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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
 Posted - 11/04/2010 : 7:19:22 PM
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OK, we've talked in depth about how awful this team seems to be, and I think we're all kind of surprised since there are so many returning players from a championship team.
I've been around hockey all my life, and I can nitpick 100 little issues about passing and positioning and goalie fundamentals, but in my mind there is one thing that needs to be fixed ASAP of this year is going to be a disaster...
Teamwork and unity.
There doesn't seem to be ANY.
I joked earlier about Tuesday being typically quiet in the arena because there are only about 1000 people in the building, but the upside of that is that as fans we can often hear the players on the ice.
So... How much did you guys hear 'clones players communicating?
I didn't hear much. Very little actually.
Given this, especially this early in a season with so many new guys, its no surprise to see all the passes to nobody, pucks going between two players that are just looking at each other, and skaters going untouched between two defenders at the blue line.
Until you build the chemistry you HAVE to communicate.
But the big issue is the lack of standing up for teamates.
O'Hanley... Yes.
Pretty much everyone else... Nope.
That won't cut it. Guys like Eggo, Pierce and Robinson get room to skate and stay healthy due to fear of retribution by teamates, and an effective enforcer.
Right now we don't have players standing up for each other and we don't have an effective enforcer. At least in the 3 home games Delory has been a joke and Olsen is a huge defensive liability.
That just won't do.
How to fix it?
It's on the coaches and the guy wearing the C. Thats part of the job.
In terms of an enforcer... There are plenty of them out there. Go get one. Now. Someone who knows what to do when an opposing player runs over his goalie or cross checks his 170lb captain.
The simple presence of a guy like that on the bench makes life easier for everyone on the team. Always has.
JMO
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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cycfan
(The Next Level!)
243 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2010 : 11:17:12 PM
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Our coach also has to use our strength's to our advantage. I know there's a lot of Webber worship on this board, probably mostly for good reason, but that was a hallmark of Chuck Webber team's. Both team's that won the Cup were very different in terms of ability. The first year was just light's out talent. They were better than every team they played against and they knew it, and so did their opponent. They stepped on the ice knowing they were going to win and it put the bad guys back on their heels a bit. The also had stellar goaltending that would bail them out on the odd mistake, which means they could press at the other end even more.
Last year's team, won by being gritty and getting timely goals. They honestly were probably only the third best team in our Conference, but they never gave up in any game or any series. They defined team hockey, where the sum of the whole was so much better than the individual cogs. Every guy on that team was willing to sacrifice for the team and stand up for their team mates.
So far, from what've I've seen, we have speed and we have some skilled forwards. I think Catch is right. We need some muscle to protect our skilled forwards so they have room to operate. The physical presence will also open up our cycle, which combined with our stickhandling should wear down their defense and give us better chances.
Our PK needs to get a lot better.....fast. Jarrod, either needs to use our speed to work an aggressive PK where we go out and challenge the puck to deny them the time they need to make good passes, and clog up their passing lanes, or we need to have a deliberate PK that stays in our box and concedes shots from bad angles, but denies rebound chances and good scoring opportunities from the slot.
Right now, it looks like we run around in our zone letting them dictate the play, and give up the slot everytime they step in. We also need to get nastier in front of the net. Make them pay a price for going to the net. That is a fundamental tennet of hockey, you go to the net, you go home bruised and beaten.
Clearly something has to change.
Btw, Catch, I have a kid from Alabama that plays for me. Best little player you'll see. Made the National Camp. |
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2010 : 11:50:50 PM
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I think when I played I was playing at the only hockey rink in Alabama. There are several now, and of course the nice Hockey program at UAH.
Back to the topic... Agreed.
We're SUPPOSED to have physical players and enforcers on the current roster, but there is very little physicality and NO enforcing going on. Thats the first thing that needs to change. That improves and pretty much EVERYTHING improves.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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hrc666
(Loves To Post!)
1363 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2010 : 02:23:33 AM
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I saw heavy checks by Lehman and Olson on Wednesday.
Lack of retaliation has been the norm for the Cyclones for 5 years now. I saw Thomas Beauregard get a concussion from a cheap shot by a Mississippi player and absolutely nothing was done about it. Cedrick Desjardins was run regularly with no significant retailiation. Last season's team was hardly physical and certainly didn't even the score on most cheap shots given a Cyclone.
Chuck Weber's teams were physically feared by no one. They weren't known for settling scores very often either.
A 63% PK and 85% save percentages (both goalies)won't cut it. That is the core of the problem. The fact that guys aren't finishing on good scoring opportunities hasn't helped matters.
Skalde has plenty of playing and coaching experience. The team has plenty of veterans. Unless there is some schism in the locker room, then this team will come together fairly soon. The only thing that will prevent this is if the goaltending doesn't advance beyond the ridiculously awful performances that have been the norm this season.
Kyle Gajewski would look like an All Star if compared to Cheverie and Pickard. I'll assume that both are significantly better than they've shown so far. One would hope so. |
"The only way David Desharnais will see an NHL game is if he buys a ticket".
--donnie hockey
"David Desharnais will be invisible during 5 on 5 hockey. IN THE AHL"
--donnie hockey
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Edited by - hrc666 on 11/05/2010 02:40:35 AM |
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2010 : 10:38:33 AM
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I disagree.
Yes, the first cup team was more dash and flash and not very physical because they could be. They were the most talented team in the league, period. They just skated around everyone.
But the last two seasons we've had two of the best bruisers at this level on the bench in Johnson and Benson. Those guys fought alot, and won the majority of them. Most opposing players did not want to drop gloves with those guys, and were more behaved as a result. Sometimes you have to have a good memory to spot retribution, and trust me, there was retribution.
We also had Morehouse running around like the Tasmanian Devil drawing penalties, pestering and raising the energy of the bench.
Right now we don't have any of that.
And from 10 rows up it looks like we have no team unity at all. It's hockey, and if you want the numbers to get better you have to fix this first.
Maybe the players are frustrated with the new system and/or the new coach. Or maybe starting the first two weeks on the road took a toll. Or maybe starting the first two weeks on the road without Eggo, Del Monte and Reynolds consistently on the bench took a toll.
etc.
etc.
Regardless of the "whys," this team needs to come together fast. When you have one guy skating uncontested through 3 guys at the blue line and scoring... You have a problem.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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