Toronto Maple Leafs: How the Ryan Ellis extension affects Jake Gardiner

Power Play

Having a defenseman that can anchor the PP is crucial to its success. The threat of a big shot opens up passing lanes for quality scoring chances. All of the best power plays in the NHL have a common denominator – a really good offensive defenseman. Most teams go with a four forward, one defenseman PP unit, making the role of the defenceman even more important. These stats are all situations, where Gardiner and Ellis were on the ice with the man advantage.

Gardiner has proven to be an integral part in the Leafs PP success. Gardiner and Morgan Rielly played almost an identical amount of time on the PP, as the two defenceman the Leafs use. He has always been better at passing than scoring on the PP. Gardiner only has seven career goals with the man advantage, while racking up 61 assists.

With the firepower that the Leafs could put on the ice, even before the arrival of John Tavares, Gardiner’s main job on the PP isn’t to shoot. His primary job is getting the puck to the forwards in the best position possible. Gardiner excels at that.

Ellis has been more productive on the power play than Gardiner. His 15 career PP goals more than doubles Gardiner’s with significantly less TOI. Ellis also has 191 shots on goal compared to his 134.

It is clear that the two PP units have different setups. While the Maple Leafs like to get the puck on the half wall with one of their forwards to create chances, the Predators like to generate more shots from the point. Gardiner’s 61 PP assists is drastically more than the 26 Ellis has produced. They are two offensive defensemen who have very different roles on two very different power plays.