Foppa2118
Registered User
- Oct 3, 2003
- 52,347
- 31,519
So Bednar's system is all about applying pressure to the puck carrier to create turnovers? It sure doesn't seem very effective at that then considering this team gets very few of those and is usually having to attack defenses that are already set up and waiting for them instead of odd number breaks in transition. Based on this site, the avs takeaway numbers rank in the bottom third of the nhl despite all their speed and effort. I would really like it if the avs could create more transition opportunities because it's much easier to score that way, right now it seems like the team does a lot of work for not much reward. When they do score a lot, it's usually because they were able to come at the other team in such waves that it broke them. It felt like we got a lot more transition opportunities when Roy was coach.
Another thing I noticed is that it seems like our players are always getting out numbered in puck battles. The other team will be sending 4 guys while the avs try to fend them off with 2 or 3 while the other guys stand there watching even in our own defensive zone.
Here Jost does a good job of winning the puck back but then is immediately surrounded by 2 if not 3 blues players IN HIS OWN ZONE and is forced to give the puck back while all his teammates stand around watching. Girard just watches his guy go and stands in front of the net guarding nobody like he usually does. If the scheme is supposed to be good shouldn't your team have the numbers advantage?
Just look at how the team plays on the forecheck and the back check. When the opposition is trying to leave the zone, Av player are supposed to be moving their feet to jump on the puck carrier. Then if they make a pass, someone jumps on that guy, and instead of the first Av finishing his check, he does a flyby and skates back so he's in position to jump on another puck carrier if the puck comes near him.
And all of this isn't just with players skating at 50%. Bednar wants his guys hustling at like 90%+ or it's not effective.
It isn't just about creating turnovers. It's about rushing passes, so team's don't kill you with their transition game. This leads to passes that aren't quite on the tape, or or need to be won with a 50/50 battle. And a lot of this leads to teams not being able to setup in the O zone, and then the Avs break up the play and get the puck back in the D zone, for Makar/Girard/Toews to skate it out, instead of the traditional turnover in the neutral zone. That's more Vegas' style.
The video you showed is of their D zone play. That's a different thing. Bednar doesn't want them being too aggressive here, which is why he didn't like that Z would look for so many big hits. He wanted him in position to be able to defend.
That video looks like a really bad shift to me, possible when they were tired. They don't usually struggle with getting the puck out like that, unless they're not on their game. They usually support each other much better, and get the puck out a lot easier.