The Armchair GM Thread - Part XXXIII

[Alflives*]

I have seen Perry play, and there's no doubt in my mind he's a fantastic player. All I am saying is that gutting depth always seems to kill teams in the end (ie. Rangers).

And I still don't think Kassian is ready for top 6 minutes yet, let alone the first line.

Kassian needs to play with the Sedins. Kesler's injury is a blessing to the Canucks. It will force coach V to put Burrows back to second line center, and move Kassian back to the Sedins' line. The Canucks are a better team this way. When Kesler returns, he should play on the wing, with Burrows at center.

 

[absolute garbage]

Here you go.

Well, the gap between forwards and defensemen is still a gap, isn't it? A team like Phoenix is superb at keeping that gap short and the whole 5 man unit so tight and together. That's why it's so hard to generate anything against them.

Is there another word to use for that than gap?

 

[PRNuck]

Yeah... that is not what gap control is.

 

[Tiranis]

Well, the gap between forwards and defensemen is still a gap, isn't it? A team like Phoenix is superb at keeping that gap short and the whole 5 man unit so tight and together. That's why it's so hard to generate anything against them.

Is there another word to use for that than gap?

I take issue with the fact that he pretends as if he's part of some brilliant hockey society where only they know what the true 'GAP control' is. Gap control, most of the time, refers to the spacing (and angling) between the defending D and the attacking F.

I don't have a problem with someone calling something else 'gap control', if they want, but if you're a D and your coach is calling you out on your 'gap control' then 99/100 times he's talking about the most obvious option.

 

[PRNuck]

Well, the gap between forwards and defensemen is still a gap, isn't it? A team like Phoenix is superb at keeping that gap short and the whole 5 man unit so tight and together. That's why it's so hard to generate anything against them.

Is there another word to use for that than gap?

Probably...because that's not gap control.

 

[absolute garbage]

Gap control, most of the time, refers to the spacing between the defending D and the attacking F.

Yeah. But what do you call the gap between your own defense and own forwards then? Not a native English speaker but I'm pretty I've seen that called gap aswell.

Saw your edit and yeah I agree that when coach calls out d's gap control it usually means that. That being said, it's easy to blame defensemen when the unit as a whole is not working together. If the unit has loose gaps between defensemen and forwards, it's usually the forwards fault (while it's usually the defensemen who end up looking bad).

 

[Tiranis]

Yeah. But what do you call the gap between your own defense and own forwards then? Not a native English speaker but I'm pretty I've seen that called gap aswell.

Yup, it's a gap. If we boil it down to basics, more than half of hockey is about 'gap control'. That's wasn't my issue. It was this bit:

Too many people think it's the gap between the opposing teams' players. It's refreshing to read someone who understands it's the GAP between back-checking forwards and collapsing D.

There's no coach in the world that will talk to the D about gap control and mean that the spacing between them and the back-checking forwards is off (unless he specifically clarifies it).

 

[Alflives*]

Here you go.

What arsmaster said made complete sense and he understands what gap control is. What you replied with made exactly zero sense.

You are wrong in your understanding of GAP control. However, regardless of your misunderstanding, the fact remains the Canuck's current D retreat too quickly, and create big gaps between themselves and their teammates.

 

[Tiranis]

You are wrong in your understanding of GAP control.

Apparently so is everyone else that coaches hockey in the whole world. It's ok though, I'm sure you know better.

 

[monster_bertuzzi]

Kassian needs to play with the Sedins. Kesler's injury is a blessing to the Canucks. It will force coach V to put Burrows back to second line center, and move Kassian back to the Sedins' line. The Canucks are a better team this way. When Kesler returns, he should play on the wing, with Burrows at center.

If the only way Kassian can contribute consistently is with the Sedins, that is an alarm bell more than anything.

 

[opendoor]

You are wrong in your understanding of GAP control. However, regardless of your misunderstanding, the fact remains the Canuck's current D retreat too quickly, and create big gaps between themselves and their teammates.

I can't tell if you're trolling or not.

 

[absolute garbage]

the fact remains the Canuck's current D retreat too quickly, and create big gaps between themselves and their teammates.

Are you talking about rush situations or dump ins? Because it's up to forwards to react aswell to your d's movements.

 

[Alflives*]

I take issue with the fact that he pretends as if he's part of some brilliant hockey society where only they know what the true 'GAP control' is. Gap control, most of the time, refers to the spacing (and angling) between the defending D and the attacking F.

I don't have a problem with someone calling something else 'gap control', if they want, but if you're a D and your coach is calling you out on your 'gap control' then 99/100 times he's talking about the most obvious option.

