LyricalLyricist
Registered User
Depends if you have an elite offense no? There's a shitload of variables that are unknown here. I'd love to say I know the answer but I really don't given its not black and white.
You do what makes the team win more games.
If you win same number of games regardless I suggest offense because its more entertaining.
Otherwise it's basically a huge question mark.
If they question is how to build the team then even then it's complicated. These days top Cs, Ds and so on are two-way guys who can do it all.
The most important part of any team or system is having the right personnel to force the other team to play a game they aren't comfortable with.
So if you're going against a slow team and pushing the pace then you want to catch them flat footed, get behind their D.
If you're facing a team with high quality snipers you want to have a strong puck possession game so they can't shoot a puck they don't have.
Fundamentally the goal of the game is to have the puck more than other team and be opportunistic when you do.
Not to mention when it comes to goalies it doesn't matter who you are, 2 on 1s, breakaways and so on will burn you. It always will eventually. In fact I would go as far as saying most goalies aren't .960 save % on breakaways or 2 on 1s. If you employ a run and gun offense(the extreme) it's almost worthless to have an elite goalie because he isn't going to stop much more than an average starter on those high scoring chances. What makes a guy like Price...Price...is his ability to read the play, to know where puck is going even through a screen, to be positionally sound. What happens when position means nothing and you just have 2 on 1s and odd man rushes? He's human.
I think it's a great question DA but man is it all over the place. My opinion is with all the variables that are unknown you gotta find a niche and stick to it. Adapt your style, depth talent and everything to emphasize strengths and reduce weaknesses.
All this doesn't take into account that I find an elite goalie a luxury than isn't as needed as say an elite C or D. The impact a great goalie and good goalie have on a game vs their contract makes this question a lot harder to answer.
You do what makes the team win more games.
If you win same number of games regardless I suggest offense because its more entertaining.
Otherwise it's basically a huge question mark.
If they question is how to build the team then even then it's complicated. These days top Cs, Ds and so on are two-way guys who can do it all.
The most important part of any team or system is having the right personnel to force the other team to play a game they aren't comfortable with.
So if you're going against a slow team and pushing the pace then you want to catch them flat footed, get behind their D.
If you're facing a team with high quality snipers you want to have a strong puck possession game so they can't shoot a puck they don't have.
Fundamentally the goal of the game is to have the puck more than other team and be opportunistic when you do.
Not to mention when it comes to goalies it doesn't matter who you are, 2 on 1s, breakaways and so on will burn you. It always will eventually. In fact I would go as far as saying most goalies aren't .960 save % on breakaways or 2 on 1s. If you employ a run and gun offense(the extreme) it's almost worthless to have an elite goalie because he isn't going to stop much more than an average starter on those high scoring chances. What makes a guy like Price...Price...is his ability to read the play, to know where puck is going even through a screen, to be positionally sound. What happens when position means nothing and you just have 2 on 1s and odd man rushes? He's human.
I think it's a great question DA but man is it all over the place. My opinion is with all the variables that are unknown you gotta find a niche and stick to it. Adapt your style, depth talent and everything to emphasize strengths and reduce weaknesses.
All this doesn't take into account that I find an elite goalie a luxury than isn't as needed as say an elite C or D. The impact a great goalie and good goalie have on a game vs their contract makes this question a lot harder to answer.