Report: JVR and Nylander shockingly bad in one facet of the game

The Toronto Maple Leafs have built a reputation for themselves based on their high offensive potency - something Mike Babcock isn't too fond of.

He's preached the team's need to play a much better defensive game, something they haven't achieved as of late. They regularly give up 30 to 40 shots, and sometimes more, and part of the issue may lie with some players' unwillingness to get into shooting lanes to block pucks.

Two players that stand out for all the wrong reasons in this respect.

James van Riemsdyk and William Nylander are two of the worst shot blockers on the team - especially considering their regular ice time.

Nylander has blocked an abysmal 1 shot all season (29 games), while van Riemsdyk has blocked shots at a rate of 0.3 per game. 

Here's an example of where van Riemsdyk doesn't get into the shooting lane, as illustrated by The Athletic's Justin Bourne.

Obviously getting in front of blistering shots isn't the most pleasant experience, but it's part of the game and is an important aspect of the game. Yes - there are times where we need to pick our battles. Getting in the shooting lane may hinder the goalie's view of the play and make the play harder for him should the shot go unblocked.

But with the Leafs letting an extraordinary amount of shots on net this season, they must count their lucky stars that Freddie Andersen is at the top of his game - he's been stellar and has bailed his team out of many games they perhaps should not have won.