The Special Teams
- Thread starter Peter D.
- Start date
Mikhail Bloodnovsky
New member
Down Goes Brown:
Loser: Toronto Maple Leafs - The revamped assistant coaching staff is already confusing players with talk of a complex new penalty-killing system, replacing the past years' strategy of everyone standing around asking each other "Hey, am I crazy or is one of us missing?"
I guess the new coaching stuff did squat.
Loser: Toronto Maple Leafs - The revamped assistant coaching staff is already confusing players with talk of a complex new penalty-killing system, replacing the past years' strategy of everyone standing around asking each other "Hey, am I crazy or is one of us missing?"
I guess the new coaching stuff did squat.
S
Stebro
Guest
I think that fans are making too many excuses for it. Young players, poor goalies, players not doing what they should etc. Even awful teams could be taught the art of penalty killing. But without pressure you're doomed, most coaches will tell you that. I did however read that Wilson had one of the best pk's of all time with Washington one season, however this was likely before all changes in the league. It's more based on speed now and you have to adjust to that. Does anyone seriously think that you can have a good powerplay if you almost stand still with no pressure? I think that most players are not used to that either.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
Mirtle the turtle with an article about the PK:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-beat/for-toronto-the-penalty-kills-a-killer/article2228687/
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-beat/for-toronto-the-penalty-kills-a-killer/article2228687/
L K
Active member
Potvin29 said:
The first half of the article blames the goaltending. You get a bad SV% when 4 out of 5 shots end up being quality scoring chances. There is no doubt that some better goaltending needs to take place, but I think the bigger issue is poor rotation and a box that allows outside passes but then still manages to leave guys open in the middle for rebounds.
I think another interesting thing might be in the stat mentioned with Dupuis. He has been on the ice for 3 PP goals in 29 minutes. He plays the 2nd most PK time/game among forwards, and yet has come out of the lineup twice for Jay Rosehill. Why take a guy who has been mildly effective on the thing your team struggles with, for a guy who can't play hockey?
As for the mental issue, yeah, I think that is a problem. Every time they give up a PP goal, they have to be thinking about how bad it is, but at the same time, there have been enough new players added to the lineup that it seems odd to blame it on that. I doubt Steckel came in worrying about how bad the PK was and how he was going to contribute to compoundthe problem.
It seems to me most of the PP goals against are coming from point shots (deflections, screens, straight in...). It also seems that the opposition point guys are getting the pucks from bad clearing attempts from Leaf PKers.
The Leaf forwards come down deep to support the D in their zone...as they are told (Wilson advocates this) and I understand why. But now the forwards are standing still with the puck deep in their zone, along the half-boards with oodles of pressure on them, they try to get it up the boards and the opposing D corals it and the Leafs are back on their heels again.
They do this 5 on 5 every game too. The Leafs turn it over on the half-boards all night. It's just magnified on the PK because it turns into quality scoring chances.
The Leaf forwards come down deep to support the D in their zone...as they are told (Wilson advocates this) and I understand why. But now the forwards are standing still with the puck deep in their zone, along the half-boards with oodles of pressure on them, they try to get it up the boards and the opposing D corals it and the Leafs are back on their heels again.
They do this 5 on 5 every game too. The Leafs turn it over on the half-boards all night. It's just magnified on the PK because it turns into quality scoring chances.
hockeyfan1
New member
drummond said:
Excellent breakdown of what ails the Leafs' PK. Guess they need to go 'back to school'!
GhostofPotvin29
New member
drummond said:
Did not know that.
Optimus Reimer
New member
What's so special about the Leafs PP or PK other than the fact they are slated for near or dead last again?
maplesyrup
New member
Glass half full: We're totally awesome 5 on 5.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
Scot4bz said:
An original classic!
link
Special-teams play, a current hot-button issue with the Leafs, is under renovation with the St. Louis Blues.
Witness new coach Ken Hitchcock?s answer when asked, in his opening press conference, how long it will take to fix the club?s 30th-ranked power play: ?One practice,? he said.
The Blues played their first game under Hitchcock Tuesday and downed Chicago 3-0. The special-teams tally showed a goal on two chances ? by Chris Stewart, who hadn?t scored at all in 11 games.
What Hitchcock did was usher in a 1-3-1 system and discard the more common approach: two defenceman on the point, a forward off the half boards and two more players down low (the Leafs? current model).
The heat is on, Ronny!
Special-teams play, a current hot-button issue with the Leafs, is under renovation with the St. Louis Blues.
Witness new coach Ken Hitchcock?s answer when asked, in his opening press conference, how long it will take to fix the club?s 30th-ranked power play: ?One practice,? he said.
The Blues played their first game under Hitchcock Tuesday and downed Chicago 3-0. The special-teams tally showed a goal on two chances ? by Chris Stewart, who hadn?t scored at all in 11 games.
What Hitchcock did was usher in a 1-3-1 system and discard the more common approach: two defenceman on the point, a forward off the half boards and two more players down low (the Leafs? current model).
The heat is on, Ronny!
Corn Flake
New member
Kenny can fix special teams, but he will alienate the entire team by March.
Six of one.....?
But yes.. come on Ron!
Six of one.....?
But yes.. come on Ron!
Significantly Insignificant said:
:
If that's the case then how do coaches break into the NHL? They don't start at the NHL level. Give some credit where it's due. Jeez, a two game losing streak and you'd think everyone in our organization had the aptitude of Reggie Dunlop.
