Hitchcock used to refer to Lehtinen as “Mr. Fix It” for similar reasoning: he could stick him on any line, where either the defense or offensive pressure would normalize. Dellandrea and the players listed seem to all fit that two-way mould (obviously to different degrees), making them flexible enough to truly play off their teammates.
While Sean focused on modernizing the existing idea for reasonings of load management, much in the same way platooning goalies has become more acceptable, I think your deconstruction of roles is a more palatable approach in hockey. We’re already seeing it offensively with rover defense and high-zone rotation that makes the o-zone positionless. This could help massage the Hockey ego that can’t equate less ice time (aka not “fighting through”) with being better for the team.
Also: Ehlers has looked good the last few games. Who is to say why…
If the team is going to be put into a system of pair + 1, then this is something that makes perfect sense. It gives you the flexibility of changing the dynamic of each line and being harder to scheme against. Every line has their key weakness (speed, offensive/defensive skill, toughness, etc) and this allows you to paratroop in a critical piece. Those two shifts you "lost" from Pavelski, one might be more putting the top line out for an extra shift earlier after a PK, the other might be injecting him into a set play off an icing.
End of the day this can work, but it will require a significantly more engaged coaching style than blindly rolling 4 lines.
If pair +1 is the name of the game, are we still looking for Seguins partner?
Dutch & Mush seem to be sympatico, leaving Seguin in a +1 spot. Not saying he's looked or played bad, but the magic touch seems to be coming from the Marchment/Duchene connection.
Faksa/Seguin have put up good stats in the past and might be worth another look. Delly hasn't quite had the finishing touch to make this line click in previous iterations, but I do wonder if Dadonov or Smith would provide the proper offensive support to make it worth giving another go.
Interesting concept… though coaches in general are the last to try innovating concepts :))).
But, I’d prefer that rotational player be someone else…. As I don’t see (eye test) the offensive potential for Dellandrea on the 1st 2 lines with Hintz or Johnston. His play so far, to me, hasn’t earned it.
Yes a player needs skilled line mates to show his true value, but even Duchane was showing top end skill playing with Marchment AND Seguin… which before his recent chem. with Marchment, was exactly like playing with low end teammates.
I’ve said before, Steel is the guy I want to see more of… he centered Kiprosov and Zuccarella for MN, and at least against the Stars in the playoffs looked much better than Delly…
Hitchcock used to refer to Lehtinen as “Mr. Fix It” for similar reasoning: he could stick him on any line, where either the defense or offensive pressure would normalize. Dellandrea and the players listed seem to all fit that two-way mould (obviously to different degrees), making them flexible enough to truly play off their teammates.
While Sean focused on modernizing the existing idea for reasonings of load management, much in the same way platooning goalies has become more acceptable, I think your deconstruction of roles is a more palatable approach in hockey. We’re already seeing it offensively with rover defense and high-zone rotation that makes the o-zone positionless. This could help massage the Hockey ego that can’t equate less ice time (aka not “fighting through”) with being better for the team.
Also: Ehlers has looked good the last few games. Who is to say why…
If the team is going to be put into a system of pair + 1, then this is something that makes perfect sense. It gives you the flexibility of changing the dynamic of each line and being harder to scheme against. Every line has their key weakness (speed, offensive/defensive skill, toughness, etc) and this allows you to paratroop in a critical piece. Those two shifts you "lost" from Pavelski, one might be more putting the top line out for an extra shift earlier after a PK, the other might be injecting him into a set play off an icing.
End of the day this can work, but it will require a significantly more engaged coaching style than blindly rolling 4 lines.
If pair +1 is the name of the game, are we still looking for Seguins partner?
Dutch & Mush seem to be sympatico, leaving Seguin in a +1 spot. Not saying he's looked or played bad, but the magic touch seems to be coming from the Marchment/Duchene connection.
Faksa/Seguin have put up good stats in the past and might be worth another look. Delly hasn't quite had the finishing touch to make this line click in previous iterations, but I do wonder if Dadonov or Smith would provide the proper offensive support to make it worth giving another go.
Fairly certain this marks the first time “kakapo” and “hockey” have appeared in the same article.
Interesting concept… though coaches in general are the last to try innovating concepts :))).
But, I’d prefer that rotational player be someone else…. As I don’t see (eye test) the offensive potential for Dellandrea on the 1st 2 lines with Hintz or Johnston. His play so far, to me, hasn’t earned it.
Yes a player needs skilled line mates to show his true value, but even Duchane was showing top end skill playing with Marchment AND Seguin… which before his recent chem. with Marchment, was exactly like playing with low end teammates.
I’ve said before, Steel is the guy I want to see more of… he centered Kiprosov and Zuccarella for MN, and at least against the Stars in the playoffs looked much better than Delly…
Really enjoyed the article and the “ outside the box ‘ approach
Who is the guy the Stars have put on IR?