NHL Analyst Destroys The Maple Leafs For Their Poor Defensive Play

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Tyler Ball
November 9, 2023 (3:33 PM)

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It is no secret that the Toronto Maple Leafs have been struggling mightily on defense this season. The problem has gotten so bad that a prominent NHL analyst has ripped into them.

Maple Leafs Poor Defensive Play Continues

The Maple Leafs have continued to struggle to defend this season. They have the second-worst goal differential in the Atlantic Division and are bottom 5 in the entire Eastern Conference as well.

The defensive struggles are shared throughout the lineup but new acquisition John Klingberg has faced a ton of criticism.

Has John Klingberg been the worst defensemen in the NHL this season that plays 20+ minutes a night?

Absolutely insane that only 13 games into John Klingberg's tenure as a Leaf, he's getting scratcyee in favour of William Lagesson and Simon Benoit WHILE Timothy Liljegren is injured. What's even more insane is that Sheldon Keefe is fully justified in doing so

The Maple Leafs have always struggled defensively with this core compared to other competing teams. This year does seem to be reaching another level though than in the past.

Things have gotten so bad that one NHL analyst who has been an avid Maple Leafs supporter destroyed the team with his newest comments.

NHL Analyst Destroys Maple Leafs After Poor Play

NHL analyst and former player Paul Bissonnette has been a massive Leafs supporter over the last couple of seasons. Last night that support turned into frustration and disgust in the team over their defensive play.

"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."

While Bissonnette's comments can be a bit hyperbolic considering the Maple Leafs still do hold a playoff spot his sentiment is shared by the fan base.

"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."

With reports coming in of a shake-up on defense maybe the Maple Leafs are taking Bissonnette's comments to heart. John Klingberg appears to be going to the press box while injured defenseman Jake McCabe looks close to a return.

If Klingberg is indeed taken out the Maple Leafs will have to hope that the issue is fixed. Either way, a conversation will need to be had about the Maple Leafs' handling of the defense and the gross overpayment of Klingberg.

As Read On - Blade Of Steel - Paul Bissonnette Rips the Toronto Maple Leafs a New One for their Defensive Play