If Hitchcock is a forecheck and puck pressure first coach.

What is Laviolette. Squirrel on crack?
- flyer_nutter

whatever it is, its showcasing just how much of a stud forsberg is.

whatever it is, its showcasing just how much of a stud forsberg is.
- stayinthefnnet

He has the horses on the back end to implement his system well. Something he lacked here in the later years.

Good for him. I'm sure it wont take McLean long to find a job, even if reports are true he was a bit too hardass on players.

He has the horses on the back end to implement his system well. Something he lacked here in the later years.

Good for him. I'm sure it wont take McLean long to find a job, even if reports are true he was a bit too hardass on players.
- flyer_nutter

that really is it. he has the horses in the back end that not only can get it up ice, but can also defend their area a lot without a ton of help from the forwards. (and rinne sure doesnt hurt either)

in this way, he is able to get the most out of guys that are good, but not great, such as ribero.

r]

I watch them play -- just because they forecheck heavily doesn't mean their system isn't defensive. They aren't pressuring the puck so they can CREATE shots. They're pressuring the puck so they can PREVENT shots.

It's the difference between Babcock's system and Hitchcock's.
- AllInForFlyers

Both play a very similar style. Both want to get the puck back, and spend more time attacking, and less time defending. And you're incorrect in stating that they aren't pressuring the puck so they can create shots. They're pressuring the puck so they can get it back and go on the attack. The use the forecheck and puck pressure to control possession, and spend more time with the puck, then without it. His system does not sacrifice or stifle offense. His system is all about playing with the puck more, and is rooted in the forecheck.

He has the horses on the back end to implement his system well. Something he lacked here in the later years.

Good for him. I'm sure it wont take McLean long to find a job, even if reports are true he was a bit too hardass on players.
- flyer_nutter

MacLean's a good coach -- he'll find another job. He didn't have the horses on defense, other than Karlsson, and they have found out that it's a lot easier to talk about Kyle Turris as a No. 1 center than have him actually do it, game in and game out

He has the horses on the back end to implement his system well. Something he lacked here in the later years.

Good for him. I'm sure it wont take McLean long to find a job, even if reports are true he was a bit too hardass on players.
- flyer_nutter

eh you never know. i think a lot of it has to do with how selective these guys want to be. everyone said bylsma would be snatched up instantaneously. and here he still sits.

Both play a very similar style. Both want to get the puck back, and spend more time attacking, and less time defending. And you're incorrect in stating that they aren't pressuring the puck so they can create shots. They're pressuring the puck so they can get it back and go on the attack. The use the forecheck and puck pressure to control possession, and spend more time with the puck, then without it.
- MJL

regardless of the outcome of the little system evaluation dance you two have going on haha

i would bet my house that shooting percentage/point totals/general productivity in life would all see an uptick if he was plucked out of there and placed on a line with malkin

eh you never know. i think a lot of it has to do with how selective these guys want to be. everyone said bylsma would be snatched up instantaneously. and here he still sits.
- stayinthefnnet

How many jobs have been available since he was let go? I think he's a good coach who will get a job sooner rather then later.

Both play a very similar style. Both want to get the puck back, and spend more time attacking, and less time defending. And you're incorrect in stating that they aren't pressuring the puck so they can create shots. They're pressuring the puck so they can get it back and go on the attack. The use the forecheck and puck pressure to control possession, and spend more time with the puck, then without it.
- MJL

Right. How about this: I'm not going to argue with someone who doesn't even watch them play.

regardless of the outcome of the little system evaluation dance you two have going on haha

i would bet my house that shooting percentage/point totals/general productivity in life would all see an uptick if he was plucked out of there and placed on a line with malkin
- stayinthefnnet

Talking about Oshie? RJ Umberger would see an uptick playing with Malkin!

Talking about Oshie? RJ Umberger would see an uptick playing with Malkin!

- MJL

oh no.





malkin would see a downtick.

Right. How about this: I'm not going to argue with someone who doesn't even watch them play.
- AllInForFlyers

How do you know I don't watch them play? I'd be happy to discuss systems anytime you want. Any facet of it.

eh you never know. i think a lot of it has to do with how selective these guys want to be. everyone said bylsma would be snatched up instantaneously. and here he still sits.
- stayinthefnnet

The funny thing is, Laviolette is lighting it up in Nashville and Trotz is spitting turds in Washington. Caps need a rebuild badly, and I do wonder about giving up Ovechkin.

If I was Washington I'd consider it at the draft.

How do you know I don't watch them play? I'd be happy to discuss systems anytime you want. Any facet of it.
- MJL

Because if you did watch them play, you'd have known that TJ Oshie's a much better player than Matt Read, and wouldn't have qualified it

Oshie kills penalties, plays with David Backes against the opposing team's top units -- just like Read does

But he's better at it, and if you watched them, you'd know that

regardless of the outcome of the little system evaluation dance you two have going on haha

i would bet my house that shooting percentage/point totals/general productivity in life would all see an uptick if he was plucked out of there and placed on a line with malkin
- stayinthefnnet

Waste of time. Apparently Hitch isn't a D first coach. Uh huh.

