Quote:
Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper
Your first point I agree with 100%. All sorts of systems can win, which also leads me to wonder why so many people in CP question systems so damn much.
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Because
- Geoff Ward's
collapse defense in particular was
extremely passive, and analytics have shown over the last decade+ that passive systems produce lower shot attempt differentials than more aggressive systems, and that shot attempt differential, in particular shot attempts
for are one of the greatest indicators of future success. While teams "have won" with collapse defenses (2011 Bruins, 2017 Penguins), they are fundamentally
outliers compared to teams that have won with systems that eschew collapsing in favour of pressure (2010 Blackhawks, 2012 Kings, 2013 Blackhawks, 2014 Kings, 2015 Blackhawks, 2016 Penguins, 2019 Blues, 2020 Lightning)
- a hockey system is
a structural framework within which players are expected to succeed, but the Flames have shown a tendency towards rigid adherence to executing "by the book" to their own detriment. Case-in-point, the whole "break out along the walls all the time, every time" strategy that has the defensemen abandoning some of their fundamental skillsets of wheeling the puck in the defensive zone in lieu of passes to stationary wingers.
- if the systems do not
fit the
personnel, you are not getting the most out of that personnel.
- hockey is a game heavily driven by luck - which can offset the (in)effectiveness of a given system. But
relying on luck is a poor strategy. Just because you
can win doing something ineffective, does not mean you
should
-
all systems will get countered within series of games against the same opponents, and coaches need to be able to adapt
variations within their systems such that those systems are not exploited. This is not something Ward showed the capability of doing, whether that was in the playoffs or otherwise.
Again, to reiterate what Sutter said - there simply isn't
time for him to implement sweeping systemic changes. He will make do with what he has. He'll probably make some subtle adjustments but does not have a training camp or 60+ games to implement a system tailor-made for the players he has.