Expect the 2011/12 version of the Heat will play a more aggressive, puck possession style of hockey compared to the last two years, said Ward.
However some things, like trying to stay out of the penalty box, which the Heat managed to accomplish more than in their inaugural campaign, will stay the same.
"We're going to be disciplined. I'd say that's been a trademark of my teams," said Ward.
"We're going be more of a puck pursuit team. My emphasis is on always playing with the puck and keeping the puck. I don't like to give it up as coach and if we do give it up, we're going to be very aggressive in our posture as to how we would get it back."
In other words, the best defence is a good offence.
That's a concept Ward believes has been lost on young players first in the post-lockout era.
"The hardest part of being a pro hockey player now is the offensive side of the game," he said.
While I'm not sold on Feaster's trading prowess I really feel he has the right ideas and philosophy of what he wants to do with this organization.
He's putting the right people in place who share his philosophy...I only watched the Heat once last year but from all accounts they were a dreadfully boring team to watch offensively and couldn't buy enough goals.
An aggressive, puck-pursuit team makes me excited that players who get called up to the NHL are going to have no problem scoring goals and fitting in with the Flames because they will be used to the style of play.
I guess the proof will be in the pudding but everyone is saying the right things...it's exciting.
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It will probably take some time before we see the overall change in philosophy take shape on the ice, but I like the direction things seem to be headed in. I think our prospects really need to be more creative offensively and hopefully Troy Ward can pull more of that out of them. I'm looking forward to seeing what the Heat can accomplish this year. Hopefully the players don't suffer any serious injuries (Negrin, Wahl to name a couple) and they can make an impact.
Puck pursuit? isn't that a fancy word for dump and chase?
In some situation yess, that is what it means, depending on how the other team is playing. It means, if you have to dump the puck, you get it back ASAP. It also means if the other team has the puck, you chase it to try get it back(ie, backcheck). The last couple years the Heat have been playing dump but don't chase, which is really boring to watch.
Wow, I really like what Feaster just said in the media meeting today.
He said Husketh emailed him today telling him about all of raving the prospects are doing about Ward. One prospect even told him that he'd "go through the wall for him".
Sounds like he'll be a kick ass coach that the players will love to play under.
We don't have that many great prospects, so there is an inpetus to groom our prospects well. I hope this will be the guy to do that. We desparately need cheap top 6/4 players, enough of the $3-4.5M 30+ year olds.
What will be the measure of a success, at least 2 (1F,1D) graduate to NHL at the start of every year, and 1 during season? One 1st-2nd line player every 2nd year?
Can we project any of our prospects to top positions?
Brodie maybe this year, Nemisz, Reinhart, Howse, Wahl, Breen, Ramage and Irving over the next 5 years? One can dream.
Last edited by Doc Hudson; 07-02-2011 at 03:50 PM.
We don't have that many great prospects, so there is an inpetus to groom our prospects well. I hope this will be the guy to do that. We desparately need cheap top 6/4 players, enough of the $3-4.5M 30+ year olds.
What will be the measure of a success, at least 2 (1F,1D) graduate to NHL at the start of every year, and 1 during season? One 1st-2nd line player every 2nd year?
Can we project any of our prospects to top positions?
Brodie maybe this year, Nemisz, Reinhart, Howse, Wahl, Breen, Ramage and Irving over the next 5 years? One can dream.
That measure of success can't necessarily be sustained. Id say that if at least 2 graduate to the NHL at the beginning of or during any season, should be the measure of great success, and if 1 manages to do so, that should be acceptable, depending on where the team is. If a year from now only 1 makes the NHL, that would be a disappointment, but this year, if one makes it out of camp, that will be considered a success due to all the competition for the bottom paring defensive spots. When there are only 21-23 players on a team, 3 rookies are hard to integrate every year. The Oilers only had that many on their roster to start last year and they were the worst team in the League.
I'd say that a measure of development success has to be more than just players making the NHL team. If two players on a team can increase their responsibilities every year, that should also be considered a measure of success, because if they can't, it will be hard to add rookies. Backlund going from the 3rd/4th lines to 1st/2nd and Giordano going from second paring defenseman to first pairing defenseman and being successful in those roles would be a success by my definition. Last year, Moss and Glencross forcing their way onto the second line would qualify.
I really like the promotion of Troy Ward to head coach and the hiring of Cail MacLean based on their interviews posted in this thread. They seem to have a good communication skills which is important when trying to learn young players. I think the emphazise on communication throughout the organization is one of the biggest positives Jay Feaster has brought, and one not to underrestimate.
Troy Ward: Heat will be a puck pursuit team
Thankfully it's changing.
