It’s not often you witness a sporting experiment unfold as clearly as it is with the Toronto Maple Leafs. For years, critics have argued their playing style – deemed too elaborate and puck-possession focused – was unsuited for playoff success.
And indeed, past results have reflected this.
Conversely, supporters believed this style would eventually succeed, arguing the team wasn’t built for anything else, and improved goaltending or special teams would bring breakthroughs. The idea was that consistent effort, like Washington or St. Louis, would eventually lead to their year.
However, after numerous attempts to “break through,” the traditionalist viewpoint prevailed. The Leafs’ management and Craig Berube adopted a simpler, more straightforward hockey approach from the season’s start.
Truthfully, Sheldon Keefe had also acknowledged the need for a more direct, north-south game for Toronto, as seen in their increasing “dump in rate” each season. Since Keefe took over in 2019-20, the Leafs’ dump-in rate has consistently risen. (Note: Sportlogiq ranks lowest dump-in rate as first).
The Maple Leafs are now dumping the puck in more than ever before.
This observation comes after a video discussing “Ice Tilt” for AWS and the NHL, revealing the Leafs are in the league’s bottom third for Tilt (24th specifically). This indicates they spend more time defending in their own zone than attacking in the opponent’s zone.
