Henrik Tallinder impresses Toronto Maple Leafs coaching staff. Most likely PTO to sign on for the season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are totally focused on correcting the defensive problems that sunk their playoff hopes last season. Check the training camp tweet:

If Tallinder makes team, Carlyle envisions him potentially playing shutdown minutes, spelling some of Phaneuf’s tougher ice. — Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) September 20, 2014

Randy Carlyle didn’t stop there. He applauded Tallinder’s veteran presence and experience using the catch-all term for tough players; “moxie.”

Sure, moxie isn’t really a hip term. It went out of use around the time that people stopped saying that Arnold Palmer was the bee’s knees of golf.

One way or the other, if Carlyle is talking about how Tallinder could play shutdown minutes that lighten Phaneuf’s load, it’s pretty safe to assume that the Toronto Maple Leafs plan to sign the veteran defenseman.

What Does Henrik Tallinder Offer the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Dec 23, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Henrik Tallinder (20) and Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle (3) have words during the third period at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Advanced Stats

Henrik Tallinder registered absolutely putrid possession stats with the Buffalo Sabres last year. His 42.6% Corsi ranked 16th out of the 24 regular Sabres skaters. In fact, he was the 46th worst in the league, of the 675 qualified NHL skaters.

Somehow, Tallinder posted these possession rates while starting 30.1% of his shifts in the offensive zone (7th most on the team) and only 35% in the defensive zone (17th highest).

So, poor possession stats and relatively soft minutes. Doesn’t sound much like moxie.

HART Rating

This is where the advanced stats get interesting.

Stats.hockeyanalysis.com has stepped up to fill the void left when the Toronto Maple Leafs hired Darryl Metcalf of extraskater.com, closing that site for good. Their HART stat, rating the effect a player has on producing/preventing goals, reveals an awful trend for the Leafs and for Tallinder.

Last season, Tallinder ranked 24th worst in HART out of the 243 defenseman who played more than 200 minutes.

The bottom six on the list? All Toronto Maple Leafs defensemen – Carl Gunnarsson, Dion Phaneuf, Tim Gleason, Paul Ranger, Cody Franson, and Morgan Rielly, in that order. Jake Gardiner came in at 18th.

When Tallinder’s moxie earns the veteran a contract with the Leafs, he’ll fit right in.

What do you think, Leafs fans? Could Henrik Tallinder be a stabilizing force on the Toronto Maple Leafs blueline? Or, is he just Tim Gleason 2.0?