895
Registered User
- Jun 15, 2007
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Are highlight reel defensive saves even a positive?
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Gizmo Tkachuk
Registered Loser
Sometimes even the best defensemen get beat by superstar talents. If they can recover and still make the great defensive play, it’s always a positive.
Mr Kot
Registered User
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Yes, even better defense that prevents high-danger chances is always better (no, I did not see the plays in question).
However, there is no such thing as a defense or a player who can snuff out all dangerous chances before they develop. It does not matter how good you are, you will always get burned at times and have to scramble to recover.
Highlight reel plays are exciting and that is why people watch sports.
In theory, no. As you said, it's better that the team is never in a position to need those type of plays because it means something broke down somewhere.
In reality, you're never going to have a completely mistake free game and players who can recover and make those plays are a necessity and a good thing.
I always look at Kris Russell, a lot of hockey fans were always saying it's a negative that he's always blocking shots, for those exact reasons. However, he was always re-signed year after year because coaches wanted him on their team and they always praised him for that play. It's a case of analytical hockey on paper, vs actual hockey on ice.
edmontonjournal.com
In reality, you're never going to have a completely mistake free game and players who can recover and make those plays are a necessity and a good thing.
I always look at Kris Russell, a lot of hockey fans were always saying it's a negative that he's always blocking shots, for those exact reasons. However, he was always re-signed year after year because coaches wanted him on their team and they always praised him for that play. It's a case of analytical hockey on paper, vs actual hockey on ice.
Fact checking Oilers coach Dave Tippett's claim that Kris Russell is a "good, solid defender"
Coach Dave Tippett made a strong statement about Edmonton Oilers defensive d-man Kris Russell at today’s press conference, explaining how the internal scoring chanc…
edmontonjournal.com
Mr Kot
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tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
On the Jarvis block — Slavin was the last man back on a 2-on-1, delayed Marchand until another back checker could engage, then recognized Jarvis coming down the slot as the trailer and moved over to block his shot. What else could he have done? He’s running around defending multiple threats while his teammates try to catch up.
On the Crosby block — Slavin locks up the best player of his generation in front of the net, preventing him from taking a direct pass. The puck carrier, 20 feet away above the circle and covered by a different player, takes a shot that the goaltender stops but kicks right out into the juiciest part of the slot. In the blink of an eye Slavin mirrors Crosby’s pivot toward the puck and perfectly puts his blade on Crosby’s blade to prevent the rebound shot.
Unless the hypothetical better defenseman can clone multiples of himself, I’m not sure how he’s going to prevent those chances. He shut them down perfectly in the capacity of one human being playing defense against a team of opponents.
On the Crosby block — Slavin locks up the best player of his generation in front of the net, preventing him from taking a direct pass. The puck carrier, 20 feet away above the circle and covered by a different player, takes a shot that the goaltender stops but kicks right out into the juiciest part of the slot. In the blink of an eye Slavin mirrors Crosby’s pivot toward the puck and perfectly puts his blade on Crosby’s blade to prevent the rebound shot.
Unless the hypothetical better defenseman can clone multiples of himself, I’m not sure how he’s going to prevent those chances. He shut them down perfectly in the capacity of one human being playing defense against a team of opponents.
TheDawnOfANewTage
Dahlin, it’ll all be fine
- Dec 17, 2018
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There are 4 other skaters and a goalie. You take a good shot, sometimes the goalie blocks it and it goes the other way. Your desire for an all-controlling all-knowing dman are unrealistic.
GirardSpinorama
Registered User
- Aug 20, 2004
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Theres no dmen who can prevent his forwards from turning the puck over for 2 on 1s. Defense is a 5 man game. A dman who constantly make these game saving plays does not mean the team is good defensively but he certainly is a huge positive force.
Eternal Leaf
Registered User
Defensive breakdowns happen.
It can be a bad bounce, a bad decision from a teammate, or just a great play by an opposing forward. Being able to reel things back in with a good defensive play and handling that pressure separates the good defensive players from the superstars.
Slavin is an example of someone who continuously made big-time plays against the best stars. He was exceptional.
It can be a bad bounce, a bad decision from a teammate, or just a great play by an opposing forward. Being able to reel things back in with a good defensive play and handling that pressure separates the good defensive players from the superstars.
Slavin is an example of someone who continuously made big-time plays against the best stars. He was exceptional.
hohosaregood
Banned
- Sep 1, 2011
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Hockey is too much of a 50/50 game to say that defensive highlights are bad. Like if you're looking at xGF% or just SOG, the ratio of a dominant team is like 55-60% of puck control. The other team is still gonna get their chances unless they're completely over matched like a 33-0 Canada vs Zimbabwe game.
StrompTroller
Registered User
They're undeniable positive within a small context. However, within the broader context, allowing a shot attempt is a negative, and things could have gone wrong. For example, perhaps you got a bit lucky on your highlight reel save, and the next time you attempt the same exact thing, you miss and the opponent just scores.
There's relatively little you can infer from individual plays.
There's relatively little you can infer from individual plays.
Stickpucker
Playmaka
- Jan 18, 2014
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I think I understand what OP is saying.
*ahem, clears throat* ocean is big place with many forces from up down left right and inside. If you want the sailboat not move must destroy forces like wind gravity and momentum. Only one thing much friction like you are God. Then ocean be still and OP happy in the pants.
*ahem, clears throat* ocean is big place with many forces from up down left right and inside. If you want the sailboat not move must destroy forces like wind gravity and momentum. Only one thing much friction like you are God. Then ocean be still and OP happy in the pants.
Thallis
No half measures
ToDavid
Registered User
- Dec 13, 2018
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Same idea as highlight reel saves. Often it was because the goalie was out of position.
But sometimes the other player just beats you and being able to scramble to save the play is impressive. But yah, for the most part evaluating a player’s defensive play is more about all the boring stuff than the highlight reel stuff.
But sometimes the other player just beats you and being able to scramble to save the play is impressive. But yah, for the most part evaluating a player’s defensive play is more about all the boring stuff than the highlight reel stuff.
D Wakaluk
Registered User
The best dman was already home, sitting comfortable near the fireplace. In his mind - he had already won.
hangman005
Have I told you I miss Logan Thompson
Jericho111091
Registered User
Ideally you wouldn't need to make those highlight reel defensive plays, but even the best defensive players get beat sometimes so it's good to have somebody able and willing to make them
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
The more I think about this, the more I love the idea of a player who’s so good defensively that he doesn’t actually make defensive plays. He just suppresses the other team with Presence.
Have… have we finally discovered what that guy meant by “puck poise”?
Have… have we finally discovered what that guy meant by “puck poise”?
a mangy Meowth
Registered Meowth
HarrySPlinkett
Not a film critic
FissionFire
Registered User
That’s basically Nick Lidstrom’s career. He played a very boring game because he rarely allowed any good chances by the other team and just made it all look very effortless.
Oddbob
Registered User
- Jan 21, 2016
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Expecting even top notch defenders to allow no defensive mistakes against the best of the best is a silly expectation. Playing offence will always be easier than playing defence, especially when the World's best players are involved.
Even Mario made Ray Bourque look silly many years back now and Ray is one of the best defenceman that ever played the game.
Even Mario made Ray Bourque look silly many years back now and Ray is one of the best defenceman that ever played the game.
