redbull
Boss
- Mar 24, 2008
- 12,593
- 654
Nothing personal, but this is a case of where stereotypes can run into problems. Case in point:
No Al Arbour team was EVER "offense-first". The team that won the Stanley Cups, 1980-83 was built on a foundation of strong defense. Arbour saw to it his first year with the franchise, when he reduced the team's GA by 100. (Yes, 100.)
It is precisely because his teams were defensively disciplined, first and foremost, that they shut down the offensive Oilers machine in the '83 Finals. (And, likewise, once the Oilers embraced a modicum of defensive awareness, along with more discipline, patience, and the willingness to pay the price* they were ready to dethrone NYI the following season).
*That's not my analysis; Wayne Gretzky said as much.
But even without 99's words - you could see it by watching the games - especially once they went back to edmonton for the final three games. Oilers beat them at their own game, which was shocking to me. Just as shocking as how easily the islanders swept them the year before.
I still find it amazing at how the players and the hockey experts that went through those wars, even the oilers themselves talk about how amazing those islanders teams were, yet there are so many doubters who, based largely on stats, dismiss the success to a large degree, especially of the key players. Lou lamoriello, bryan burke, mike keenen - all have talked about that dynasty team, modeling their teams, etc.
Such is life.