Are team's going to try to copy Florida's style?

[Oilslick941611]

There will definitely be a premium on line stepping players as long as the NHL is continuing in the direction of calling fewer penalties.

Why wouldn't you acquire a dirty player when the NHL isn't interested in enforcing it's own rules?

A line crosser is a great asset when penalties aren't enforced.

Until someone gets seriously injured and we’ve had quite a few hits that went uncalled and injuries from unpenalized plays. It’s going to erupt. The NHL needs to be better here. There’s been so much line crossing this year with dirty stick work, hits to the head, and board shoves. The refs are letting it happen. Someone is going to hurt badly or worse, the players will take “justice” into their own hands and injure the guy who injured someone else. there’s no conspiracy against any one team, its just inconsistency from the refs from one game to the next.

 

[almo8989]

I don't think their style is anything new or unique.

They're a relentless forechecking team and they're good at taking away space and time and are unpleasant to play against.

A lot of teams can try to play that way, but their success isn't predicated on playing scrappy, heavy hockey alone. They have a lot of talent and depth (and yes, they do have a few rat type players, making them all the tougher to play against). Hell, CAR plays a similar style but isn't as gritty or rough and doesn't have close to the high end talent or depth FLA has.

When Tampa was winning their Cups, they had unbelievable depth. PIT won one year with Crosby winning the Conn Smythe with 19 points.

Regardless of style, teams with elite talent and good depth are the ones that tend to come out on top.

Exactly. Being a Canucks fan, Tocchet pretty much has a similar system. Dump the puck in and forecheck hard to get the puck. It's pretty basic straight forward hockey. The problem is the Canucks don't have the horses to play that way.

 

[behemolari]

Exactly. Being a Canucks fan, Tocchet pretty much has a similar system. Dump the puck in and forecheck hard to get the puck. It's pretty basic straight forward hockey. The problem is the Canucks don't have the horses to play that way.

its not exactly that "similar", when forechecking Florida pinches agressively with defender and off side wing comes down same time. Does other teams do that too

 

[Jyrki]

I don't think their style is anything new or unique.

They're a relentless forechecking team and they're good at taking away space and time and are unpleasant to play against.

A lot of teams can try to play that way, but their success isn't predicated on playing scrappy, heavy hockey alone. They have a lot of talent and depth (and yes, they do have a few rat type players, making them all the tougher to play against). Hell, CAR plays a similar style but isn't as gritty or rough and doesn't have close to the high end talent or depth FLA has.

When Tampa was winning their Cups, they had unbelievable depth. PIT won one year with Crosby winning the Conn Smythe with 19 points.

Regardless of style, teams with elite talent and good depth are the ones that tend to come out on top.

IMO the Panthers are not really comparable to teams who try to have their forecheckers hound the puck carriers for a turnover or pin defenders on 1-on-1 battles. They play a much riskier system where they try to get defenders to funnel the puck into one side of the ice, then overload it with as many players as possible to seal off the puck exit. The point is to consistently trap the other team in their own zone even if they can retrieve the puck, at the cost of committing too many players if the other team can break out the puck. It's way more offensive-minded than the typical "grindy" team.

It's a big reason why the Leafs series were so swingy - sometimes the Leafs were able to beat the system and create lots of odd-man rushes, other times they literally could not leave the zone and were absolutely dominated. It came down to Maurice double-downing on the aggression and having the players to pull it off (e.g. Seth Jones addition being huge because of his ability to skate miles throughout the game to keep up the aggression + recover in failed forecheck pinches).

 

[behemolari]

IMO the Panthers are not really comparable to teams who try to have their forecheckers hound the puck carriers for a turnover or pin defenders on 1-on-1 battles. They play a much riskier system where they try to get defenders to funnel the puck into one side of the ice, then overload it with as many players as possible to seal off the puck exit. The point is to consistently trap the other team in their own zone even if they can retrieve the puck, at the cost of committing too many players if the other team can break out the puck. It's way more offensive-minded than the typical "grindy" team.

It's a big reason why the Leafs series were so swingy - sometimes the Leafs were able to beat the system and create lots of odd-man rushes, other times they literally could not leave the zone and were absolutely dominated. It came down to Maurice double-downing on the aggression and having the players to pull it off (e.g. Seth Jones addition being huge because of his ability to skate miles throughout the game to keep up the aggression + recover in failed forecheck pinches).

genius of this system is, longer the series go it will work better and better. really hard to fight in game seven when you are exhausted.

