Toronto is no good

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

On this board it's clear Phaneuf would not make a top 80 NHL D-Men list so I'm not going to bother.

I love how you always resort to strawman arguments whenever you get pressed to defend your views.


Anyway, in a rare moment of Toronto not being no good, it looks like former Calgary Hitmen star Brandon Kozun made the team. Another midget sized player, and one who got buried in LA. Hopefully he does well. The last former Hitmen star to go to Toronto didn't turn out so well, and it is still hard to believe the Leafs chose to hold onto Pogge at the expense of Rask.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I love how you always resort to strawman arguments whenever you get pressed to defend your views.


Anyway, in a rare moment of Toronto not being no good, it looks like former Calgary Hitmen star Brandon Kozun made the team. Another midget sized player, and one who got buried in LA. Hopefully he does well. The last former Hitmen star to go to Toronto didn't turn out so well, and it is still hard to believe the Leafs chose to hold onto Pogge at the expense of Rask.

I truely am torn.


I like Kozun, but really hate the Leafs.


I hope he plays well, but not well enough, gets traded then lights it up with the new team making the Leafs look bad.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by Locke

Except pathetic?

Are they grateful for the single greatest collapse in sports history?

Do they send the Boston Bruins a Christmas card every year?

You really think that 10 minute collapse beats teams blowing 3-0 leads in series?

San Jose's collapse last Spring was easily worse. Boston themselves had a bigger collapse 3 years prior.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

You really think that 10 minute collapse beats teams blowing 3-0 leads in series?

Quite true: that was far from the biggest collapse in sports history. In fact, I'd say it wasn't a collapse at all. The Leafs just ran out of smoke and mirrors, and reverted to their natural level.

Oh, well, if they'd had 10 more minutes' worth of smoke, they'd have got by Boston, setting themselves up for four straight games of humiliation.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I love how you always resort to strawman arguments whenever you get pressed to defend your views.


Anyway, in a rare moment of Toronto not being no good, it looks like former Calgary Hitmen star Brandon Kozun made the team. Another midget sized player, and one who got buried in LA. Hopefully he does well. The last former Hitmen star to go to Toronto didn't turn out so well, and it is still hard to believe the Leafs chose to hold onto Pogge at the expense of Rask.

I have no idea what you're talking about. I post stats more than anyone on here. They are of course always ignored.

[Travis Munroe]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I truely am torn.


I like Kozun, but really hate the Leafs.


I hope he plays well, but not well enough, gets traded then lights it up with the new team making the Leafs look bad.

Agreed - I worked with Brandon for a bit over the summer and he is a incredibly polite / respectful guy. Ill cheer for him as a individual and against the leafs

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

I have no idea what you're talking about. I post stats more than anyone on here. They are of course always ignored.

One day, Grasshopper, you will grasp the concept of relevance. Only then will you become a Stat-Fu Master.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

One day, Grasshopper, you will grasp the concept of relevance. Only then will you become a Stat-Fu Master.

No answer, eh?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

I have no idea what you're talking about. I post stats more than anyone on here. They are of course always ignored.

Now you're into non sequitur territory. And you've still failed to explain how moving to the left side will suddenly turn Phaneuf into a superstar when he's played the left side before without looking any better. You see, this is where we are looking for some of those stats - or at least some logical presentation of why you think he is more suited to the left side.

What we are not looking for - and what makes you look like a fool - is your typical "he will be better because I'm a Leafs fan and he's a Leaf" argument.

[Headshot]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

On this board it's clear Phaneuf would not make a top 80 NHL D-Men list so I'm not going to bother.

Sorry for ignoring the stats that you always post like this.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by Headshot

Sorry for ignoring the stats that you always post like this.

So I don't post stats?

I remember the time I posted save % and was told what a "Useless Stat" it was.

[Headshot]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

So I don't post stats?

I remember the time I posted save % and was told what a "Useless Stat" it was.

Show me.

[BigTuna]

I have no idea where it is. it was a few weeks ago. I posted Reimer's career save %.

[GoodUncle]

I just want to say......Toronto Maple Leafs, REALLY are no good! Just sayin!

[BigTuna]

They made great moves in the offseason. Robbed for St.Louis blind.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

So I don't post stats?

I remember the time I posted save % and was told what a "Useless Stat" it was.

Originally Posted by BigTuna

I have no idea where it is. it was a few weeks ago. I posted Reimer's career save %.

1. You weren't told what a "useless stat" save percentage was.
2. You did not post Reimer's career save %

What you posted was, in fact, in reference to Bernier, and referenced two seasons, not a career:

Originally Posted by BigTuna

So Bernier posting the same save % as the previous season in LA means he was "Lucky". You don't think he's good?

