Yet the coaches probably think they are smart because such a defence is so free flowing and structure-less.Anytime I hear people talk about how we employ the “swarm” defense, I think to myself…it sounds as stupid as it looks on the ice.
It reminds me of the "total football" soccer setup/strategy. It sounds good but in reality its extremely hard to pull off and requires specific type of players to do so.
Total Football's tactical success depends largely on the adaptability of each footballer within the team, in particular the ability to quickly switch positions depending on the on-field situation. The theory requires players to be comfortable in multiple positions; hence, it requires intelligent and technically diverse players.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Football