Former NHL defenseman Marc Methot took to Twitter recently to express his admiration for the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ Luke Schenn, highlighting the importance of intangibles and how they can be critical in big games. Methot’s praise came in response to a tweet by Nick Richard, who posted impressive statistics about Schenn’s performance so far in the playoffs.
Methot’s tweet read: “Intangibles matter. If I’m a forward looking to battle for position at Toronto’s net front, I may think twice about my approach seeing a player like Luke Schenn standing there. That extra shot at a Leafs player knowing a guy like Schenn is there…? No thanks. People who played understand this. It’s very effective in big games.”
According to Richard’s tweet, “Luke Schenn leads all Leafs defensemen with a 63.57 xGF% through four playoff games. He leads the entire team with an 84.15 GF% and has only been on for one goal against at 5v5. Not even mentioning his intangibles, leadership, or toughness, but he has been spectacular so far.”
Schenn’s return to Toronto has been instrumental in the Maple Leafs’ current playoff success. The shutdown defenseman may not have any points this series, but he boasts a +4 rating, 7 blocked shots, 22 hits, and 1 takeaway. Schenn’s physical presence and leadership on the ice are undoubtedly having a significant impact on the team, and his contribution could help the Leafs secure their first playoff series win in almost 20 years. They currently lead the Tampa Bay Lightning 3 games to 1 as the series heads back to Toronto for game 5. Luke Schenn Praised