Now, your statement was correct on its face. However, what you failed to mention was that Bernier only played 14 games in that season with the Kings, and you failed to address the original point that the Maple Leafs were only in playoff contention last year because of an early season streak of "lucky goaltending".

FWIW, I would have used the word "unsustainable" rather than lucky. Bernier posted a pre-Olympic average of .927 (over .930 over the first three months), but fell to .904 in the late season.

Reimer, meanwhile, was a ridiculous .949 in October (six games), then fell off a cliff. He was pretty much a liability between November and March, but ended with an extremely strong April - after the Leafs were already cooked.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

Kessel hasn't missed a game in 5 years. Most guys don't age well do to style of play/injuries.

Are we just going to gloss over the fact that in response to people noticing what a fat balloon Kessel has become, BigTuna's response was that players don't age well when they don't miss games?

Like that was actually his response to that. I mean, I understand he's saying lots of ridiculous things in this thread, but we simply can't let that go.

Good lord.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

They made great moves in the offseason. Robbed for St.Louis blind.

I hate to steal your thunder and bring stats first but...

http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/20...vs-roman-polak

The general conclusion from PPP can be described thus:

Overall, the BtN numbers tell a story of two conservative D-men, one of whom looked mediocre on a great team and who will look WAY WORSE on the Leafs, and another who looked mediocre on a TERRIBLE defensive team, and will probably flourish under less pressure in St. Louis

Or, perhaps this:

If you heard about this trade and assumed that that Leafs made a terrible defence corps worse, the numbers will tell you that your assumption was crushingly accurate. Maybe the Leafs are tougher, but they're worse at hockey for it. Maybe Polak can fight David Clarkson again or something. That might be fun to watch.

Now, Gunnarson's hip is a concern - and PPP notes this - but the fact remains that the Maple Leafs traded one of their top pair defencemen from last year for a guy the team itself figured topped out as a 4-5. St. Louis acquired Gunnarson for depth.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

No answer, eh?

None that you have the wit to perceive, apparently.

[t0rrent98]

On the Leafs message board.. LOL.

An Open Letter to Coaches,

Without doubt, the most common complaint I hear from parents of goalies of all ages and skill levels is that their kids receive little or no instruction on the ice during practices. My set response to the complaint, and I wish it were not so true is, “Get used to it, it doesn’t get any better!”

To invoke a much overused cliché, “the goalie IS the most important player on a team.” Just like the pitcher in baseball and the quarterback in football, the ice hockey goalie plays an individual game within a team sport. He is the pivotal player who must be confident and focused for the entire elapsed time of a match. This confidence and focus can be supported by good skating and mechanical skills, proper timing, and superior eye-hand coordination, but it is born and continually fed off a large personal ego that supplies the self confidence to creatively and consistently perform well. Much like a golfer, who must truly compete against himself, the ice hockey goalie needs to be totally focused on seeing the puck and keeping it out of the net, WITHOUT ever thinking about how he’s doing it while he is playing.

With these beginning thoughts in mind, what follows are suggestions for bringing the natural talent out of your young goalies and incorporating them into your practices as equal participants, not just the kids you leave alone and don’t try to coach.

If I had one piece of advise to give anybody planning to coach a young hockey team, it would be to build your player’s respect for their goalies. Whether the kid in your net is awful or a superstar, your players must show respect for each other, and especially the goalie, if your intend to build your team for a successful season. Many a perceived weak goalie at the beginning of a season has won championships for his team, and many a superstar has lost confidence in himself during the course of a season and floundered. Young people are very aware of peer pressure, and what their friends think of them. It is paramount to a young player that his teammates have confidence in his abilities; it is what builds their ego. You, as coach, must set the team on the right course. This course starts with the highest respect for the guy in the net, and the job he is responsible for. If you set the tone for the year with your words and actions towards your goalie, your team will follow.

The goalie should be treated no different than any other player on the team in terms of understanding what his responsibilities are, but unlike forwards and defenceman, the goalie is often left on his own to determine what his goals need to be. Coaches take plenty of time explaining how to run a 2 on 1 and how to play a powerplay. Players are walked through theory on a blackboard, learn concepts slowly on the ice during practice, and eventually move up to practicing at game speeds. It is a common sense approach for passing on knowledge, with a general goal of getting each and every player to learn and grow as a hockey player and for the team to execute and win. With regards to the goalie, the thinking should be the same.

SETTING GOALS
It goes without saying that every goalie, regardless of age, should know the basic goaltending job description. Keep puck out of net. My first suggestion to the coach is to remind his goalies of this obvious fact. By doing so, you are first letting him know that you have standards that he needs to work to obtain, but most importantly, you are reminding him in the simplest way what his fundamental job is. When a goalie is not going well, he knows it. He also knows that you no it, the team knows it, and the parents know it. He is not thinking about keeping the puck out of the net before a game, he is worrying about the game itself! Instead of going on the ice and taking charge of the game, and thus having some control over the final outcome, he is worrying about what might possibly happen. You can’t imagine how awful and isolating this frame of mind is, and it cannot be allowed to infiltrate your goalie’s head. Simple reminders are a good way of keeping him focused.

