Jim Hiller had plenty to unpack after Friday’s practice, and most of it circled back to the same theme: a group still finding its footing, but one he thinks is headed in the right direction.
The Leafs coach said the solution for John Tavares’ line is pretty straightforward. The group needs to get the puck deeper at times and spend more time working in the offensive zone. Hiller said he’s spoken to all three players individually, and each one already had the right answer before he weighed in.
“they’ve got to get the pucks a little deeper at certain times and play a little bit more in the O-zone. I think that’s the big solution.”
Easton Cowan’s line, meanwhile, is staying intact for now. Hiller said the staff likes what it’s seeing and doesn’t want to tinker too quickly after a good start.
“We really like the line. Sometimes you can overthink things and change everything around, or you just say, “You know what?
They’re good, so let’s just keep them together.” Good start for them, but again, it’s early for everybody.
We’ll just give them another run and see where we look.”
There was also an update on Kirill Marchenko, who had his first practice after the week he’s had. Hiller said it went well and that Marchenko seemed genuinely happy to be out there. The coach added that Marchenko clearly loves hockey and enjoys practice, and that the session gave the group a chance to start building some chemistry in a lower-pressure setting.
“It was really good. I think he enjoyed it.
I talked to him after. He was really happy to get it.
I think I told you guys: I get the sense from him that he really loves hockey. He wants to be on the ice all the time.
He loves practice. There is a little bit less pressure when you’re practicing with your linemates.
They’re going to have to find a little more chemistry. I think they were able to accomplish that today.”
Marchenko’s role on the power play is still a work in progress, especially with him adjusting to the bumper spot. Hiller said practice is where that chemistry has to be built, and he felt the unit looked a little more dangerous on Friday than it had before. Even so, he thinks the group has leaned too much toward searching for the perfect play instead of being direct.
“That’s just it. There are new players in new spots, so as much as we can work on it, we’ll do that.”
“I thought they were a little bit more dangerous today. Generally, what I’ve seen is maybe too much trying to make the next play, trying to make that next pass. There’s lots of skill, but I think you’ve got to be a little bit more direct, and then use your skill from there and create a little more chaos.”
Hiller also made clear where he stands on winger handedness. He said he actually prefers players on their off side, though not everyone is comfortable with it. In his view, it helps along the walls and gives a player a better angle to attack off the rush.
“No, I actually prefer the players on their off hands. Not all of them like to play that way, but the ones that do, I think, have a lot of success.
You look at a lot of the wingers, and some of the offensive guys play their off hands. He’s played left wing before plenty, Kirill, so he’s really comfortable there.”
“There are two things. Everybody’s so aggressive with pinching now on the walls.
You can protect the puck a little bit better. You don’t expose it as much.
The obvious one is when you come in over the blue line with a little bit of time and space. It’s easier to cut in on your forehand and be a threat to shoot into the middle.”
The coach also addressed the power play in broader terms, saying the team has too often deferred instead of firing the puck. With shooters like Matthews, Raddysh, Marchenko, and Willy in the mix, Hiller wants more attempts and less hesitation.
“That’s just it. I think Marchenko’s got a bomb from the middle, too.
Willy’s got a bomb from the other side. There’s lots there.
I think right now, we’ve deferred a little bit to finding the perfect play, and nobody wants to be “selfish.” But I think we have to shoot the puck.”
Hiller was asked about Daniel Alfredsson ahead of Saturday’s game, and he didn’t downplay the moment. The Leafs coach said the organization had already had one preseason game to talk about it, but this one will still be a big night. He also said he loved the ovation Alfredsson received from Leafs fans in the starting lineup and noted that he now has full support from Leafs Nation as one of the team’s coaches.
“We had one in the preseason, so we talked a little bit about that. It’s going to be a big night. Let’s be honest.”
“I loved the ovation he got in the starting lineup from the Leafs fans. There was some talk: “Hey, what’s it going to be like?” I thought it was tremendous.”
“Obviously, days have gone by as a player. Now he’s one of our coaches and has full support from Leafs Nation.”
Hiller also explained why Nylander didn’t see the ice after the shorthanded goal, saying it wasn’t about sending a message. It was simply a matter of game state, and he expects to use Willy in five-on-six situations at other points.
“No, mostly, at that point, I think we’ll see Willy five versus six at different times, and that game wasn’t one of them.”
Finally, Hiller revisited the pairing of Rielly and Raddysh. He said the two looked better in game two than they did in game one, but stressed that it will take time for the pair to settle in because both are naturally more offensive defensemen than the kind of duo coaches usually draw up.
“I thought they were better in game two. It’s just going to take time.”
“As you said, they’re both a little bit offensive-defensemen who typically wouldn’t play together. To get a little chemistry between them and find out who’s covering who and at what moment, I thought game two was better.”
“Again, right now, nothing’s set in stone. We’re just getting off to the races here, but we liked what they did the second night.”
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