Paul Bissonnette Lays Into Leafs For Their Poor Defense
The Toronto Maple Leafs were handed a major loss light night to the Ottawa Senators, and all eyes were on the defense of the Leafs.
Bissonnette Calls Out Leafs Poor Defensive Showing
All season long the worries about the team defense have been prominent and last night was a clear showing of why. The Leafs lost 6-3 to the Sens and many of the goals were simple defensive mistakes that the Leafs had.
TNT analyst Paul Bissonnette was the voice of many Leafs fans following the loss, even bringing up the fact they could miss the playoffs.
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"It's just ugly."
"It's just lost coverage, no sticks in lanes, no commitment to blocking shots, not protecting the most dangerous area of the ice, which we call the house, not taking away time and space, awful gaps, not protecting the defensive blueline...the list goes on and on and on."
"It's disgusting, and if they keep playing like this, they're probably going to miss the playoffs."
"It's just lost coverage, no sticks in lanes, no commitment to blocking shots, not protecting the most dangerous area of the ice, which we call the house, not taking away time and space, awful gaps, not protecting the defensive blueline...the list goes on and on and on."
"It's disgusting, and if they keep playing like this, they're probably going to miss the playoffs."
Yes it is early in the season, but if the Leafs can't find out how to play simple zone coverage then they are in major trouble.
"It's a defensive zone, defensive structure, and a team commitment to playing defense issue. And if it's not addressed, like I said, it's going to get uglier, and uglier and uglier."
The two main call outs from last night games, were two new additions John Klingberg and Max Domi.
Klingberg and Domi's Poor Defensive Showing
Even when the Leafs signed these two players their expected role was to add grit and offence from the blueline, however with slow starts there eyes shift to their defensive play.
Ottawa's second goal from last night was a clear sign of what the Leafs defense looks like.
Klingberg and Domi are puck watching instead of taking a man or taking the puck and it allows for the open shot. Defensive mistakes like that have plagued Klingberg all season long.
Even Head Coach Sheldon Keefe talked about Klingberg's play last night as he was on the ice for four of Ottawa's goals.
"Yes."
"We need to protect him better."
"We need to protect him better."
There is still time in the season to turn this around but the Leafs are very far from the Stanley Cup contenders many had predicted for them heading into this season.
As Seen on Blade of Steel - Paul Bissonnette Rips the Toronto Maple Leafs a New One for their Defensive Play
| POLL | ||
9 NOVEMBRE | 310 ANSWERS Paul Bissonnette Lays Into Leafs For Their Poor Defense Are you feeling confident about the Leafs this season? | ||
| Yes | 101 | 32.6 % |
| No | 209 | 67.4 % |
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