GET THE FIRST SHOT
One definite goal to demand of your goalies is for him to stop all the first shots he faces. If he’s getting those first shots, your team’s chances of winning are high. Just like reminding the rest of the team that they must pick up their checks and not get caught deep in the offensive zone, a regular pregame demand on your goalies should be to “get us the first shot”. Again, you are setting standards, in front of the team, that remind him of the basic goaltending truths. Also, without the first shots stopped, your team will be sunk, along with the goalie’s confidence. In order to build respect for their goalie, the team must know he’s there for them. By getting most of first shots, the team’s perception of their goalie will be that he’s working hard and doing his job. A team will respond to a goalie like that.

CONTROL YOUR REBOUNDS
Another point to emphasize before games and during practices is the need to control rebounds. Rebound control is a mental decision. Once a young person can skate and execute solid save techniques, he can concentrate on controlling his rebounds. With the exception of getting the first shot, rebound control should be your most important demand from your goalie. Once he realizes how important it is to you and the team’s overall success, you will start to see less second and third shot opportunities.

REBOUND PRIORITY (from most desirable to least)
1. Stop and control every shot so you can freeze or move the puck. (Utopian I know, but an absolute standard)
2. Put all shots to the corners or over the glass out of play (This is the drill to work on a lot in practice)
3. Put the rebound where the other team is not
4. Give the rebound right back to the player who shot it, rather than to your sides where it will be an easy tap-in goal.*
*Priority 4 is some what radical in it’s thinking, but makes sense. It is better to give a second shot to the player you’re already facing than to put it off to your sides to an uncovered man.

These rebound priorities are an excellent set of goals to give to your goalies. They are a set of standards that you can keep statistics on. Rebound control is becoming a less emphasized skill, and it shouldn’t be. Below is a way to set up a sheet to chart your goalie’s success during a game. Get one of the parents to do the work.

SAVES
CONTROLLED REBOUNDS
Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Type 5
BAD REBOUNDS
REBOUND GOALS
GOALS
BAD GOALS
FIRST SHOT GOALS

TOTAL SAVES
TOTAL CONTROLLED REBOUNDS
Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Type 5
TOTAL BAD REBOUNDS
TOTAL REBOUND GOALS
GOALS
BAD GOALS
TOTAL FIRST SHOT GOALS

SAVE= Any puck the goalie had to stop to prevent it going into the goal
CONTROLLED REBOUND= A save safely controlled and set out of harms way, further classified according to the prior priorities.
BAD REBOUND= any rebound that is not placed, but carelessly left to go anywhere
REBOUND GOAL= Any goal that is the result of a second, third, or fourth shot in a row
BAD REBOUND GOAL= any goal that is a result of a careless first save
GOALS= Goal against
BAD GOAL = Any goal that the goalie should have had
FIRST SHOT GOAL= all goals that are shot directly in the net, not a result of a rebound
GOALIES & PRACTICE
Ask any old goalie about his memories of practice, and their first reaction will probably be an uncontrollable flinch of pain, accompanied by involuntary closing of the eyes. When I got to professional hockey I quickly learned that the number one priority during a practice was to survive. I had a beefed up Chest/Arm protector that I wore only in practice and an extra heavy-duty catching glove, with so much plastic in it I couldn’t begin to close it. Unfortunately, this scenario is the norm, rather than the exception. Goalies have always been treated like targets in practice, and, after being shot at, are usually left alone to work on their game as the rest of the team works on specific plays and situations. It shouldn’t be like this! Goalies can be incorporated into practice to keep them safe and working with only a little thought from the coach and respect from the players.

If you, as coach, agree that the goalie is the most important factor to your team’s success, then you must structure your practices to let him work on the things that will make him a better goalie. If, during practices, the goalies are distracted with a primitive need to live, they cannot begin to focus on the job of stopping more pucks. Practice for a goalie is not like a game. There are far more shots coming at him, and he usually has no support to take away shooter’s options that aren’t usually available during a real game. The following are some of my thoughts on strategies you can use to let your goalies get something out of practice, and to instill the respect in him and his position that is so important from the rest of the team.

