4 Things We Learned About the Maple Leafs in Preseason – The Hockey Writers –

The preseason concluded for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday after a 3-2 win against the Detroit Red Wings. Which means, their regular season is around the corner as they get prepared to take on the Montreal Canadiens on October 9^th.

While we know the Maple Leafs are a very strong regular season team, fans are already anticipating to see what this new look team with head coach Craig Berube can do when the playoffs roll around. In order to get there, they have to perform and secure a spot first. The sting of another early playoff exit still remains, it’s a new season and it’s a new chapter with a new look roster as well. 

While many may not think preseason means anything, it does give a sense as to what this season could look like. In the six games played, the Maple Leafs showed that they are a different team compared to what we saw last season. Here are four things that we learned about the team during the preseason that could be key factors during the regular season.

Special Teams Could Bounce Back

There was cause for concern when it came to the Maple Leafs penalty kill and power play last season. Whether it was poor coverage being down a player or being too predictable with the man advantage, they weren’t successful in that regard. The power play ranked seventh in the league at 24%, but got cold heading into the post season and the penalty kill was an abysmal 76.9%. 

Both categories look to produce a strong resurgence and a reason why the Maple Leafs could be more consistent this time around. The team had a 96% rate in that situation which ranked them first in the league. The lone goal came in their final one against the Detroit Red Wings from Andrew Copp. Their power play looked to be more organized, quicker and less predictable as they continue to adjust and learn a new system. 

Much of this can be attributed to the aggressive mindset that Lane Lambert has brought on the penalty kill and the success that Marc Savard has had running the man advantage in the past. Lambert’s philosophy of striking quick and providing heavy pressure on puck carriers really seems to be resonating with the group. Savard letting the team play to its strengths is something that was missing last year, where the power play was focussed on creating the perfect play and entry….