I was referring to that line, but Freidman's numbers said nothing about which forwards do it most often. Voracek led the team in controlled entries through the first 1/4 of the season, which is the most important
- YuenglingJagr

Friedman:

No one is impacted more by all of this than Jakub Voracek. Two numbers were obvious going into last Saturday’s game in Ottawa: fewer offensive-zone starts and his shooting percentage cratered. Here’s the deeper data: last year he carried the puck into the offensive zone four times for every chip. Now he’s at 1.9/1. That’s a significant drop. Finally, 90 per cent of NHL forwards attempted a higher percentage of shots from the slot.

But according the numbers and what we're seeing, it's the same players from last year that are now dumping the puck in more instead of trying to gain zone entry with possession. It's not like these guys are suddenly declining or the team's talent/skill level has dropped off compared to last year.
- Nucker101

That's right, they aren't declining in talent/skill. They also aren't increasing in talent and skill level. It's about speed and ability to beat defenseman wide. Better players playing with better players, simply have more opportunities. Same with better teams, they create more opportunities. Defenseman move the puck quicker , forwards with more speed take advantage of situations. It's all connected. We as fans know it's better to keep possession and carry the puck in, an experienced coach doesn't? What he doesn't want happening is plays forced at the blueline, leading to turnovers and creating rushes against. That's puck management. Take what is there.

Friedman:
- Nucker101

His comment is 100% about Jake Voracek so I am not sure what you are getting at

That's right, they aren't declining in speed. They also aren't increasing in talent and skill level. It's about speed and ability to beat defenseman wide. Better players playing with better players, simply have more opportunities. Same with better teams, they create more opportunities. Defenseman move the puck quicker , forwards with more speed take advantage of situations. It's all connected. We as fans know it's better to keep possession and carry the puck in, an experienced coach doesn't? What he doesn't want happening is plays forced at the blueline, leading to turnovers and creating rushes against. That's puck management. Take what is there.
- MJL

I'd be fine with that line of thinking for the non-Giroux/Voracek players, but you need to live with your top offensive players making high-risk/high-reward plays. Especially those two, who don't exactly dominate physically like a Getlzaf/Perry duo can by playing a simple game.

His comment is 100% about Jake Voracek so I am not sure what you are getting at
- YuenglingJagr

That Voracek should be allowed more freedom to carry the puck in, even if it means a few more turnovers, heould be playing with better linemates, and finally he should receive more offensive zone starts.

I don't feel comfortable at all with ghost & manning paired together. I'd like to see ghost w/ Schultz or schenn. We need ghost to focus on getting the puck out of the zone, not covering for manning's defensive gaffs

I'd be fine with that line of thinking for the non-Giroux/Voracek players, but you need to live with your top offensive players making high-risk/high-reward plays. Especially those two, who don't exactly dominate physically like a Getlzaf/Perry duo can by playing a simple game.
- Nucker101

He also made comments that he doesn't want to take away the ability of players like Giroux and Voracek from pulling up and finding guys, and using their creativity.

I don't feel comfortable at all with ghost & manning paired together. I'd like to see ghost w/ Schultz or schenn. We need ghost to focus on getting the puck out of the zone, not covering for manning's defensive gaffs
- benjichronic

Problem is that you don't want Gostisbehere playing against the matchups that Schultz plays against.

I don't feel comfortable at all with ghost & manning paired together. I'd like to see ghost w/ Schultz or schenn. We need ghost to focus on getting the puck out of the zone, not covering for manning's defensive gaffs
- benjichronic

If he plays with Schultz, he'll never get puck as Schultz blinds whips the puck up the walls. With Schenn, well, yeah, I'd be okay with it.

Problem is that you don't want Gostisbehere playing against the matchups that Schultz plays against.
- MJL

Ghost can blow coverage and fall down trying to cover Mike Fisher just as well as Schultz can.

That Voracek should be allowed more freedom to carry the puck in, even if it means a few more turnovers, heould be playing with better linemates, and finally he should receive more offensive zone starts.
- Nucker101

Hakstol said that they (G/Jake) have more freedom in the same article. And he has been with PEB and VV for a couple games....those stats were for the 2015 season. I think you are misinterpreting the stats.

Jake is dumping the puck more often but so is the entire team, and leading the team in controlled entries shows that whatever he is deciding to do, it is working

Ghost can blow coverage and fall down trying to cover Mike Fisher just as well as Schultz can.
- jmatchett383

I don't know, Schultz looks pretty sexy doing it.

I don't feel comfortable at all with ghost & manning paired together. I'd like to see ghost w/ Schultz or schenn. We need ghost to focus on getting the puck out of the zone, not covering for manning's defensive gaffs
- benjichronic

isnt a positive of having a mobile guy like ghost the ability to cover for defensive gaffs?

I don't know, Schultz looks pretty sexy doing it.
- Nucker101

I'm partial to younger guys with dark hair.

Ghost can blow coverage and fall down trying to cover Mike Fisher just as well as Schultz can.
- jmatchett383

LOL, was that all he was trying to cover? Who was Claude Giroux covering on that play?

I'm partial to younger guys with dark hair.
- jmatchett383

hello

Hakstol said that they (G/Jake) have more freedom in the same article. And he has been with PEB and VV for a couple games....those stats were for the 2015 season. I think you are misinterpreting the stats.

Jake is dumping the puck more often but so is the entire team, and leading the team in controlled entries shows that whatever he is deciding to do, it is working
- YuenglingJagr

I do think that playing with Vandevelde and Bellemare is causing Voracek to dump the puck more, and it's also taking away some of his time and space.

