This evaluation focuses on the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ defensive manufacturing at 5-on-5, primarily based on statistics compiled from Pure Stat Trick. Not like analyzing the group’s ahead group, the place we sometimes analyze a broader discipline of 14 gamers, this analysis considers solely seven defencemen who’ve performed a major variety of video games.
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Six of those gamers have performed greater than half the season, and we’ve included Philippe Myers, who has performed 23 video games and contributed one of many group’s 9 whole objectives from defencemen.
Analyzing 5-on-5 Play for the Maple Leafs Defence
To higher perceive every participant’s impression, we summarize their contributions throughout objectives, assists, factors, and shot metrics at 5-on-5.
High Three 5-on-5 Aim Scorers
| Rank | Participant | Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morgan Rielly | 3 |
| 2 | Oliver Ekman-Larsson | 2 |
| 3 | Jake McCabe, Chris Tanev, Conor Timmins, Philippe Myers |
1 |
Regardless of not being a pure goal-scorer, Morgan Rielly leads the defencemen in 5-on-5 objectives. Whereas he scored 20 objectives in 2018-19, his profession has been extra outlined by playmaking and puck motion. His three even-strength objectives this season underline the group’s normal lack of scoring from the blue line.
As soon as a constant double-digit aim scorer, Oliver Ekman-Larsson has transitioned to a extra defensive position as he’s aged. Nonetheless, his two 5-on-5 objectives present he stays a menace from the purpose.
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McCabe, Tanev, Timmins, and Myers spherical out the checklist with only one aim every, reinforcing Toronto’s struggles with defensive scoring depth.
Defensemen With no 5-on-5 Aim
Simon Benoit is the lone Maple Leafs defenceman but to attain at 5-on-5 this season. This isn’t stunning, as he has simply 5 profession objectives in 252 NHL video games.
High Three 5-on-5 Help Leaders
| Rank | Participant | Assists |
| 1 | Oliver Ekman-Larsson | 17 |
| 2 | Jake McCabe | 12 |
| 3 | Morgan Rielly | 10 |
Ekman-Larsson surprisingly leads this class, given his restricted power-play time. Virtually all his assists have come at even power, highlighting his means to contribute offensively with out particular groups minutes.
Jake McCabe follows carefully behind with 12 assists, whereas Rielly sits in third place with 10. Regardless of main all Maple Leafs defencemen in general assists, solely half of Rielly’s 20 whole assists have come at 5-on-5.
Backside Three 5-on-5 Help Leaders
| Rank | Participant | Assists |
| 1 | Philippe Myers | 2 |
| 2 | Simon Benoit | 4 |
| 3 | Conor Timmins | 6 |
Myers and Benoit fall on the backside of the checklist, given their restricted ice time and defensive focus. Timmins, identified for having some offensive upside, has been unable to match the manufacturing of gamers like McCabe or Ekman-Larsson.
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Chris Tanev falls exterior the highest and backside three with eight assists, placing him in the course of the pack.
High Three 5-on-5 Level Leaders
| Rank | Participant | Factors |
| 1 | Oliver Ekman-Larsson | 19 |
| 2 | Morgan Rielly | 13 |
| 2 | Jake McCabe | 13 |
Ekman-Larsson’s 19 factors make up practically 30% of the Maple Leafs’ whole 5-on-5 factors from defencemen, emphasizing his offensive significance. Rielly and McCabe are tied for second, which displays Rielly’s barely underwhelming even-strength efficiency in comparison with his historic requirements.
Backside Three 5-on-5 Level Leaders
| Rank | Participant | Factors |
| 1 | Philippe Myers | 3 |
| 2 | Simon Benoit | 4 |
| 3 | Conor Timmins | 7 |
Just like the help totals, Myers and Benoit stay on the backside. Tanev as soon as once more sits simply exterior the underside three with 9 factors, displaying his means to contribute offensively regardless of a heavy defensive workload.
Zone Begin Distribution: A Key Indicator of Utilization
High Three 5-on-5 Offensive Zone Begin Percentages
| Rank | Participant | OZ Begin % |
| 1 | Morgan Rielly | 64.9% |
| 2 | Philippe Myers | 58.8% |
| 3 | Oliver Ekman-Larsson | 52.6% |
These numbers spotlight how head coach Craig Berube deploys his gamers. Rielly begins practically two-thirds of his shifts within the offensive zone. He’s been given prime alternatives to generate offence. Nevertheless, his manufacturing hasn’t matched his utilization.
Given his restricted offensive popularity, Myers’ 58.8% offensive zone begin fee is stunning. That means Berube could be sheltering him from defensive tasks. Ekman-Larsson’s balanced utilization signifies belief in each zones.
High Three 5-on-5 Defensive Zone Begin Percentages
| Rank | Participant | DZ Begin % |
| 1 | Chris Tanev | 69.2% |
| 2 | Simon Benoit | 67.8% |
| 3 | Jake McCabe | 60.4% |
Berube leans on Tanev and McCabe in essential defensive conditions, beginning them within the defensive zone greater than 60% of the time. Benoit’s inclusion is stunning, however his physicality and defensive focus seemingly contribute to Berube’s belief in him.
Regardless of beginning most of their shifts within the defensive zone, Tanev and McCabe have contributed offensively, displaying their means to impression the sport at each ends of the ice.
The Backside Line for the Maple Leafs Defence
Whereas Toronto’s defence hasn’t been a major supply of offence, Ekman-Larsson has emerged as the best defenceman at 5-on-5. Although nonetheless helpful, Rielly has not produced on the anticipated degree, given his offensive-zone deployment. In the meantime, Tanev and McCabe proceed to play key defensive roles whereas contributing offensively to a lesser extent.
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Balancing offensive manufacturing with defensive reliability will probably be important because the Maple Leafs look to solidify their blue line for a playoff push. If Rielly can elevate his recreation at even power and Ekman-Larsson continues his robust play, Toronto’s blue line might turn out to be a extra well-rounded unit.
