Maple Leafs’ Defense Is In Horrible Trouble

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Ottawa Senators 6-3 on Wednesday night. There was crap, and the Maple Leafs did most of them. Give the Senators credit, they hung in and when the Maple Leafs made a mistake, they capitalized.
After the game, Sportsnet’s Shawn McKenzie and Luke Fox provided in-depth analysis of the Maple Leafs loss. They pointed directly to a troubling pattern of defensive weakness (which is another phrase for big mistakes on defense). In the video below, they discuss why the team’s defensive struggles are becoming an important and pressing issue.
The Maple Leafs head coach must be absolutely disappointed

Coach Sheldon Keefe gave an honest assessment of the situation after the game. Given that he seems to shrug off foul play and (publicly at least) looks on the bright side of things, his negative review must be coming from a place of utter disappointment. His voice seemed firm enough, but his content was negative.
Keefe highlighted the major problems with the defensive leak plaguing the Maple Leafs. After the game, he changed the narrative from the team’s scoring prowess to the team’s vulnerability because they were playing in their heads.
The latest results are quite clear. The team is leaky and it costs them goals and games. The statistics show an alarming trend in black and white. The Maple Leafs have played seven home games this season. They conceded four or more goals in all seven games. The last time this happened was almost 50 years ago (in the 1976-77 season).
Terrible areas in a Maple Leafs game

Here are some areas that need improvement. The penalty kill was “terrible” and contributed to defensive problems that leave coaches scrambling to find effective pairings. The team’s search for defensive stability is hampered by injuries and the integration of new recruits. After the game, Keefe emphasized the urgency of halting the flood of goals, acknowledging that outscoring the mounting defensive problems is not a sustainable strategy.
The finger is also pointing at defenseman John Klingberg, who has had a tough start with the Maple Leafs. Keefe admits Klingberg “hasn’t been good enough;” however, he also noted that the team has to protect him more. The defenseman’s offensive strengths clash with evident defensive liabilities, raising questions about the team’s expectations when acquiring him.
Who Would Have Thought that the Maple Leafs Would Miss Justin Holl? Most Maple Leafs fans celebrated the loss of Justin Holl (with a party). However, he was a pure defender. And while he made mistakes, he didn’t make those kinds of mistakes.
There are challenges on defense. Injuries to key players like Jake McCabe (also considered useless by many fans – I’ve heard that word about him) and Connor Timmons put pressure on an already thin blue line. One player who looked better than expected (in my eyes) is Simon Benoit. He was pretty solid.
However, the team seems to be in disarray at the moment.
The Maple Leafs need immediate solutions

The Maple Leafs are in a very competitive race in the Atlantic Division. Not every game has a lot of leverage for mistakes. And the team’s defensive struggles require immediate solutions.
The first round of the Battle of Ontario goes to the senators. They needed a win. Now, however, the pressure has increased in Toronto. The Maple Leafs must now face up and fix their defensive deficiencies. If they fail to do so, they will fall behind in the race for an Atlantic Division spot after the season.