Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
Personally I wonder how Hartley got through to Iginla because Itse pretty much had Iginla of the last two seasons nailed.
I coach Atom kids and I use "Iginla coverage" as a buzz word when the wingers get in that grey zone between not covering the Dman high, and not collapsing down low and helping out in the corner - essentially covering nobody and just standing in open ice hoping to get the puck and go.
This year he hasn't been that guy for the most part.
I've never though Iginla to be a lazy player, but my guess was always that he wanted to help the team win, and felt he had to score to do that which justified his positioning to him in their zone.
All guessing of course.
Interesting to see Hartley get to him.
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Hartley's break out plan is quite obviously built around speed and quick passes. Consequently, we are no longer relying on 35-year-old Iginla trying to bull his way into the zone because 25-year-old Igina could do it. So without Iggy feeling the need to lead a rush, he's no longer leaving the zone so early. And because of that, he is usually in a better defensive position.
Putting him on the PK helps too. Too many of his coaches kept him off it because they wanted him focusing on offence. Then we bitch because he was too focused on offence!