Horachek's impact on the team
- Thread starter ZBBM
- Start date
Joe S. said:
I was going to argue with you here until I remembered that the Flames gave Deryk Engelland $8.7mil over 3 years. The most I can say is that he probably wouldn't have structured it to be buy-out proof.
Highlander
Active member
Burke never wanted anything longer than 5 years
Highlander
Active member
He may have laid out 6 per year but as he is already 2 years in we only would have had 3 to deal with instead of 5
GhostofPotvin29
New member
War-on-ice.com is nice because you can use date ranges.
So far under Horachek, Leafs have a CF% of 50%. That's 18th in the league over that time period. Prior to that their CF% was 44.6% and was 28th in the league.
Their on-ice SH% has cratered so far under Horachek to 3.1%, dead-last in the league since Horachek took over. Their on-ice SV% isn't much better, at 28th in the league over that stretch at .898.
Under Carlyle the Leafs' on-ice SH% was first in the league at 9.5% and their on-ice SV% was 19th at .921.
Also notable is so far under Horachek the Leafs are starting getting 51.4% offensive zone starts compared to 41.6% under Carlyle.
I'm not saying they're going to run the table, but the indications are that if they continue to play this way the team should start winning more games. If that happens, sorry tankers.
So basically they improved in almost every area game-play wise but then saw their SH% & SV% go way down. Illuminati confirmed.
So far under Horachek, Leafs have a CF% of 50%. That's 18th in the league over that time period. Prior to that their CF% was 44.6% and was 28th in the league.
Their on-ice SH% has cratered so far under Horachek to 3.1%, dead-last in the league since Horachek took over. Their on-ice SV% isn't much better, at 28th in the league over that stretch at .898.
Under Carlyle the Leafs' on-ice SH% was first in the league at 9.5% and their on-ice SV% was 19th at .921.
Also notable is so far under Horachek the Leafs are starting getting 51.4% offensive zone starts compared to 41.6% under Carlyle.
I'm not saying they're going to run the table, but the indications are that if they continue to play this way the team should start winning more games. If that happens, sorry tankers.
So basically they improved in almost every area game-play wise but then saw their SH% & SV% go way down. Illuminati confirmed.
Highlander
Active member
As Vegas says, the law of averages works out. So will the Leafs, keep calm and drink on.
bustaheims
Active member
Even with those numbers, I'm not sure the Leafs are really going to much more than a ~.500 team the rest of the way - especially if/when they move a few pieces out. They're not likely to sink much in the standing from where they are now, but I don't see them climbing much, either.
Highlander
Active member
Ya, just enough to lose a good draft choice, typical :'(
Rebel_1812
New member
The team sucks since carlyle got fired.
Not sure what you guys think of Feschuk, but I think this article makes a good point: http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2015/02/01/horachek-blueprint-erases-maple-leafs-speed-edge-feschuk.html
He argues that the Leafs main strength based on the Leafs' natural talent (forwards' speed) is useless in a system based on possession defense.
And I can see his point...maybe these players just aren't suited to an 'LA Kings' style of of play. Maybe all the Leafs are good for is run-and-gun and that's how they win their games.
It's like trying to teach cats to herd sheep. It's just not in their nature. Like the Leafs, cats are all run-and-gun offense meant to bag that score. Like the Kings, dogs are for defense and possession.
He argues that the Leafs main strength based on the Leafs' natural talent (forwards' speed) is useless in a system based on possession defense.
And I can see his point...maybe these players just aren't suited to an 'LA Kings' style of of play. Maybe all the Leafs are good for is run-and-gun and that's how they win their games.
It's like trying to teach cats to herd sheep. It's just not in their nature. Like the Leafs, cats are all run-and-gun offense meant to bag that score. Like the Kings, dogs are for defense and possession.
Highlander
Active member
regardless, Horacheck will not revert to a run and gun system, this guys Guru was Barry Trotz.
So it is going to be hockey in a defensive vacuum until at least a new coach is hired and a new GM is in place. I have the feeling this may be the same man.
If the leafs buy in and Hitchcock is correct, the Leafs may find their scoring touch to some extent, enough to win some games (dammit). You know the 1-0, 2-1 variety.
Still not sold on Bernier as the future goalie of this team
So it is going to be hockey in a defensive vacuum until at least a new coach is hired and a new GM is in place. I have the feeling this may be the same man.
If the leafs buy in and Hitchcock is correct, the Leafs may find their scoring touch to some extent, enough to win some games (dammit). You know the 1-0, 2-1 variety.
Still not sold on Bernier as the future goalie of this team
GhostofPotvin29
New member
895 said:
Feschuk's showing he doesn't want to do any research beyond what he wants to be true.
There are independent, objective sites that track scoring chances for and against and which say that the scoring chances for between Carlyle and Horachek have been virtually identical. These sites (ex: war-on-ice.com) track this data for every game in the league so there should be no concern that there is bias between Carlyle's numbers and Horachek's or anything like that.
They were getting a higher SH% and scoring more goals compared to January so it seems like they were getting more chances.
But even if they were, it's not like that system was working for the team.
They were never a run and gun team either. They were a "pray we don't get scored on 8 times in the 53 minutes we don't have the puck and hope we get a few power plays and lucky breaks" team. They are playing better under Horachek. They're just not getting any bounces. As much as Carlyles style wasn't sustainable, neither is this.
At the end of the dY though, there's no reason to be upset about the team losing. They're not going to make the playoffs anyway. Might as well shoot for the moon at the draft.
At the end of the dY though, there's no reason to be upset about the team losing. They're not going to make the playoffs anyway. Might as well shoot for the moon at the draft.
bustaheims
Active member
I've said this a few times already, but, apparently, it needs to be restated - it's much easier to add offence to a solid defensive foundation than it is to do it the other way around. As others have pointed out, while the production has dropped and the character of their offensive play has changed, the calibre hasn't really. They're still getting the same number of chances, but, the puck just isn't going in right now. The Leafs had an unsustainably high shooting percentage under Carlyle and, now, they have an unsustainably low one under Horachek. The goals will come, and, if they don't, oh well. It's not like they were gonna win the Cup this season. Less goals = less wins = better draft position. The Leafs are aching for more high-end, homegrown talent, and higher draft picks are the best way to get that. I'll gladly sacrifice a few meaningless wins this season for a team that's building the foundation to hopefully bring home a few championships.