LOL, was that all he was trying to cover? Who was Claude Giroux covering on that play?
- MJL

I don't know, I was too busy watching Nick Schultz fall down in the crease to notice where the forwards were.

Nick Schultz is above average at the defensive aspect of the game in the following areas: none. Yet he is our de facto shutdown man. I don't get your man crush love fest with the guy, he's not good.

I don't know, I was too busy watching Nick Schultz fall down in the crease to notice where the forwards were.

Nick Schultz is above average at the defensive aspect of the game in the following areas: none. Yet he is our de facto shutdown man. I don't get your man crush love fest with the guy, he's not good.
- jmatchett383

I know what happened on the play, and where the breakdowns were. I also know what happened on the Forsberg goal and where the breakdowns were. I look at the entire play, rather than just focusing on a scapegoat. Shouldn't the fact that the Flyers are trying to use Schultz in a role that he shouldn't be playing in, come into play? I don't get one, why you think I have a man crush love fest with the player, which is a ridicuous statement. Secondly, I don't know why you hate him so much. I look at every play, and every player with objectivity.

What's next?

Here's what I think.

I think Hakstol is a really good coach.

Please hold your JAKE IS ON THE FOURTH LINE THOUGH's until the end. I'm not blindly defending like some people (person) do here. He's had is weird decisions, but we'll talk about that later.

Hak really knows what it takes to win. His system is really great for the NHL. Puck possession. Carrying the puck out of the defensive zone with speed. Preaching puck support and good board work. It's all obvious poop but, as we saw with that article posted earlier, he's actually imposed it on the team. That's the kind of game you need to play to win, guys. The problem is the players. They just don't have skill or speed. We know this. If that changes, and Hak's system is still implemented...watch out. I really think that.

The whole Jake being a "4th liner"...that's not right. I agree. The scratching of Medvedev...that's a pretty meh decision too.

But remember- the coach is green and might be a little bit reactionary at this point. Just like rookie players, rookie coaches might have growing pains too.

Keep him around. He's promising. Right now with Jake and Medvedev, I think he's just trying to find something that clicks Jake into shape and improves the D. The team is desperate and the coach might be a little bit too.

I like the idea of Jake and Laughton. I hope we see that soon and I trust we will if Jake doesn't get going.

But anyway, those are my rambling thoughts on Hakstol. I love how he's changed this team. Unfortunately, the players just aren't quite good enough. Hopefully that'll change with an influx of guys up front like Leier, Aube-Kubel, and Konecny and guys on the back end like Provorov and Sanheim.
- Giroux_Is_God

Nice post.

Hak's a work in progress, and he'll hopefully develop along with the rest of the team. I'd much rather have him (and his rookie mistakes/message-sending) than some retread like Torts or Carlyle running this bunch into the ground.

I know what happened on the play, and where the breakdowns were. I also know what happened on the Forsberg goal and where the breakdowns were. I look at the entire play, rather than just focusing on a scapegoat. Shouldn't the fact that the Flyers are trying to use Schultz in a role that he shouldn't be playing in, come into play? I don't get one, why you think I have a man crush love fest with the player, which is a laughable statement. Secondly, I don't know why you hate him so much. I look at every play, and every player with objectivity.

What's next?
- MJL

Yes, he's not suited to play in a shutdown role. No one on our current D is fit for it. So yes, much like AMac in NYI, he's playing a role he's not suited for. However, just because he's the guy doing it doesn't mean that someone else can't do it better. Maybe they can, maybe they can't. You will defend this guy to the death and I just don't get why the same way that you can't see why I don't like him.

Most of the players have at least one area that they excel at, or that they are clearly above average at. Nick Schultz is just an "average at everything" kind of guy, like a poor man's Sean O'Donnell. I'd honestly like to try Luke Schenn and MDZ as our top shutdown pair, as I think they could compliment each other well and are as good defensively as Schultz.

Nice post.

Hak's a work in progress, and he'll hopefully develop along with the rest of the team. I'd much rather have him (and his rookie mistakes/message-sending) than some retread like Torts or Carlyle running this bunch into the ground.
- Tomahawk

"Should have gotten Babcock."

"Should have gotten Babcock."
- jmatchett383

Woulda (frank)ed up the tank.

Woulda (frank)ed up the tank.
- Nucker101

But man, if we had a guy like Babcock, we'd be so much better off. Just look at the wonders he's worked for Toronto this season.

Yes, he's not suited to play in a shutdown role. No one on our current D is fit for it. So yes, much like AMac in NYI, he's playing a role he's not suited for. However, just because he's the guy doing it doesn't mean that someone else can't do it better. Maybe they can, maybe they can't. You will defend this guy to the death and I just don't get why the same way that you can't see why I don't like him.

Most of the players have at least one area that they excel at, or that they are clearly above average at. Nick Schultz is just an "average at everything" kind of guy, like a poor man's Sean O'Donnell. I'd honestly like to try Luke Schenn and MDZ as our top shutdown pair, as I think they could compliment each other well and are as good defensively as Schultz.
- jmatchett383

Who has said, or even implied that someone else can't do it better? You haven't made your case that I will defend this guy to the death. As with any play, I look at everything, not with an obvious bias because I don't like a player. For me, it has zero to do with who I like or don't like. It's simply about what happened.

Del Zotto is a -9. Schultz in a -6.