Quote:
Originally Posted by jeremywilhelm
Something you should all take into consideration with everyone, even Backlunds skating, is that the skating instructor for the prospects pretty much re-tooled every single players skating posture and stride this year. He is changing the push off motion of the players stride to eliminate toe dig, which is a bad habit that pretty much every player can get into when they are not constantly being observed.
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He explains his theory a bit on the flames NHL video site.
This could be why some of the prospects look slower than normal, or look a little off, especially Cameron who said in the video that he is learning a new way to skate (ad libbed).
Edit: I would imagine it is pretty tough to focus on puck handling or shooting if the coaches are harping on proper skating position and stride.
I know in my sport, when I had to fundamentally change my entire posturing and motion, I looked like a complete fool for well over a month until muscle memory was established.
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Good catch, and btw that video was IMO well worth the 3:30 it takes to watch it. And yeah, I can see how this could make some players look really off while adjusting.
I liked the part where Backlund makes a little sidecomment about this improving your balance too. Always useful that.
I know figure skating people and speed skaters are sometimes really dismissive of hockey skating, and I believe it's for good reason.
Not often you need to re-learn something so basic so late in your career. Kudos especialy to guys like Sarich for making the effort. But I guess the guys that make it to veteran status in the NHL tend to be the ones that are able to adjust.