Leafs bench boss Sheldon Keefe calls for a change to the penalty shot rules
In a tie game early in the first period, the Toronto Maple Leafs were awarded a penalty shot after Detroit Red Wings' rookie, Marco Kasper, appeared to close his hand on the puck in the crease. The Leafs didn't have a bevy of great options on the ice to choose from, so Sheldon Keefe went with David Kampf over on-ice options like Zach Aston-Reese, Sam Lafferty, T.J. Brodie, and Justin Holl.
Kampf tried a few moves but Alex Nedeljkovic followed him the whole way through and made the stop after Kampf ran out of time and space. Kampf has 7 goals and 25 points in 75 games this season with only 3 goals in his last 47 games. However, because the rules stipulate that the shooter has to be someone who was on the ice, Sheldon Keefe says he went with a "feeling" he had and chose the Czech forward.
Sam Lafferty could've been an intriguing option with his 11 goals on the season but at that point you're truly comparing apples with apples. Keefe had a gut feeling and went with it, unfortunately that was the 7th missed penalty shot on the season for the Leafs.
When asked about the situation and whether or not he'd prefer the option for a power play instead, Keefe was quoted as saying:
"I'd love the option, yeah. I mean, I'm not saying you'd take it in that case [tonight] but there's lots of times in games where maybe you would take that option."
On choosing Kampf:
"Just a feel thing ... He was excited for a chance so that was kind of what you're looking for ... He had a good plan just got away on him there as he got too tight to the goalie"
It would probably be a more advantageous proposal for the offensive team if they had the choice between a penalty shot or a power play. I'm sure if Auston Matthews, John Tavares, or William Nylander were on the ice, the feeling might be different but for a team with a vaunted and confident power play, why wouldn't you want to at least have the option?
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 3 | 275 ANSWERS Leafs bench boss Sheldon Keefe calls for a change to the penalty shot rules Should coaches be allowed to choose between getting a penalty shot or a power play? | ||
| Yes | 186 | 67.6 % |
| No | 89 | 32.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