WARM-UP
Most coaches think that goalies don’t like to have hard shots taken at them early in a practice This is false. Goalies don’t like hard shots taken from close range early in a practice. Have your team warm up the goaltender with slap shots coming from just inside the blue line. The goalie needs to be able to see and follow the puck before he starts to bear down on the shots from the slot. If you do not demand this simple warm-up discipline from your players, your goalies are going to be thinking about getting hit, rather than following pucks and reacting. If this type of behavior continues as the season progresses, you find yourself with goalies who do not start practices well, and, as it goes to follow, will not have as good starts to their games. If you can demand your goalies bear down in practice right from the start, they will get used to, and start expecting to, start well. The better your goalies play early in a game, the more games your team will win.

Try not to use rapid fire drills in any of your practice warm-ups. Try and keep your goalie drills “game real”. In a game there is only one puck. A goalie must learn to follow that puck from the shooter’s stick, along its path in the air, into his body, AND off his body into the corner. These skills make for good eye-hand coordination. If you are shooting puck after puck in a row, the goalie cannot follow each puck from stick to corner, and he develops the most hurtful habit possible, not watching the puck. STOP USING PRIMITIVE SHOOTING DRILLS. Incorporate movement and eye-hand coordination into every warm up drill. The benefits will be immediate and substantial.

Once you have developed good team warm-up habits, you can begin to demand more saves, perfect ‘puck-following’ discipline, and better rebound control from your goalies. This will translate into consistently better goaltending.

When a goalie either gains or loses confidence, he does so in stages. Confidence is lost when the goalie starts to guess what the shooters are going to do. By doing so, the goalie will start ‘making the first move’, thus presenting the shooter with new options. Long term confidence is built on the discipline of holding your ground and being able to react to any situation. By not making any first moves, the goalie forces the shooter to either aim at small portions of the net or readjust their shooting/passing angle. THIS IS THE KIND OF GOALTENDING THAT WILL WIN YOU GAMES! The whole process starts in practice by keeping drills orientated to a single puck, and giving the goalie time to establish his system. The process will not occur if the goaltender is:
a) Worrying about getting hurt
B) Having to deal with more than one puck, shot after shot
c) Facing too many uneven, non -realistic situations that encourage him to guess to make a save, and punish him with short, tap-in goals when he does his job and takes the man with the puck.

If you run bad practices that encourage guessing, YOU ARE TO BLAME FOR THE RESULTS YOU SEE IN GAMES.

SKATING
I am a firm believer in having your goalies skate the regular practice drills with the rest of your team. An old goalie maxim is that ‘you can never be a good enough skater’. Expect your goalies to do all of the pivots, crossovers, and stops and starts that the rest of the team does. Obviously they shouldn’t be as fast, BUT they can do the drills as WELL as their teammates. Sideways skating and crease movement is important, but must be monitored by someone who can identify and correct any problems that develop. Much like figure skating, proper goaltending movements involve small mechanics that have to be understood before they can be implemented. This is where a skilled goalie coach can help.

GOALIE COACHES
There is an old saying that says, “shake a tree and 10 drummers will fall out, but only one of them can keep time.” After 18 years of teaching ice hockey goal, I can unfortunately attest that the same holds true for goalie coaches, or, as we refer to them in the trade, ‘goalie experts’. If you recall my previous month’s letter to parents, I have a couple theories on what attracts such personalities, but at the base level there is a certain aura and glamour about the goaltender position, and people want to feel part of that glamour. In all due respect to goalie experts, most are doing more harm then good. As head coach, you need to choose your goalie coach carefully. After all, you are putting him in charge of your team’s most important player.

Following are some Do’s and Don’ts for choosing a goalie coach:

DON’T let one of the goalie’s Dads be your goalie coach. (a sure disaster for 12 -17 year olds)

DON’T allow a ‘store-bought’ or ‘text book’ coach. If the person has knowledge without any playing experience, the children will not respect the information. Besides, most text book concepts are superficial at best.

DON’T invite the old goalie who wants to coach, but has zero experience. Playing experience is one thing. The ability to think out and PRESENT a system of play suitable for the age involved is something else. Teaching goal demands concentration on repetitive drills and techniques. Someone who doesn’t know how to ‘pace’ and ‘build a goalie’ will rush the process.

DO invite the hot shot teenager to work with 7-10 year olds. If the kid is reliable, the youngsters will look up to his polish and energy. Just what the Goalie Doctor orders!

DO invite a local goalie coach with a strong track record and word of mouth reputation.

DO allow a former Pro who wants to be involved. The kids will automatically respect his ideas, and he is coaching for the right reasons, to give something back.

TAKE A GOOD LOOK at the adult ‘beer’ league goalie. Is the information he teaches well thought out and presented? Does he demand a system of play based on one NHL goalie model, or can he develop a system of play for your goalie’s natural talents? Is he trying to force a young goalie to play a ‘stand-up’ disciplined style of goal, or is he presenting that style as a sub-group of the overall system? Is his own game sloppy and ill-defined, or is it accurate and precise?

Obviously there is much more that can be discussed about developing your young goalies.