get behind you coming out of the penalty box.»
Keefe is obviously unpleased with their defensive play this year, especially after making acquisitions like Jake McCabe who wasn't a cheap price.
Luckily their diamond in the rough this year was Simon Benoit, a former Anaheim Ducks prospect, who was signed in July.
With only one point this season, he's been poised on their blue line and has made fans turn their heads in amazement with his great defensive play.
It's time for the guys making the big bucks like TJ Brodie, McCabe, Rielly to all step up not only offensively, but defensively. Once the leafs figure out their blue line situation, they are easily a top contender in the Eastern Conference. Until then, it's all just speculation and a bunch of what ifs.
| POLL | ||
Should the maple leafs shake things up on defense? | ||
| Yes | 1014 | 92 % |
| No | 88 | 8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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