Greatest Net Front Presence Of All Time

The Zetterberg Era

Ball Hockey Sucks
Nov 8, 2011
40,957
11,577
Ft. Myers, FL
Net front presence. Anchoring a player in front of the goalie in the low slot like Holmgren or Franzen is quite modern. Started late 1970s progressing to specialists.

Previously it was flow through movement,arc thru,dart in, the high and low slot for deflections,tip-ins, re-directs and rebounds,chase the puck down in the corner,etc. Skate, keeping moving so that the passing and shooting lanes were not constant. Put pressure on the d-men, especially on the PP, creating odd man situations, hard to set a box or diamond.

First Canadiens player to spend time in the low slot was Yvon Lambert.

Then exploded with the influx of the butterfly. They had guys do it before that but like you said it wasn't necessarily dedicated. It became more necessary when the goaltender position evolved.

I mean you do have to acknowledge how much better goaltenders are in the modern NHL as well.

You didn't used to say if he sees it he stops it when I was real little, now you do.
 

Canadiens1958

Registered User
Nov 30, 2007
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Lake Memphremagog, QC.
Then exploded with the influx of the butterfly. They had guys do it before that but like you said it wasn't necessarily dedicated. It became more necessary when the goaltender position evolved.

I mean you do have to acknowledge how much better goaltenders are in the modern NHL as well.

You didn't used to say if he sees it he stops it when I was real little, now you do.

Within the context of the north/south flow butterfly goalies were much easier to impede.

Today goalies require movement and reflexes greater than even 10 seasons ago. Have to be more acrobatic as well.
 
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Killion

Registered User
Feb 19, 2010
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Within the context of the north/south flow butterfly goalies were much easier to impede.

Today goalies require movement and reflexes greater than even 10 seasons ago. Have to be more acrobatic as well.

... ya, for sure, especially on the bolded. Theres no way I'd take up playing that position today (nor would a considerable number of previous generations) as physiologically I'm not innately a gymnast, you practically have to be a contortionist the way the position is taught, preached & played, nor am I tall enough, 5'8".... and size does matter... 5'8" might be OK for Pee Wee huh? But I rather doubt you'd get much past AA or A no matter how outstanding.
 
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Mandar

The Real Maven
Sep 27, 2013
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The Tarheel State
Those of us who followed the Rangers in the 70's remember that Steve Vickers owned that area in and around the crease. Bill Chadwick used to call that area "Vickers' Office".
 

DannyGallivan

Your world frightens and confuses me
Aug 25, 2017
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Phil Esposito was the greatest from the slot to the crease than any player in history. Tim Kerr is an often forgotten Esposito clone from the late 80's (without Espo's underrated playmaking ability).
 
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Sentinel

Registered User
May 26, 2009
12,758
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www.vvinenglish.com
Three people I immediately think about: Esposito, Cicarelli, Holmstrom.

Right before the 2002 SLC Olympics, Steve Yzerman was asked about Sweden being in Canada's group and a new Swedish "twin torpedoes" system. Yzerman's response: "I don't know about Team Sweden, but I know exactly what kind of system will Tomas Holmstrom be playing." :D

Another name that hasn't been mentioned: Sidney Crosby. The dude is terrific around the net. Not blocking the view, of course, but his tip-ins and deflections are up with the best of them.
 

therealkoho

Him/Leaf/fan
Jul 10, 2009
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the Prior
of all the names mentioned here, it's hard to believe nobody mentioned two of the best "plant a flag" guys of all time who were team-mates and a big part of an NHL Dynasty. John Tonelli and Clark Gillies. Jethro and Tonto could both take all the punishment the opposition could dole out and both still managed to score 300+ goals
 

Killion

Registered User
Feb 19, 2010
36,763
3,211
of all the names mentioned here, it's hard to believe nobody mentioned two of the best "plant a flag" guys of all time who were team-mates and a big part of an NHL Dynasty. John Tonelli and Clark Gillies. Jethro and Tonto could both take all the punishment the opposition could dole out and both still managed to score 300+ goals

Yep, grand pair those two.
 
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