LOOKING TO THE PAST

We are all well aware of the Toronto Maple Leafs current problems defending in their own zone. The inability to contain checks and restrict scoring chances is an ongoing obstacle for this team. Many point to the Leafs elimination game in the 2018 playoffs against Boston as the beginning of the downward slide on defence. In particular, the very visible mistakes made by defenceman Jake Gardiner. He ended the game minus-5 and the brunt of responsibility for the Leafs exchanging their hockey sticks for golf clubs fell on Gardiner.

Fast forward to a new start and great expectations for 2018-19, the Leafs came out flying with Morgan Rielly taking control of the defence. Now a veteran on the blueline, Reilly also has made a huge contribution on offence. In December, he spoke of the Leafs approach when it came to Toronto's philosophy on defending their own territory. "We have to keep our priorities in check. That's our team mentality - defence first. We come back, play strong, break it out and then we go try and hold onto to it offensively."

Looking back in Leafs history, this wasn't the first time the club adapted this mentality. I discovered this while researching my book on Bob Goldham.

The 1945-46 version of the Leafs were experiencing a terrible time containing incoming attacks. Bobby Hewitson of The Toronto Telegram wrote, "Attacking forwards are coming in in a carefree manner knowing they'll get nothing serious thrown at them - except possibly by Goldham."

By early December, Conn Smythe had seen enough of his struggling defence. In a press conference held in his office at Maple Leaf Gardens on December 6, he explained the Leafs new "mentality."

"We have decided that from here in we are going to invade the enemy territory and keep on invading," began Smythe using military terms to express his thoughts. "Our opinion is that our team is not strong - at least not at the moment - in a defensive way ... our policy then must be to keep our opposition away from our weak spots, put the opposition on the defensive and perhaps find holes in their set-up."

Sound familiar?

Unfortunately for Leaf fans, lackadaisical play has once again infiltrated the Leafs defence. In a recent game against Colorado, Jake Gardiner had the spotlight focused on him for not effectively hunting down and vigorously containing Avalanche forward Carl Soderberg.

After analysing the debacle against Colorado, Mike Babcock's inclination is to follow in the same direction as Conn Smythe. Both men realize that defence is a concept that involves all six players on the ice. Certainly, individual mishaps can be identified and ownership taken for such lapses. But overall breakdowns on defence can be attributed to defensemen and forwards.

"We didn't feel our work ethic was up to the level to be proud of last game as a group. What makes that happen and makes the group go, you don't know. But if it's just changing some lines around, then we will do that," Babcock told reporters after the Leafs resumed practice after the Colorado contest.

Reading between the lines, the Leaf coach is hoping the right combinations can keep the puck deep and limit the time the opposition has possession at the other end of the ice. Thus giving some relief to the likes of Jake Gardiner and company.

Seems like little has changed.