Great piece by Chris Johnston: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5567536/2024/06/16/oilers-mattias-janmark-stanley-cup-final/
I think the Leafs definitely need players that can execute this type of play.
Key points:
- What is The Janitor Way?: According to Janmark, he’d seen a great team turn things around by focusing on the defensive side of the puck while playing for the Dallas Stars in 2019-20. That Stars team started the year 1-7-1 and wound up in the Stanley Cup Final during the NHL’s COVID-19 playoffs.
- Janmark is a straight-line player who believes it’s easier for him to make an impact in playoff hockey because of how important every play is. He’s not generally going to do anything that lands on the highlight reel, but he’s a diligent worker who makes smart defensive reads and isn’t prone to costly errors.
- “Without giving away all of the secrets, it’s patient defensive hockey,” said Brown. “It’s not forcing it. It’s almost a 0-0 mentality. Take what they give you instead of trying to just force it and get on the board. A lot of times when you play that way you end up scoring more. It’s kind of a paradox that way.”
by jimbeamblack8586
