In 2018-19, the Toronto Maple Leafs were a top-ten team on the power play in goals-for per hour (GF/60), sitting ninth while scoring at a clip of 7.73 GF/60. For context, the Tampa Bay Lightning led the NHL in this category potting 10.89 GF/60. Toronto also led the league in expected goals-for per hour (xGF/60), creating quality chances at a rate of 9.25 xGF/60. While these numbers look good on the surface, I’d wager this team is capable of even greater heights. That’s really bad news for the rest of the NHL.

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it is a common trope that may be applicable to the Leafs’ power play. However, I’m of the opinion that teams are always looking to get better, as they should, and that no team should ever be satisfied. Teams scout each other more than ever now, and special teams are certainly no exception. With this in mind, it would behoove Toronto to provide two different looks with the man advantage. A drastic change to one of the league’s most dangerous power plays is not out of the question.

Nearly every team in the NHL uses at least some version of a 1-3-1 or Umbrella power play formation. For the uninitiated, this places one player, usually a defenceman, at the point in the middle of the ice; one player on each of the flanks; one player in the slot; and one player net-front. Toronto’s PP1 essentially ran this setup all year, featuring Morgan Rielly manning the blue line, Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews at the flanks, Nazem Kadri (and Andreas Johnsson following Kadri’s playoff suspension) in the slot, and John Tavares providing a screen for the goalie.

For anyone watching, their plan was quite simple: get the puck to Mitch Marner. From there, Marner’s primary read was the cross-seam pass to Matthews, who’d hopefully get a shot off. If that was taken away, Marner would often dish the puck up to Rielly, who could walk the blue line, dish it to one of the flanks, or shoot it. Marner would occasionally elect to take the shot, which would hopefully create a rebound for either Tavares, Kadri, or Matthews. Early in the season, that cross-seam pass was open and the Leafs took advantage. Teams eventually took notice, and blocking that cross-seam feed to 34 became a priority. Matthews scored just 5 powerplay goals in 2019, a four month span in which he played 43 games and saw 110:37 of PP TOI.

The problem with this plan is that none of the three players at the top of the umbrella are one-timer threats. Matthews, a lefty on the left side, has an elite catch-and-release, however that still requires an extra second for the killers to apply pressure, and the goalie to get set. Rielly, another lefty, rarely elected to take a shot from up high, and when he did, it usually came in the form of a light sifter hoping for a tip. And with all due respect to Marner, who is an elite playmaker, his shot is not at the level where the opposing defence needs to respect it.

So, how can Toronto score more on the powerplay? What I’m proposing would be a radical change to the current system, and would go against the grain and challenge conventional wisdom in the NHL. I’m advocating for the Toronto Maple Leafs to use a behind-the-net powerplay formation.

How does that work? Well, I won’t pretend to be the creator behind this idea, as it’s one I’ve seen gain traction among some of the smarter hockey minds on Twitter, yet not a setup we’ve seen employed in an NHL game. The Maple Leafs have the talent and personnel to pull it off. Shots following passes that originate from behind the net have a 12.8% success rate, a number I’d bet would only go up when removing a defender.

Essentially, you need two passers, two shooters, and a net-front guy. Depending on the game situation, you could have two different looks. Here’s one option I’d go with.

This is a safer option as it utilizes Rielly at the top, which would help to prevent shorthanded goals and odd-man rushes against.

You start by getting the puck to your passers. In this scenario, I have Mitch Marner and William Nylander as the dishers, setting up below the goal line on opposite sides of the ice. Both players are right-handed shots and are interchangeable. Ideally, you have one righty and one lefty, with the lefty setting up on Marner’s side, but having one guy on his natural wing in this position isn’t the end of the world. Once the team gets set up, Marner and Nylander will play catch behind the net. Both are in relatively low-danger areas that most penalty kills would not apply pressure. This gives them time to look for openings. Aside from passing back and forth, they are both looking to set up John Tavares in front of the net for a tap-in, or to either of the high shooters.

The main advantage of this formation is that it gets the opposition looking the wrong way. Nylander and Marner handling the puck below the goal line will force the penalty killers, and perhaps most importantly, the goalie, to turn their heads toward them. As they attempt to try and stay inside the three other Leafs, they will assuredly be forced to turn their backs to them, which allows the shooters to move around looking for a passing lane to open up. If the opposition chooses to play up high and take away your two shooters, great. You now have a 3v2 down low. If the killers play aggressive and challenge your two passers, that only leaves two players up high to defend your two shooters and your net-front guy. In the event that the puck does get to one of your shooters, let’s say 44 for argument’s sake, 91 will stand square in front to provide a screen, 34 opens up for a one-timer, 16 steps out for a backdoor pass, and 29 provides an outlet if all other options are taken away. Here’s another setup this team could use.

A more radical, offence-first option, 5 forwards are on the ice for when you’re trailing and need a goal. I actually prefer this as 29 and 34 have probably the two best shots on the team.

This option is even more radical, as you’ll notice all five of these players are forwards, which means you don’t have a defenceman on the ice. You may give up more shorthanded goals, but you’ll also score more. This look has two elite shots up high in Auston Matthews and William Nylander, while Kadri can play in traffic. Marner is still a disher down low, while Tavares joins him. It helps to have Tavares there as he’s a lefty, which gives him a better angle to bank passes off the boards to Marner, and allows him to walk out on his forehand. Having Nylander up high instead of Rielly helps too, as he’s a righty that can open up for a one-timer when the puck gets to Matthews.

In essence, this formation is something I believe would make the Toronto Maple Leafs better, yet not a change I can see Mike Babcock making in the near future. For better or for worse, Babcock has shown he’s one of the more stubborn coaches in the league, although with proper evidence to try something, he can be convinced. The Leafs have been at the forefront of analytic, research, and sport science in the NHL sphere, and this change is one I could see them eventually exploring.