There are Gaps all over the ice, but the most significant one is the GAP between teammates in the neutral zone. There are also Gaps between D partners, and cycling forwards, and supporting wingers on the wall. The Canucks have real issues with their gaps between teammates. It is difficult to support teammates - in multiple ways - when the gaps are too big, all over the ice.

 

[Pip]

Gap control is the space between the defense and the opposing teams forwards, if you're too close, too early they will skate around you, if you leave too much of a gap then you will back in too far and screen the goalie for their shot.

 

[Pip]

There are Gaps all over the ice, but the most significant one is the GAP between teammates in the neutral zone. There are also Gaps between D partners, and cycling forwards, and supporting wingers on the wall. The Canucks have real issues with their gaps between teammates. It is difficult to support teammates - in multiple ways - when the gaps are too big, all over the ice.

yes there are plenty of gaps, but when someone says gap control in hockey they mean the space between the defense and opposing team's forwards

 

[Tiranis]

There are Gaps all over the ice, but the most significant one is the GAP between teammates in the neutral zone. There are also Gaps between D partners, and cycling forwards, and supporting wingers on the wall. The Canucks have real issues with their gaps between teammates. It is difficult to support teammates - in multiple ways - when the gaps are too big, all over the ice.

None of that makes your previous statement true. Gap control, generally, refers to the gap between the attacking F and the opposing D.

Your 'gap control' through neutral zone is generally called positioning by coaches. 'Gaps' on the cycle are certainly NOT called 'gap control'.

 

[mrmyheadhurts]

Poster Alflives is confusing gap control with puck support.

 

[vanuck]

What on earth...?

Ok, I think he's also talking about the D taking into account how far away the back-checking forwards are. But that's only part of it. If we're talking strict definition of the term, then it's just the gap between attacking forwards and the D.

 

[Alflives*]

Are you talking about rush situations or dump ins? Because it's up to forwards to react aswell to your d's movements.

In the neutral zone is where GAP becomes most noticeable, and especially on the rush. Opposing teams are trying to attack with speed, forcing the D to back-up. This creates a GAP (between the D and the back checking forwards) for the late coming attackers to fill. If there is little or no GAP created then the attacking forwards will most often dump the puck in, eliminating any potential rush creating a scoring chance, and allowing all the defending team's players to get back. If the attacking forwards don't dump the puck in (under this circumstance) the chances of a neutral zone turn-over greatly increase, and a counter-attack happening.

 

[Tiranis]

In the neutral zone is where GAP becomes most noticeable, and especially on the rush. Opposing teams are trying to attack with speed, forcing the D to back-up. This creates a GAP (between the D and the back checking forwards) for the late coming attackers to fill. If there is little or no GAP created then the attacking forwards will most often dump the puck in, eliminating any potential rush creating a scoring chance, and allowing all the defending team's players to get back.

Still doesn't make it 'gap control' no matter how many times you explain this basic concept to every single person on these boards that understands it perfectly fine.

 

[Alflives*]

Poster Alflives is confusing gap control with puck support.

The opponents have the puck, and are on the rush through the neutral zone.

 

[Bleach Clean]

In the neutral zone is where GAP becomes most noticeable, and especially on the rush. Opposing teams are trying to attack with speed, forcing the D to back-up. This creates a GAP (between the D and the back checking forwards) for the late coming attackers to fill. If there is little or no GAP created then the attacking forwards will most often dump the puck in, eliminating any potential rush creating a scoring chance, and allowing all the defending team's players to get back. If the attacking forwards don't dump the puck in (under this circumstance) the chances of a neutral zone turn-over greatly increase, and a counter-attack happening.

Gap control is what arsmaster and Tiranis have described. Anything more is obfuscating the basic principle of that term.

 

[Tiranis]

The opponents have the puck, and are on the rush through the neutral zone.

Here's Brian Leetch and USA Hockey on gap control:

A gap is the amount of space between the puck carrier and the defensive player. Win the battle of the gaps, and you will likely win the hockey game.

By playing a tight gap a defenseman is taking away time and space from his opponent. Doing so will allow the defenseman to dictate where he wants the offensive player to go, which is generally toward the outside of the rink and away from a prime scoring area.

http://www.usahockeymagazine.com/article/2009-10/good-gap-control-let’s-you-dictate-play

 

[opendoor]

Here's Brian Leetch and USA Hockey on gap control:

I think you're confusing gap control and GAP control.

 

[vanuck]

The opponents have the puck, and are on the rush through the neutral zone.

I think you mean 'taking puck support into account with regard to the D's gap control' i.e if forwards are back-checking hard then the D can afford to step up and be more aggressive.