Optimus Reimer said:The Leafs do forecheck, and I really don't notice d-men pinching a lot. I see it a few times, but it is nothing to worry about. The two problems that have plagued the team the entire season is their inability to get out of their zone with the puck. They have weak shots, errant passes, turnovers and cannot handle a forecheck. Instead of being calm, the players run around like they lost their heads. The second problem is they are not physical enough and play soft man to man coverage that allows the other team to set up and cycle the puck around. This forces Leaf players to run around trying to cover the other player, and that wears out the Leaf players. All that results in decent scoring chances for the other team.
Every team forechecks, the Leafs just do it poorly. And the defenseman pinching is a big issue, I don't know how you wouldn't notice. Dion, Schenn and Gunnarson all pinch way too much. Franson has gotten better, but still gets caught too much.