 

[SharksFan1992]

Sports is always monkey see, monkey do. NFL offenses used to heavily center around the running game. Then came the 49ers dynasty of the '80s and their West Coast offense and the league became very pass oriented. The Greatest Show on Turf wouldn't even be so special nowadays. The NBA used to be filled with teams with their own play styles, e.g., Detroit's punishing defense, Phoenix's fast paced offense. After the Warriors dynasty, every team just copied their play style which is why the league is boring now. No defense, teams trading 3-point attempts.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

probably in the East, but no guarantee they'd make it past three legit teams every year in the West

They would destroy the soft as butter teams like Winnipeg or Dallas. Colorado not nearly deep enough, and Vegas has regressed. Edmonton is the only team from the west that might be able to beat them.

 

[jackjohnson]

probably in the East, but no guarantee they'd make it past three legit teams every year in the West

The west is nothing to write home about if you are thinking its more physical or gruelling. I mean Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg are pretty soft. Vegas has lost a lot of its speed and tenacity not to mention loss of some pretty big and physcial players like Tuch. Blues might be the most physical team out of the bunch. Florida would literally glide through the western conference too. Edmonton might be a team that could give them a bit of a challenge. Most of the rest seem to be cream puffs after Vegas lost its depth.

 

[IdleTraveller]

IMO the Panthers are not really comparable to teams who try to have their forecheckers hound the puck carriers for a turnover or pin defenders on 1-on-1 battles. They play a much riskier system where they try to get defenders to funnel the puck into one side of the ice, then overload it with as many players as possible to seal off the puck exit. The point is to consistently trap the other team in their own zone even if they can retrieve the puck, at the cost of committing too many players if the other team can break out the puck. It's way more offensive-minded than the typical "grindy" team.

It's a big reason why the Leafs series were so swingy - sometimes the Leafs were able to beat the system and create lots of odd-man rushes, other times they literally could not leave the zone and were absolutely dominated. It came down to Maurice double-downing on the aggression and having the players to pull it off (e.g. Seth Jones addition being huge because of his ability to skate miles throughout the game to keep up the aggression + recover in failed forecheck pinches).

This exactly. It's a bit of an all in nothing system that also requires full buy in and full effort to play - it's tough. And it breaks down the moment players get tentative and/or less motivated.

You definitely need certain types of players to play this well - and those are not necessarily the most talented or skilled. Zito has said a number of times that a lot of great players just don't suit this system - so roster construction is absolutely critical. You also need a lot of effort - there are very few teams that outwork the Panthers on the ice. This is why we are much better in the playoffs than the regular season because you simply can't play that way for 82 games.

That last is why I think we play better with more pressure and skin in the game. It's not (just) that we have "dawgs" on our team, it's because our system itself is designed that way. Personally, I think that's why we also embrace the hatred and stir things up on the ice: it's not only about getting the other team off their game but also about getting ourselves into it.

 

[SaltNPeca]

I don't think their style is anything new or unique.

They're a relentless forechecking team and they're good at taking away space and time and are unpleasant to play against.

A lot of teams can try to play that way, but their success isn't predicated on playing scrappy, heavy hockey alone. They have a lot of talent and depth (and yes, they do have a few rat type players, making them all the tougher to play against). Hell, CAR plays a similar style but isn't as gritty or rough and doesn't have close to the high end talent or depth FLA has.

When Tampa was winning their Cups, they had unbelievable depth. PIT won one year with Crosby winning the Conn Smythe with 19 points.

Regardless of style, teams with elite talent and good depth are the ones that tend to come out on top.

Came here to write something like this

1. They have a lot of grit & toughness, plus when they won the cup : stellar goaltending
2. High energy, high effort defensive style

imo 2 takes the right character in the room, leadership, and coaching. It is tough to maintain that style given the demands of SCP (injuries, playoff games every 2 days, wear & tear, etc.).

 

[Johnny Concussion]

I had no idea he was with the Panthers, it all makes sense now.

The Florida Panthers remind me a lot of the 2011 Bruins. And we all know how much "Colon" Campbell loves his son and will stick up for him.

Have Savard emails exposed NHL's Colin Campbell as corrupt?

Blogger Tyler Dellow has damned NHL vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell with his own words.

ca.sports.yahoo.com

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

You'll see more teams making ruthless moves like the Huberdeau trade

 

[Fatass]

The buy-in to the system is cool to see even though I detest the worms Tzachuk and Marchand and goalie head-smasher Bennett. A team on the same page-regardless of style-is going to be dangerous so long as the talent level is sufficient.

That being said, if I were an NHL GM, I'd really take a long look at my team's ability to play a physical game. Just as important, I'd look at the character of my roster in terms of if they stick up for teammates. Carolina's flat out cowardliness and unwillingness to stand up for teammates would be my anti model of roster building.

The utter destruction of Carolina by Florida and Toronto's inability to flourish in the playoffs almost necessitates that a team which is serious about becoming a SC Champion builds a roster with physicality and toughness. Just having top end offensive talent won't get it done IMO.

