Two major problems I saw last night that I finally wrapped my head around.
The easy one - while the top line is heavily skilled, these guys are terrible at handling passes. I can't tell you how many times passes were right on the stick and they rolled right off, killing any potential of an offensive play, whether it be thru the neutral zone or offensive zone.
The bigger problem is the defense seemingly jump into every play. It's an exaggeration the way I've written it but one play had a center with the puck leading a rush and the wingers were both defensemen. I've also seen how many times a defenseman will jump into the play leaving a forward at the point to cover.
The problem with this is, your forwards are usually your better offensive player and should be able to create down low with the defense holding the points. Instead, we have guys who aren't very good offensively trying to make a play with a guy at the point who's not skilled enough to hold it very often. Outside of Josi, no one should be jumping into the play like that. On occasion when the opportunity presents itself, sure, I get it. A clear 2 on 1, go for it. Not with a 3 on 3 or 2 on 2 or even a 4 on 4. If that's happening, dump the puck in, go battle for it, have the defense at the point and take your chances.
I don't see other teams sending defensemen deep very often unless the chance is there. And outside of a few elite offensive defenseman like Hughes and Makar and a few others, guys are holding the blueline and letting the forwards do the work. We also don't have the players to do this anyway outside of Josi so why is this being forced. I watch Schenn try and come up the ice with the puck and I'm like, stop trying to make a play, you're out there to play D and your offensive instincts are worse than Smith's. Stay in your lane.
