The Athletic Hockey Show Maple Leafs are on the wrong side of the puck
Nov 12, 2025
Frankie Corrado, a former NHL defenseman known for his player-perspective insights, joins Scott Powers, a Chicago-based hockey reporter, to discuss the Maple Leafs' ongoing struggles. They dive into Toronto's defensive chaos, evaluating the impact of injuries and systemic flaws. The conversation shifts to the Chicago Blackhawks, where Powers highlights the evolution of Connor Bedard in his third season, showcasing his growth and the team's unexpected resurgence. Speculation about Steven Stamkos's potential trade adds an intriguing layer to the discussion.
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System Mismatch And Defensive Breakdown
- The Leafs adopted Craig Berube's defensive system but are failing to play "on the right side of the puck."
- That breakdown is producing frequent rush chances, odd-man rushes, and breakaways against Toronto.
Porous Off-Rush Coverage
- Toronto's biggest defensive issue is being porous off the rush and failing to establish three one-on-ones in lanes.
- That allows opponents to create easy offense with 3-on-2s, 2-on-1s and constant breakaways.
Goaltending Masked Last Year's Flaws
- Last season's shaky defense was masked by Vezina-level goaltending and strong underlying luck (PDO).
- This year that goaltending and special-teams margin vanished, exposing the team's weaknesses.