Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Mike Smith - Aggressive puck handling still beneficial?

1991 Canadian · 12-18-2017, 08:25 PM

I think it depends on the defenceman.

For a mobile defenceman like Brodie, it’s probably beneficial for him to pick up the puck and swing behind the net with speed.

For a guy like Hamonic, it’s probably better to get the pass on at the faceoff dot and avoid the worst of the forecheck.

I’m not sure if it is Smith or the Gullitzan “connected” system, but I haven’t seen Brodie swing behind the net, skate and make a backhand pass all year. The one thing I’d like to see Smith do more is just drop the puck behind the net so the D can pick it up with speed. The Flames have become somewhat predictable with their breakouts so it can’t hurt to change it up a bit.

12-18-2017, 08:25 PM	#29
1991 Canadian Scoring Winger Join Date: Jul 2013 Exp:	I think it depends on the defenceman. For a mobile defenceman like Brodie, it’s probably beneficial for him to pick up the puck and swing behind the net with speed. For a guy like Hamonic, it’s probably better to get the pass on at the faceoff dot and avoid the worst of the forecheck. I’m not sure if it is Smith or the Gullitzan “connected” system, but I haven’t seen Brodie swing behind the net, skate and make a backhand pass all year. The one thing I’d like to see Smith do more is just drop the puck behind the net so the D can pick it up with speed. The Flames have become somewhat predictable with their breakouts so it can’t hurt to change it up a bit.