Martin St-Louis played a trick on everyone.
Throughout training camp, he had hidden his true intentions regarding the Canadian’s numerical advantage.
Fans and journalists expected to see the same static, lifeless, swag-less power play. But on the eve of the start of the season, St. Louis pulled a rabbit out of its hat, revealing an unexpected configuration that took everyone by surprise.
TVA Sports journalist Nicolas Cloutier expressed it well on social networks:
“I don’t recognize this numerical advantage. Were we made fun of during the preparatory calendar? Do we live in the matrix? »
These words perfectly sum up the widespread confusion. During preparatory matches, the Dach-Slafkovsky-Caufield-Suzuki combinations with Matheson at the forefront were seen sporadically, even in practice. As if we wanted to hide them.
Maybe it was just a smokescreen.
In fact, it seems St. Louis faked everyone. He orchestrated a setup during camp to hide his true plans, making it appear that the team did not have a clear power play strategy.
Cole Caufield’s goal rewarded a trick of hide and seek.
With a record of 0 in 30 during the preparatory matches, there was no shortage of criticism, many questioning the preparation and the choices of the coach.
Yet it was all part of a cheeky plan.
. St-Louis wanted to surprise from the start of the season, by unveiling a very mobile five-man attack formation.
By hiding his play during the weeks of preparation, the head coach perhaps hoped to destabilize the Leafs and silence the detractors who were beginning to lose faith in his decisions.
Anti-St. Louis people could argue that it was a risky, even pointless, gamble to deceive the public and observers in this way.
Others will say that St-Louis showed boldness and strategy, seeking to take advantage of the element of surprise. He succeeded all along.
For now….
