Message to the Forwards: Channel Your Aggression

 By Paul Bruno

Much was made of Brian Burke’s desire for a tougher roster and a need to be more of an ornery opponent.

Apparently some Leaf forwards have taken that more literally and are included to drop their gloves at the slightest provocation. That’s one end of the toughness spectrum. In the first seven games, we have seen others shy away from the rough stuff and lack a competitive edge entirely.

In between these two extremes is the desired level of truculence and belligerence, to use a couple of Burke’s favorite words.

If you do your research in what the basis for a successful team, it boils down to a desire to compete and battle to gain any advantage on the ice. Without that ability, a team will not succeed.

Of course, skill can hide a deficiency in that area.

Unfortunately, that’s a big reason why the Leafs are currently at the bottom of the league standings, with their ghastly 0-6-1 record.

They need to focus their energies on finding that competitive edge and maximizing a skill set that, admittedly, doesn’t measure up with most other teams.

That’s why I like what Ron Wilson and the coaching staff are doing with this week off between games on the schedule. They started out by playing Dodgeball and yesterday, right around the corner from me, they engaged in a lively 3-on-3 tournament at the National Training Rinks in the town of Richmond Hill, a suburb just north of Toronto.

So, first we saw a little fun injected into the proceedings with Dodgeball, and now we see the progression to a more competitive platform, of this mini-tournament.

These are stepping stones that the coaching staff has set up, to win the players over to a place where they will find the appropriate level of competitive fire that should translate to an improved performance on the ice.

As we did, in our recent posts, we have to pass on a couple of tips, though.

When a team is overmatched talent-wise, it is well-advised to assume a defensive, counter-attack posture. This team’s offense has been drawn into the compete opposite style of play, trading chances and forechecking aggressively, leaving themselves open to odd man rushes and counter attacks, that have proven costly.

The power play has looked too predictable at times. It is based on a spread formation with a forward dropping way back beyond the slot with the point men well back at the blueline, while the wingers are set up wide of the goal and the club has wasted precious time passing around the perimeter. This is a very passive approach, placing all shooters in lower percentage areas. It is also easily defended..

We would like to see a forward set up in front of the crease, occupying at least one defender and screening the goalie. This is one way to apply much more pressure and attack the goal area. That should allow for the remaining players to isolate a teammate in a higher percentage scoring area.

If these thoughts sound simple, well, that’s because they are.

Hockey can be a simple game.

The Leafs need to have more fun with it.    

Tags: brian burke, Ron Wilson, Toronto Maple Leafs