[AltaGuy]

It's interesting - I don't think we've really spoken much about the Hawk's systems, because they are more difficult to emulate than a cycle/big man game like the old Bruins or Kings (or Anaheim). Getting bigger is easier than learning to play the Hawks' style imo.

I have not seen the Hawks using the stretch pass very often like we do. I don't watch a ton of their games, but haven't seen it when I do. More often, they seem to bring the puck up as a five man unit. Seeing as they are known for their "possession" game, risky stretch passes that have at best a 50/50 of losing possession wouldn't fit.

When we try the stretch pass, we often look for the tip into the zone, since most of the time they're not perfect, and it avoids a neutral zone giveaway. But couple that with a defensive zone posture that remains too passive, and we often change instead of forecheck, meaning we give up possession quickly.

I would like a more aggressive team in the defensive zone (which we were this season as compared to last, but not great still) and I would like far fewer stretch passes, and more possession and five-man breakouts. We have a good team to play like the Hawks, but we don't under Hartley.

One additional thing - part of the reason we are passive in the defensive zone is because we don't always have five guys defending. One thing leads to another: a forward breaks for the stretch pass, and if possession isn't perfected, we are forced to play passively since we are outnumbered often. I don't see the Hawks doing this: they are almost always five players back, and look to transition quickly together when they have possession.