Two-way play could lead to a one-way ticket
Forward Lindberg brings rare ability for a prospect: defensive responsibility
The Toronto Maple Leafs enter the final week of their season having given their fans a glimpse of the future with a wide showcase of prospects, led by William Nylander, Nikita Soshnikov, and Zach Hyman.
Swedish winger Tobias Lindberg made his NHL debut this week, with his family flying in to help celebrate the moment. Lindberg, while not quite getting the fanfare of the Leafs’ top prospects, plays a two-way game that could be just as valuable under Mike Babcock’s vision.
The 6-foot-3 Lindberg is a big body who understands the importance of defensive zone play. That was instilled by Leafs assistant coach D.J. Smith, who coached Lindberg last season during the Oshawa Generals’ Memorial Cup run.
“D.J. made me play defence a lot last year and I learned a lot from that,” Lindberg said.
Babcock has been impressed in the small, two-game sample he has had with Lindberg. The telltale sign came when the coach put Lindberg out to kill a penalty in his first game. Babcock wants his players to focus on getting back to help out defensively with the same effort they show in trying to score.
Nylander, for instance, showed his skating and playmaking skills in the offensive zone during Saturday’s loss to Detroit, scoring once and setting up another goal, but Babcock smiled and but noted that he’d like to see Nylander “skate like that the other way.”
For the 20-year-old Lindberg, having a pedigree in two-way hockey could be significant as the Leafs continue to put together a young roster. Babcock likes the size of Lindberg and six-foot-five forward Frederik Gauthier, but he also stresses that all his young prospects need to get beyond their flashy credentials, and become consistent, two-way players
That mindset can only help a Leafs team that is a study in contrasts, even with all the young, high-octane talent on board.
Toronto’s biggest improvement — and a management target for this season — might be in the faceoff circle, where the team ranks seventh in percentage, seventh in faceoff wins, fifth in power-play wins, and eighth in shorthanded wins. But the special teams have struggled: 29th on the power play, 21st on the 21st ranked penalty kill.
That power-play number is a result of the Leafs being unable to convert their scoring chances, where they rank in the top five in the league.
The Leafs are also 27th in the league in winning percentage with leads after two periods, and they are among the worst in the NHL with just three wins and 22 losses when trailing after the first period.
That suggests a team that has more learning to do in terms of getting leads, and playing with them. The start of that process begins with equal dedication to offensive and defensive hockey.
“I consider myself a two-way player,” Lindberg said. “The coaching staff has been watching video with me every day since I’ve been up here, showing me what I need to do to get better.”