Quote:
Originally Posted by Diemenz
Being in the press box is not about eating popcorn and texting with your buddies.
Sitting in the pressbox for an injury or sitting in the pressbox as a healthy scratch IS completely different. I know this because I have done just that at a high level (Division 1- MSU). When I was scratched there was a reason, and I was given a job to do while in the press box which directly related to that reason. This process was the same for me throughout my High school, Junior, College and short stint in Germany so I think it is safe to say this is a common practice. I am sure others on this board who have played at a high level can attest to the same experience.
In my experience when you are sent to the pressbox as a healthy scratch you get an "assignment" that must be completed. It can be as in depth as counting the odd man rushes in a game and listing which line was out for the odd man rush vs which defensive paring to as simple as recording line matchups. There is normally always a reason or an assignment when it pertains to a learning experience.
Now this might not be the same for 100% of the coaches and teams in the league but I can assure you that its a practice that is used by the large majority.
As an example which is related directly to Backlund: when Sutter was coach he did not require injured players to attend video meetings when injured. Gio even said as much this morning on the Fan and said that this year is different because Hartley makes all players attend regardless of status. So if he isn't required to attend video meetings how much "work" do you think he put in while watching the games from the pressbox while injured.
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All true and I agree with what you are saying.
My point was that the pressbox thing was overstated. People were talking about how it is a completely different view from the ice, a real eye-opener, etc.
Never implied they sat on their thumbs or anything.
And again, the 'assignment' wouldn't be anything new either because they are already looking at those things in video.
Those were my points, never said it was useless.