This press conference is worth a watch. I swear Vrana looks a lot like Jiri Fischer. Especially in this clip. I love the “semi smile” when you see a player on these calls. The press are doing their best to find questions that aren’t obvious, but sometimes it comes out so awkwardly. “Are you glad to have a contract”. “Yep”. Etc.
Art Reghner did hit on an interesting point. He brought up Hronek and Zadina, and Vrana confirmed that it was nice to have guys he knew and could talk in his native language with. If the lines are swapped around a bit, I certainly like Vrana as a mentor/linemate for Zadina. Zadina’s defensive game took off well, this year’s focus is on scoring. This is something that more than one of you have been waiting for.
Listening to Yzerman regarding Tanguay’s acquisition, it’s another new set of tools the GM wants to provide for the team. Last season goaltending got an upgrade. The team worked harder on the backcheck. Goals against went down. It’s time to make room for offense, and doing it without sacrificing defense is incredibly difficult. This isn’t a team that can outscore its mistakes at this point.
I’m certain that Vrana will be asked to be defensively responsible, but will also be used to help create scoring. This is the player that you want waiting in (or very near) the neutral zone for the outlet pass. The Sedin twins were very good at the “intentional icing”. For years Duncan Keith could find Kane at center ice. Getting behind the defensive with a player who can create is something that’s been missing from this squad. My hope is that they drill breakouts to death.
For all the grief he gets, Mike Babcock was very good at breaking the game into pieces. Even the all star squad of Team Canada would remark on how he got them to think the game differently. Each year he would create new drills that would do two things. Simulate the pace and simulate situations very well. Guys would be “gassed” at training camp.
I’ve heard pretty much every theory on what a coach in the NHL should be doing. I’ve heard that you don’t need one, and I’ve heard that you need one to control every second of play. For me, a great coach can break the game into those 30 second pieces and prepare players for their shift. It’s part of what makes hockey so unique among the major sports. Your best players will be on the ice for a minute or less most times. You have to rely on the next guy on the ice to pick up where you left off.
I’ve become a “somewhere in the middle” person regarding the coaching responsibility. The coach needs to orchestrate the flow and feel, but also needs to allow players to use their individual strengths. Help them find a scenario where they can be creative without sacrificing the structure. Somewhere between Barry Trotz’s Islanders and Jon Cooper’s Lightning. Trotz gets so much out of players, and the 4 lines look nearly identical on the ice. Cooper has distinctly different lines that take on the personality of their players. Of course, Cooper has next level talent as well.
As Detroit ads talent to the roster, it needs to be cultivated and provided for. Yes, the players need to work for the team. But, it’s a shame to see someone lose their talents to a system. Less talent demands more structure, more talent seeks for grace within the system. It’s up to the player to display the talents that allows a coach to loosen the reins. ( I suppose the spelling of “reign” is also appropriate).
My hope for Vrana, Larkin, Bertuzzi, Zadina and Suter is that they tap in to some of the creativity that they have. If the system Blashill executes can support the abilities of the top players on this roster, it could be an exciting year indeed.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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