How many jobs have been available since he was let go? I think he's a good coach who will get a job sooner rather then later.
- MJL

yeah exactly. like i said, i think a lot of it has to do with the level of selectivity the coaches wish to have in selecting their next assignment.

dan needs a veteran, gritty team. preferably one just coming off of a period in which they tuned out a hardass coach to get him canned.

yeah exactly. like i said, i think a lot of it has to do with the level of selectivity the coaches wish to have in selecting their next assignment.

dan needs a veteran, gritty team. preferably one just coming off of a period in which they tuned out a hardass coach to get him canned.
- stayinthefnnet

Toronto imo. I doubt Babcock goes anywhere.

The funny thing is, Laviolette is lighting it up in Nashville and Trotz is spitting turds in Washington. Caps need a rebuild badly, and I do wonder about giving up Ovechkin.

If I was Washington I'd consider it at the draft.
- flyer_nutter

yeah i understand. i fluctuate on how i feel about ovechkin.

i will say this though. i think ovechkin means more to that team and fanbase than what can simply be measured through on ice wins.

Toronto imo. I doubt Babcock goes anywhere.
- flyer_nutter

yeah i could see DB in toronto.


and i could tell you exactly where Babcock is going next year, but...

Because if you did watch them play, you'd have known that TJ Oshie's a much better player than Matt Read, and wouldn't have qualified it

Oshie kills penalties, plays with David Backes against the opposing team's top units -- just like Read does

But he's better at it, and if you watched them, you'd know that
- AllInForFlyers

So if anyone watches a player on any team, they all come to the same conclusion?


I do think Oshie is a better player then Read is offensively, and better in puck pursuit, which is a strong suit of his that makes him effective in Hictchcock's system.

I could say that same thing also, that if you watch the Blues play so much, how come your not aware of the system and style that they play under Hitchcock? You got that wrong, maybe you have Oshie wrong also.

Because if you did watch them play, you'd have known that TJ Oshie's a much better player than Matt Read, and wouldn't have qualified it

Oshie kills penalties, plays with David Backes against the opposing team's top units -- just like Read does

But he's better at it, and if you watched them, you'd know that
- AllInForFlyers

i dont watch enough of oshie to have a really good read on it, but i do know that from what ive seen he has shown himself to be a pretty good two way player. obviously backes carries more of the defensive load, but oshie seemed to be far from a reliability.

but prior to this year, when both are having down seasons for whatever reason. would you say that oshie is a better defensive asset than read?

So if anyone watches a player on any team, they all come to the same conclusion?


I do think Oshie is a better player then Read is offensively, and better in puck pursuit, which is a strong suit of his that makes him effective in Hictchcock's system.

I could say that same thing also, that if you watch the Blues play so much, how come your not aware of the system and style that they play under Hitchcock? You got that wrong, maybe you have Oshie wrong also.
- MJL

Could you post from a reliable source or clique the exact type of system Hitchock employs?

Or a sound bite from the man himself.

So if anyone watches a player on any team, they all come to the same conclusion?


I do think Oshie is a better player then Read is offensively, and better in puck pursuit, which is a strong suit of his that makes him effective in Hictchcock's system.

I could say that same thing also, that if you watch the Blues play so much, how come your not aware of the system and style that they play under Hitchcock? You got that wrong, maybe you have Oshie wrong also.
- MJL

regardless of system, i dont think he has ever really had a great center to play with. stasny looks pretty bad in STL. Backes, when he plays center, is a player whose game i would adore on the pens, but he isnt exactly the guy who is going to be a point producing driver. Berglund, again, is a good 2 way guy, but not an offense flash.

so due to a multitude of factors, i do think his point totals would improve off of the blues.

Waste of time. Apparently Hitch isn't a D first coach. Uh huh.
- flyer_nutter

http://nhlwhiteboard.blog...ry-ken-hitchcock-and.html

This article details Hitchcock's system, complete with still shots and video. it even discusses the stereotypes that are said about Hitchcock, that you've obviously bought into. In it you'll find comments such as:

"There are details and intricacies to the system, but Hitchcock himself says his current system is rooted in the forecheck."

The focus is on making the other team spend as much time in their own zone as possible

So many times throughout the games I watched, St. Louis was able to bring sustained pressure for minutes and minutes at a time while rolling lines. They barely give the other teams a chance to breathe with the pace they play at and are truly a team heavily oriented on offense

Even when they're protecting a lead they play all out — somebody must have told Hitchcock about score effects. (Or he probably figured it out a long time ago.) A lot of teams have the misinformed idea to sit back and defend while holding on to a lead, but even in the last minute, Hitchock has his horses firing on all cylinders to pressure the puck like mad.

Could you post from a reliable source or clique the exact type of system Hitchock employs?

Or a sound bite from the man himself.
- flyer_nutter

Already posted a reliable source. Not it's your turn. Post an equal source that I did that shows how Hitchcock is a defense first coach. His system and style of play may have been more rooted to the defensive side and a lot more passive in the past. But that is not the case anymore. If you actually knew what Hithcock's system is, you'd know that.