Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
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.
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I somewhat agree with the bolded. But the GM picks the players and he picks the GM and the coach and in essence, the system and style. How do you know for sure that the real problem is the coach and the “system” and not the players?
As for your first point, yes, Geoff Ward deployed a very passive defensive zone coverage. It’s a very common strategy that many other teams in this leaguw deploy. You give up the low percentage point shot to protect the high percentage slot chances. That, I’m ok with.
Honestly, their defensive zone structure hasn’t even been their biggest problem this season. When they’re in their dzone structure they’ve been fine for the most part, this team’s biggest problem(s) this season has been their transition game. They’ve turned the puck over far too much or have left themselves vulnerable in the neutral zone too often on the forecheck.