GDT: #11 | Blues vs Flyers | Thursday, October 31, 2024 | 7:00 PM | NBCSP, 97.5 FM

[Curufinwe]

They really need to figure out how to be more incisive on the PP. The puck movement has been waaaaay better, but often times they actually hamper themselves by putting one guy on both posts. It condenses the other teams structure and we settle for bad angles or a screen with a shot provided from the D

Drysdale was brutal again. It's nuts that one of York or Sanheim can't get on a PP unit.

 

[VladDrag]

Very few offense first forwards excel on defense, what you want is those "45" "48" seasons, not the "1s" that many top scorers post. That is, don't score for both teams!

I don't expect Flyer forwards to be Barkov or prime Couts or Kopitar or Stone, but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect scoring forwards to put enough effort on defense not to be a liability.

Torts' scheme doesn't demand a lot of wings defensively, back check, pick up your man, be aware when to leak out and when to help your D-men.

Far more is demanded from centers, where they have to be able to get back quickly and are almost like a 3rd D-man. Which is why they like speed at that position, and enough size to handle yourself in the D-zone. I think they fell in love with Luchanko b/c he's the prototype of what they're looking for at that position. A center with speed and smarts can take more risks in the O-zone, b/c he can get back quickly and buy time for the wings to catch up.

This is why I expect Couts to end up at wing in a couple years, where he won't have to skate as far and can use his size and smarts to be a top PF.

Individual seasons that Sidney Crosby won a Stanley Cup:

a 6, and 5 percentile in defensive impacts in 2/3 seasons....

 

[kudymen]

Can a random lickballs.gif cheerleader show up with a mic drop again?

 

[deadhead]

Now do Point.

 

[kudymen]

 

[blackjackmulligan]

Torts has been very patient, he said in camp he expected Michkov to make mistakes.

The focus isn't on skills, it's on fundamentals, at times Michkov "cherry picks," that doesn't work in the NHL (unless you want to develop the next Gagner). He also forces a lot of bad passes lately, bad habits probably from playing in the KHL where he could get away with it.

Just look at TK, Torts hasn't tried to "fix" him, God knows he'd drive any HC crazy, but that's his game, he takes risks and is overly aggressive at times, but it pays off (if it didn't pay off, he'd be treated differently). But TK also back checks hard, puts out the effort in his D-zone, so he's earned a long leash.

I'm not worried about Michkov/Torts, the problem comes with prima donnas who put their stat line above the team. Michkov is highly competitive and hates to lose, I'm sure when he sees the film he understands he has to get better at certain things to help the team. Torts isn't asking him to be a 3rd line checker, he wants him to be offense first without sacrificing the basics so he isn't a black hole.

Just look at Brink, whine about him being benched, but the last two games he's played the best hockey since he's been here, a complete player doing the little things to help his team, playing hard and with focus. He'll still make mistakes (like losing his man), but this Brink is a legitimate top 6 forward. Now he has to learn to sustain this effort over a full season.

What coach does that on this staff?

Brink shoud not have been benched.

Part of the reason you get stuck in the D-zone is forwards leaking out, which means you're playing 4 on 5.

Part is they are undersized, and lose too many board battles, you stop the cycle by regaining possession in these battles. They also get knocked off the puck trying to skate it out.

Part is talent, they don't have a lot of D-men with the vision to see the outlet pass quickly before the defense checks them.

Are you saying the GM hasn't done a good job so far?

 

[blackjackmulligan]

Very few offense first forwards excel on defense, what you want is those "45" "48" seasons, not the "1s" that many top scorers post. That is, don't score for both teams!

I don't expect Flyer forwards to be Barkov or prime Couts or Kopitar or Stone, but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect scoring forwards to put enough effort on defense not to be a liability.

Torts' scheme doesn't demand a lot of wings defensively, back check, pick up your man, be aware when to leak out and when to help your D-men.

Far more is demanded from centers, where they have to be able to get back quickly and are almost like a 3rd D-man. Which is why they like speed at that position, and enough size to handle yourself in the D-zone. I think they fell in love with Luchanko b/c he's the prototype of what they're looking for at that position. A center with speed and smarts can take more risks in the O-zone, b/c he can get back quickly and buy time for the wings to catch up.

This is why I expect Couts to end up at wing in a couple years, where he won't have to skate as far and can use his size and smarts to be a top PF.

Comical.

 

[Beef Invictus]

Is it that this team doesn't have the offensive talent, or is it torts "structure" that is hindering this team from finding offensive success?

Yes.

 

[Beef Invictus]

The question is, where are they rolling to?

Towards the lowest elevation, I presume

 

[usahockey22flyers]

Drysdale was brutal again. It's nuts that one of York or Sanheim can't get on a PP unit.

I like him on the PP everywhere but the offensive zone....

He obviously can carry the puck and break in. When we get set up, he walks the line, which is great - he moves the puck which is also great....

....but he never makes any of the other teams fwds make a decision. He needs to step up with the puck and draw and dish. We don't make any 2v1s down low or up top when we get set up