Pez68
Registered User
I'd like to get some discussion going around the problems with this team, that seem to transcend the obvious holes in the roster. I think pretty much everyone can agree that the roster has issues, and that there are a bunch of holes that need to be filled, that won't be this season. So let's try and keep the bashing of players out of here.
There's a whole bunch of bad happening that should be correctable, in my opinion. The major issues as I see them.
Puck support. This is killing the Hawks just as much as D-zone coverage. The strong side of the ice should pretty much always have three players supporting the puck. You see the lack of puck support every shift. The Hawk defenseman gets possession. The winger on his side of the ice is already past the blue line. The weak side winger is somewhere between center ice and the opposing blue line(cherry picking), and the center is way too high in the zone, typically near the Hawk blue line, already too close to the high forechecker. The Hawks have to improve the puck support below the top of the circles in their zone. Stop blowing the zone, support your defenseman, move up ice together, and give the D some options. If you are properly supporting the puck when you get possession, he should have four options... Strong side winger, the centerman, the weak side winger (between YOUR blue line and the center line, not cherry picking past the center line), or skating the puck out of the zone. The majority of teams only forecheck with two players, dropping the third forward in coverage. You support the puck, and you outnumber them.
Communication plays into both problems above. It is obvious the Hawks are not talking out there. D rushes the puck, and forwards don't drop back in coverage. Wingers drop down low to support the D, and the center doesn't rotate high. A defenseman has his guy, and two forwards are, for some reason, chasing the puck carrier as well. Call them off, tell them "MINE". TALK. A lot of this is likely exacerbated by so many new players, but you have to talk. It's not optional in the game of hockey. You don't communicate, you lose.
Situational awareness is something you can certainly work on, but some players just suck at it. A great example was last night in the 4 on 4. Knights have possession in their zone, between the hash marks and blue line. Theodore takes off from the left side...and Rutta has absolutely NO IDEA he has done so. No excuse for that. You have to scan the ice and see what the guys on the OTHER SIDE are doing. Especially a defenseman! When Theodore starts wheeling, you should already be retreating towards your zone.
I'll let someone else comment on the PP and PK.
There's a whole bunch of bad happening that should be correctable, in my opinion. The major issues as I see them.
- Defensive zone coverage.
- Puck support.
- Communication.
- Situational awareness.
- Power play.
- Penalty kill.
Puck support. This is killing the Hawks just as much as D-zone coverage. The strong side of the ice should pretty much always have three players supporting the puck. You see the lack of puck support every shift. The Hawk defenseman gets possession. The winger on his side of the ice is already past the blue line. The weak side winger is somewhere between center ice and the opposing blue line(cherry picking), and the center is way too high in the zone, typically near the Hawk blue line, already too close to the high forechecker. The Hawks have to improve the puck support below the top of the circles in their zone. Stop blowing the zone, support your defenseman, move up ice together, and give the D some options. If you are properly supporting the puck when you get possession, he should have four options... Strong side winger, the centerman, the weak side winger (between YOUR blue line and the center line, not cherry picking past the center line), or skating the puck out of the zone. The majority of teams only forecheck with two players, dropping the third forward in coverage. You support the puck, and you outnumber them.
Communication plays into both problems above. It is obvious the Hawks are not talking out there. D rushes the puck, and forwards don't drop back in coverage. Wingers drop down low to support the D, and the center doesn't rotate high. A defenseman has his guy, and two forwards are, for some reason, chasing the puck carrier as well. Call them off, tell them "MINE". TALK. A lot of this is likely exacerbated by so many new players, but you have to talk. It's not optional in the game of hockey. You don't communicate, you lose.
Situational awareness is something you can certainly work on, but some players just suck at it. A great example was last night in the 4 on 4. Knights have possession in their zone, between the hash marks and blue line. Theodore takes off from the left side...and Rutta has absolutely NO IDEA he has done so. No excuse for that. You have to scan the ice and see what the guys on the OTHER SIDE are doing. Especially a defenseman! When Theodore starts wheeling, you should already be retreating towards your zone.
I'll let someone else comment on the PP and PK.