[tkflames]

Great work on this thread!! I really appreciate the homework that went into this.

Through the last week of the season and the first week of the playoffs, I have been watching some of the "faster" teams with respect to how they move the puck and/or retain possession. From this I have the following observations:

1. Even Pittsburgh and Washington hold up and reverse the puck on the breakout if nothing is doing. Washington and Tampa power plays also regularly uses the dreaded drop pass. However, they can also play a fast transition via quick puck movement from their defensemen.

Hypothesis: The best teams read what the defense is giving them and play the long game. Much like football, a team that just runs the ball (GG Flames) will get shut down when the defense catches on. A team that just throws the ball (Hartley flames) opens up the pick option. The best teams seem to play both approaches and seem to use the stretch pass on occasion "intentionally unsuccessfully" to buy more space on future rushes.

2. While many teams use the 4th forward, the flames could certainly increase their defensive production by going with a 3 and 2 line up. Gio/Hamilton on the first unit, Brodie/Stone on the second. You have 3 guys that regularly score from the point and one that is perfectly capable of carrying it into the zone. In my idea world the Flames pickup a "power" top 6 winger to help the first power play unit with Gaudreau and Mony (maybe that is Tkatchuck already) and a high skill top 6/top 9 forward who's only job it is to gain the line on the second power play unit. That alone should boost defensive points by 15-25. If the Flames can score an extra 20-30 PP points next year, I would have to assume that at least one defenseman (using a 3/2 line-up) would be in on half or more of those.