I’d add that the high end offensive guys need to be able to handle playoffs big boy physical hockey, while still bringing offence. The can’t be guys who end up on the perimeter.

 

[NYRnine94]

Different sport but Florida reminds me of how New England used to win. They didn't have stars at every position but they had stars at the right positions and they had guys who would buy in 100%. Zito knows you don't need a team full of allstars, you need a team that fits what you're trying to do and guys who can play their roles.

 

[Fatass]

Different sport but Florida reminds me of how New England used to win. They didn't have stars at every position but they had stars at the right positions and they had guys who would buy in 100%. Zito knows you don't need a team full of allstars, you need a team that fits what you're trying to do and guys who can play their roles.

Didn’t the Patriots have Brady; the best player ever?
Panthers have elite players.

 

[NYRnine94]

Didn’t the Patriots have Brady; the best player ever?
Panthers have elite players.

Did you read the post? They have STARS in the RIGHT PLACES which is why i compared them to New England.

 

[Kurtz]

Different sport but Florida reminds me of how New England used to win. They didn't have stars at every position but they had stars at the right positions and they had guys who would buy in 100%. Zito knows you don't need a team full of allstars, you need a team that fits what you're trying to do and guys who can play their roles.

They do have a team full of All-stars though.

 

[NYRnine94]

They do have a team full of All-stars though.

Not really

 

[RevengeOfTheDrai]

IMO the Panthers are not really comparable to teams who try to have their forecheckers hound the puck carriers for a turnover or pin defenders on 1-on-1 battles. They play a much riskier system where they try to get defenders to funnel the puck into one side of the ice, then overload it with as many players as possible to seal off the puck exit. The point is to consistently trap the other team in their own zone even if they can retrieve the puck, at the cost of committing too many players if the other team can break out the puck. It's way more offensive-minded than the typical "grindy" team.

It's a big reason why the Leafs series were so swingy - sometimes the Leafs were able to beat the system and create lots of odd-man rushes, other times they literally could not leave the zone and were absolutely dominated. It came down to Maurice double-downing on the aggression and having the players to pull it off (e.g. Seth Jones addition being huge because of his ability to skate miles throughout the game to keep up the aggression + recover in failed forecheck pinches).

That’s why I’m intrigued to see how Florida would do against a team like Colorado, who should be a perfect counter to their system. They have two of the best skaters in the world(Necas too), one of which is a defensemen who can play 30 minutes and soak up the pressure of the forecheck. It would be interesting to see how Florida adapts, as I could see Colorado/Edmonton getting so many higher danger chances off the rush against that system.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

I’d add that the high end offensive guys need to be able to handle playoffs big boy physical hockey, while still bringing offence. The can’t be guys who end up on the perimeter.

Great point. The Marners and Panarins of the world might not be sought after as much going forward. More traditional power forwards such as Bennett, Hyman, Kane and the disgusting weasel Tzachuk could be viewed as necessities.

I'd welcome the change but these playoffs and the Florida model might come under attack via rule changes/rule enforcement guidelines. Bettman has essentially rid the game of fighting and pushed it toward a far less physical style of play. I doubt his tune has changed much on this. The good news is that he has to be close to retiring. Even though the attendance and TV viewership numbers have increased recently, a great deal of hockey's allure is in it's physicality/fighting. Bettman's vision of hockey is more of a Disney on Ice product. IMO making hockey so soft will have long term negative implications on the game's popularity.

It will be interesting to see if there is some blowback this off season with rules. I can't see Bettman buying into a significantly more physical/dirty brand of hockey.

 

[ClydeLee]

In playstyle, you need the talent to take risks ans be aggressive but others may try it.

In the aggression and over the line play, Florida copied Tampa that had just done that. It was a frequent topic of Tampa being dirty in their cup run with just knowing Refs won't call it all. Its seems so odd that only a few people seem to still acknowledge that.

 

[robertmac43]

They could try and likely not succeed due to the difference in personal.

 

[Kurtz]

Not really

What NHL team has more current or former all-stars than the Panthers?

 

[T REX]

Three straight Stanley Cup finals. I would think teams will start to try to copy Floridas style as it's clearly successful in the playoffs. What do you think?

FL copied Tampa's style...that's what I see when we play them...the old Bolts...

 

[NYRnine94]

What NHL team has more current or former all-stars than the Panthers?

Who do you consider an allstar on Florida? Their entire roster goes to a different level in the playoffs so maybe that's what you mean? Barkov, Bobrovsky not much of an allstar but he's getting it done, Reinhart, Tkachuk. They are an excellent well balanced team top to bottom, it's not an insult saying what i said