Right now, the Leafs fan base is split into three groups.

Group 1. The fans who still think like Randy Carlyle/Brian Burke.

Group 2. The fans who believe in whatever the current Leafs management team does, after all, it is all part of “The Shanaplan”

Group 3. The fans who like the current direction the team is going but are still going to scrutinize the decisions the current Leafs management make.

Group 1 LOVE the Matt Martin deal. Of course they would. The Leafs get a player who lead in hits, can fight, and heck, probably has a ton of leadership too!!!!!!! This is a great deal for these fans.

Absolutely love that deal for Matt Martin, dude rocks people, perfect fourth/third liner. I'm happy about it. — Adamski (@HollowayA12) July 1, 2016

Group 2 are not really sure how they feel about this deal. These fans can see what the Leafs have been doing in the recent past. Which seems to be looking for skilled players because these guys are “good analytically” and this has resulted in positive things. In contrast, the Matt Martin deal looks like something Burke would do, and that ended bad, so this deal must be bad too….. but then again, Shanahan and Lou completed this deal, so maybe it’s a good thing. Who knows, group 2 definitely does not.

I don't like the term or AAV on the Matt Martin deal but the Shanaplan obviously thought he was a need so I'm cool with that. #TMLtalk — Warren Fisher (@feedthefish79) July 2, 2016

I like to think of myself as group 3. I love the direction this team is going and our prospect pool makes me drool but there has to be reason behind individual deals other than “Shanahan did it, so it’s good” for me to be happy with it. In saying that, a four year deal for any fourth liner is a big commitment, but with Martin having a 2.5M AAV, one cannot really complain.

Here are three reasons behind the Matt Martin signing, other than his physical game.

HIS ABILITY TO SUPPRESS SHOTS

What was surprising for myself when I looked into this signing was Matt Martin’s shot suppression numbers. On the left, is his CA60 WOWY over the past three years. The bigger the bubble, the more time Matt Martin has been on the ice with that player. Casey Cizikas, the biggest bubble, allows 61.5% of shot attempts against per 60 without Martin and only 50.7% with Matt Martin on the ice. Hardly any of the Martin’s teammates allow over 55% of shot attempts when they are with him and if they do, it’s within a very small sample. The HERO chart on the right also indicates Matt Martin’s impressive shot suppression. It would be comparable to a first liner’s shot suppression. GIVES THE LEAFS MORE TIME TO FREEDOM TO DEVELOP PROSPECTS

In May, I wrote an article on the Leafs projected lineup. My bottom two lines were Greening- Nylander- Leipsic and Brown- Holland- Michalek. With the current roster, there is no need to have Leipsic up as a regular NHLer. He is a small, skilled player with a gritty side to him. Another year with the Marlies should do wonders for his development. Leipsic was never a shoe in for this roster spot though due to the high competition due to prospects like Zach Hyman, Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnson, Josh Leivo, Connor Brown and now Kirby Rychel. The addition of Matt Martin allows the Leafs to give the more skilled prospects, like Johnson, Kapanen, and Leipsic another year with the Marlies to develop while allowing to bring up the more “grinder-like prospects”, like Leivo, Rychel Hyman, to play with a player like Matt Martin at times throughout the season. 3. DEFENSIVE ZONE STARTS

It looks like the Leafs are going the route of having their fourth line take most of the defensive zone starts. Although Babcock loves to challenge his young players with these zone starts from time to time, expect the Leafs fourth line to worry about pushing the puck up ice when starting in their own end. Martin, along with pretty good faceoff players like Peter Holland, or Brooks Laich, with Brown could make up a pretty effective fourth line for the time being.

In the upcoming season, Matt Martin will win the fans over with his physical play and exhilarating forecheck. This of course, will help the Leafs, but more importantly the reasons above will limit the scoring chances created for the other team, and will allow management to be patient in their prospects’ development. Therefore, this deal is helping both in the short term, and in the long term. Leafs fans better buckle up, because Matt Martin is here.

What do you think of the Matt Martin deal? Comment below!

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