Quote:
Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper
Personally, I think all this low vs high quality shot talk has been overstated a bit. Does Darryl emphasis a lot of point shots, sure. But is it that reason this team has struggled to score? I don’t think so. I mean, last year’s #6 ranked offense played in the exact same system with the exact same tactics and strategies. So why did these tactics work last year, but this year hasn’t? Is it the tactics or is it the players?
For me, it’s the players. Sure, point shots are low quality shots that have a low percentage of going in. But it’s probably akin to that of a dman ringing the puck around the boards instead. Both plays effectively ease the pressure and direct it elsewhere. If the 5 guys do their jobs and check properly, then it really shouldn’t matter whether it’s a point shot or a ring around or even a puck flip. The team should be able to still retain possession, read and make plays.
Last year’s 1st line was brilliant in this regard. They played under the very same tactics, but they were successful not only because they checked effectively, but they also took advantage of the chaos that ensued to find seams and openings to create dangerous chances from the slot. This team lacks that kind of ability. They don’t have the types of players with the vision, skill and awareness to make quick reads and execute pinpoint plays.
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I think you are on to something but it’s a bit more than that
The team played a style, more consistently, across the bottom 3 lines. The 13-28-19 line played their own game once they checked and retrieved the puck. They used stretch passes, generated off the rush. Nobody was putting the puck in Gaudreau’s corner for him to bang around and retrieve it.
(Also another thing I mentioned elsewhere was the PP setup. Tkachuk in front to screen or tip, or step aside for the quick touch pass out to Lindholm in the slot.)
This team has players with high skill but the coach doesn’t play them together. He hasn’t loaded up a top line.
And where last year Gaudreau would carry the puck, this year you see Huberdeau dump it in. They aren’t playing the same game on offense. They are doing what the coach wants
The high skill that the players had last year, and the success, gave them more carte blanche to do their own thing. You heard Sutter grumbling about people doing things for personal stats
To me, it is right on point. People have been complaining all year about it being boring and ineffective because the high skill guys are playing a low skill game
And one more thing - they miss Kylington and his puck moving ability more than a lot of people realize