Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
The first paragraph is my point - GG's system is mainly about transition because that's what coaches' systems are about - getting the puck up ice so the office can get control in the offensive zone and look for chances.
Your second paragraph describes something like Hartley's breakout system. I have no idea where your description of offensive chances comes from. But neither are GG "systems". He prefers a 5 man breakout with a defenceman pass to a low forward or second defenceman, who then transitions through a skateout or pass to a forward down the middle. When they try what you describe - that's a breakdown, not a properly executed breakout.
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I disagree on the 5 man breakout. I think he prefers to keep one player high to allow for a stretch pass. This puts all the pressure on the D to make a perfect pass or skate the puck out. Other teams have adapted to our breakout with a hard forecheck and GG has done nothing to counter adapt. As it goes now if there is any pressure on our D man we are screwed.
The other team pressures our Dman and we have 3 options:
1. Stretch pass/tip in;
2. Up the boards on the near wing to a player the other teams have learned to cover;
3. Skate the puck past the forechecker.
With and aggressive forecheck and the other team keeping the puck away from Smith our Dman are under pressure and can't skate the puck out, our winger is covered and gets into a board battle just to move the puck out of the zone and our tip ins either result in a loss of possession or icing.
So the question is what's the problem. I think it's our neutral zone play. This iteration of the Flames is the softest I have ever seen a team defend the neutral zone. We either let the other team dump the puck in from our side of half - thereby easily establishing a forecheck and keeping the puck away from Smith (corner dump) or we let them skate the puck into our zone with no pressure (dear god our D back up against a rush) which easily establishes zone pressure.
GG's refusal to change his system to increase neutral zone pressure to puts our D into high pressure situations with the puck, which leads to more turnovers. That's why most dmen seem to be having extra brainfarts this year.
So why doesn't GG adjust? I think he clings to see mythical belief that should all 6 of our D men suddenly channel Bobby Orr our counter attack will be unstoppable. I get that clogging up the neutral zone and bringing forwards deeper will slow out counter attack, but clearly this counter attack is not happening.