The Toronto Maple Leafs were due to ice a new group of defencemen this season. Last year after 10 games played, these were the five blueliners who suited up for all 10 games: Morgan Rielly, T.J. Brodie, John Klingberg, Mark Giordano, and Timothy Liljegren. This year similarly has five defencemen playing all 10 games but that list includes just one name from last year in Rielly. The other four defenders are Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jake McCabe, Chris Tanev, and Simon Benoit.
What a difference one calendar year makes.
With so much change on the blueline, let’s take a look at how this new group has fared so far. All data is taken at 5v5, score- and venue-adjusted from NaturalStatTrick.com.
Leafs blueline results
The Leafs’ biggest blueline acquisition was of course prized defenceman Tanev, whose services are highly regarded around the league. The defensive stalwart strengthens any team he suits up for and he’s one of the NHL’s premier defensive defencemen. Whoever plays with him simply sees success in both zones.
Expected goals
So far this season, Tanev’s most common partner has been Rielly, but he’s also seen time with McCabe as well. Tanev currently has the best expected goals for percentage at 59.3, while McCabe and Rielly are both clock in at 54.3%. Suffice it to say that’s an immediate positive result.
In fact, out of the five defencemen listed, only Benoit has an xGF% below 50.0%—and it’s well below at 45.3%. Ekman-Larsson is above water at 51.6%, and not included in the group due to playing in eight games so far is Conor Timmins, who’s actually ranked second on the team with 58.7%.
They’ve had just a game each to their name, but Liljegren and Philippe Myers sorely struggled in xGF% in their appearances, as Myers had a putrid 9.1 xGF% and Liljegren an even worse 7.1%.
The good has been really good, the bad has been really bad.
On-ice results
Expected goals are one thing, but what about actual 5v5 on-ice outcomes?
McCabe has an extremely high GF% of 68.8%! He’s leading the team in this department and has been on the ice for 11 Leafs goals for compared to just five goals against. Ekman-Larsson and Rielly have also been on the the ice for double-digit Leafs goals with 11 and 10, respectively, and their goals against are solid at seven and eight.
Despite leading the Leafs in xGF%, Tanev has a more down-to-earth actual GF% of 53.3% with eight goals for and seven goals against. In contrast, Benoit trended in the opposite direction and actually has a GF% of 60.0% thanks to six goals for and four goals against.
A good start
In short, things are going well for the Leafs’ defence corps at 5v5. They net out at fifth in the NHL in 5v5 goals for with 25, and are 15th in the league in goals against with 17. That +8 differential is solid and a large part of that has been due to the 5v5 play of the defencemen.
It’s still early in the season so results can definitely change for better or for worse, but considering just how different this blueline is compared to last year, this is a good start for this group.
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