- Feb 7, 2012
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GDT: S1G6: Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars | Your guess is as good as mine, but currently it is believed to start at 5:30 Alaska Standard Time
- Thread starter expatriatedtexan
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I've been screaming for ages at how passive the Avs PK is. Far and away my biggest gripe of the Bednar era.
Honestly though, and I've never, ever understood why, the Avs have always advocated an aggressive, up-tempo system at even strength that emphasizes puck possession and skating, and always employ a goddamn turtle-like penalty kill that requires the goalie be superhuman in order to be successful. Doesn't take away space, doesn't get sticks in passing lanes, doesn't allow players to get to loose pucks effectively, and doesn't really effectively block shots.
- Feb 7, 2012
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Wait, doesn't coach employ a specialist coach for that ? Are you aiming the barrels at the right target here ?
It's probably just small
Then the coaching staff gets more time and reps in with the new players and teaches the new addition how to PK the Avs way. Then the PK sucks again.
HC signs off on whatever scheme is used, it's still on him as much as it's on Pratt.
In theory an aggressive PK SHOULD be able to be picked apart - it just requires support close support and quick decisions. However, the Avs spread out too much lacking support and generally do not make quick decisions. That's why Dallas knows they can eat our PP alive and often are able to generate better scoring chances shorthanded than we can up a man.
The Avs need to make better use of the bumper as a relief valve. Too often it's around the perimeter. They also have to incorporate moving screens with the net-front presence rather than someone battling in front. That player has to also be a relief valve.
That said, the Avs PP stinking it up lately is probably not going to change lol.
The Avs need to make better use of the bumper as a relief valve. Too often it's around the perimeter. They also have to incorporate moving screens with the net-front presence rather than someone battling in front. That player has to also be a relief valve.
That said, the Avs PP stinking it up lately is probably not going to change lol.
- Feb 7, 2012
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Jeez, that would be a horrible role then. Imagine not being empowered to make change, create strategies, systems, and instruction. No-one would take it.
Sorry man, I have to disagree. I think Pratt plays an integral role in what you see on the PK and PP. Same as our goalie coach for example with the goalies. Bednar wouldn't interfere too much in those specialist aspects (apart from who he WANTS in those roles).
Also, statistically, aren't we up there in terms of the NHL in both the PP and PK?
AegonLeConqueror
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- Jan 4, 2018
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But more seriously, I agree. It's that way for a lot of players. They acquire players with a specific trait that they know the team is missing, but then coach that trait out of them.
Manson, Lindgren, Colton, Coyle (just to name a few) were known for their super physical play. Now they rarely ever go for big hits unless it really presents itself. Colton and Coyle used to also always crash the slot and fight for space near the opposing goalie's crease and now they're firing weak shots from 20 feet out.
It usually requires just one pass North South and then you have a 4 on 2 down low that another quick pass can exploit especially if guys are moving to open space. But the Avs like to stand still and the only time they make a quick second pass it's for the highlight reel hero pass through the entire Dallas team.
MacK and Drouin are the worst offenders.
As far as I'm concerned this playoff is MacKs legacy to write. If he wants to be undisputed up above Sakic and Forsberg in the Avs hall of heroes.
He's aging and the team may never have the assets and cap room to load up this much for another run.
All the teams in the west look beatable. We need him to show up and own the game. That's what superstars need to do. And that's what MacK has not done.
- Jun 28, 2007
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MacKinnon is leading the playoffs in goals with six and goals created. He's tied for second in points. He has doubled up the Avs next leading goal scorer. The other three centers have combined for two goals through six games.
How about these other ****s help their best player?
No idea what you're getting at in that first sentence. At what point did I say Pratt had NO power to make change or create strategies? I'm saying the head coach still has to sign off on it, it's still under his watch. They're not wholly separate entities, there is a degree of collaboration. It's still reflective on the head coach what happens on the ice regardless of who's directly in charge.
Just FYI, there are only two teams currently still in the playoffs with a worse postseason PK--the Oilers and Jets.
Avs were 12th this year on the PK, obviously not THAT bad but not far from the lower half of the league. I can have my opinions of what I like and dislike about the team, I have really enjoyed Bednar's systems, which makes it all the more maddening that a guy who emphasizes aggressive play everywhere else tells his guys to lay back so much when the most effective kills in the league (including Dallas) are VERY aggressive.
I also hate how aggressive hitters on the PK turn into passive shot-blockers under his and Pratt's watch. It happened to Ryan Graves when he first showed up in the NHL, and it's now happened to Ryan Lindgren. Both were tremendously effective on the PK before they got coached up.
Yes that's why I compared MacKs place in the Avs pantheon to Sakic and Forsberg not Brock Nelson.
If the Avs want to come out of game 7 with the W it'll be up to MacK and Makar to carry the mail. Nelson and Coyle aren't winning this one.
Hennessy
Ye Jacobites, by name
Darren Helm did more to teach guys like O'Connor and Compher how to be aggressive and even be a shorthanded scoring threat on the PK more than the coaches ever did.
Yeah, as I stated elsewhere, both Graves and Lindgren looked fantastic on the PK when they first showed up. Then they got turned into shot-blocking floaters.
Not a good sign (at home even so the hit counters are always looking for even the slightest contact to mark down) that Lindgren had ZERO hits last game.
mapletreemarty
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There's a picture on reddit and his right wrist is fairly heavily taped up:
avalanche_country
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Yep, definitely could affect a lot of things...like shot accuracy.
redandyellowcametobe
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- Jan 4, 2019
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I saw this last night during the game and thought to myself yep, this is why he can’t seem to get any accurate mustard on his shots this series. They either sail high or Otter makes them look pretty easy. One or two games him missing like that can be a coincidence, 6 games in a row and something is likely going on that’s effecting his biggest weapon.
BaconNater
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- Oct 3, 2003
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I saw that during the game too, but we've seen that for years. I'm not sure if he wears that for injury, or because it makes him feel comfortable.
Seems like he either always wears it for comfort, or his wrist is always bothering him.
There have been quite a few wrist shots from him though, where they were uncharacteristically muffins, with much less velocity than usual.
TruePowerSlave
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forsbergavs32
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- Jan 21, 2011
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Watching the post game interview with him and Necas last night, I could have sworn his right hand looked swollen. I guess this explains it.
- Apr 25, 2006
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Especially as a righty, his right wrist is what is generating power and wrist shots are his bread and butter on the PP.
Sucks.
- Oct 24, 2008
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This is correct.
I feel like every 3-4 months we all get hit in the head with a rock and have this discussion again.
