Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Doom
Please excuse me if this has been described somewhere on this thread...
But what exactly is GG's system? Is there an explanation of how it works - somewhere? I've been watching and all I see is what seems to be the outcome which is good all around hockey. 
But would love to understand the technical aspects he's asked of the players.
Thanks |
System is a wierd word because it suggests the players are not relying on their instincts, which they are, but Gulutzan's philosophies on how to approach cdrtain situations would probably be described as:
- Wingers' job is to pressure the points aggressively and force the D to toss the puck deep
- Centers support play below the goal line at the expense of leaking out for early offense.
- Defensemen and centres invite 50/50 puck battles on the walls in order to nip zone time in the bud, with the risk being that they get out of " Kris Russell pretty position"
-Defensemen play tight gaps and rely on forwards' back pressure to turn odd man rushes into dump-ins. Under Hartley the preference was to take away the passing lane and allow controlled entry. Gulutzan's way has some risk of more "pretty goals" against but less zone time.
-Wingers' job on the breakout isn't to create the first wave of speed, it's to support their D along the walls, hit the center and be the secondary wave.
-Defensemen don't skate much with the puck or play too aggressively.
- Two+ forwards in deep on the forecheck playing aggressive instead of one guy going through the motions trying to direct the puck towards a neutral zone trap.
- Defense pinch along the walls to keep pucks deep instead of pinching into the slot to score. Our D are more often closer to the boards, ready to pounce on clearing attempts. The assumption is that our forwards "will" lose the puck st some point, and will need a hand keeping it in, rather than the assumption that our forwards "may" set up a sure goal if a D is there to score it.
The big difference to me on our team is especially how centers are deployed. We now trust guys like Backlund, Bennett, Stajan, and Monahan to support their D and carry the puck. Only real issue now is that a guy like Engelland or still prefers to trust the glass than to trust Bennett or Stajan. That is a personnel issue rather than a philosophical one.