Calling Out Matt Barzal

[Doshell Propivo]

Al Arbours system was Defense first, but as soon as you got the puck, go for it and be free and be creative. Then as soon as you lost the puck, transition to d quickly.

What you're describing is pond hockey.

A defensive system is about structure and positioning. Not neglecting defense until you lose the puck. LOL How is that a "defense first" system. You make it sound like players could do whatever the hell they wanted with the puck until there was a turnover. Then Arbour would yell, "Hurry up and get back on D!" LOL

 

[Doshell Propivo]

Add in the fact that only Ryan Pulock has anything that resembles a one-timer (Boychuck has a huge windup but everyone knows he’s doing it) and it makes for a flaccid, predictable power play.

That's what she said.

 

[FourRings]

Talent is definitely part of it, but some of it is also technique. We spend too much time on one side or the other on the PP. Point shots are never just wrist shots while moving laterally. Lee is always trying to twerk in the goalie's face rather than come away from the crease a bit more and just tip shots. A lot of the time he's not even in front of the net when a shot is released from the point. A couple of those simple adjustments would definitely lead to more goals.

Toews, Pulock, Leddy, etc. need to move that puck laterally along the blueline and just fling it towards the net as players are passing in front of the goalie. They don't ever do that. It goes from high to low on one side, then across, then high to low, back to high, then across, it's very easy for the goalie to track and the defenders have an easy time keeping it to the outside because they never really have to break formation.

Oh, and decisions are made INCREDIBLY slowly instead of fast passes. We need to move the puck a lot more quickly, everything is telegraphed.

You missed the part where we try to force the seam pass and allow the PK an easy clear. It’s a staple.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

Some of the criticism Trotz received from some of the Caps fans:
-selective shooting: don't risk losing puck possession by taking a shot if it's not an optimum scoring opportunity.
-rookies/younger players and how they were handled: Schmidt, Vrana, Burakovsky, etc.
-lines: 1st line Beagle (Jay), and 'why is he playing ____so much? Why is ____out there when the team is ____?.
-in game adjustments: 'change it up Barry! '

Said fans of every team, ever.

"Gotta SHOOT more!"
"Why the f*** isn't [insert rookie's name here] in the lineup??"
"Ugh! These lines suck!"
"Call a freaking timeout! Change up the lines!"

Sound familiar?

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

I have noticed these issues in his game much more since the all star break. I also felt the same way immediately following last years all star break. It has lead me to believe that matt has an immature mentality, and for the second year in a row, has allowed himself to start thinking he is a big shot from hanging out with all the other all stars during the break.

The problem isn't the observations you've made about his on-ice performance. It's the made up story you created to explain it.

 

[Quickdraw2828]

I believe Barzy is frustrated. How many times he carried the puck into the zone, cycled & then only lost the pucks because no one can get to the open for him to pass to & when he does end up pass to someone in front of the net, the puck end up in the goalie pads (not enough shooters know how to lift up the pucks enough to go under the net). He needs a winger with a good wrist shot who knows how to sneak pass the defender into the open spot & receive the puck properly on the stick.

He needs to take it up the middle and he can't. He stays by the boards and waits for a wing to cut to the net, the defense know this and the middle is completely clogged. Barzal may be the fastest player in the league and Tavares the slowest, but Tavares could control the puck with players around him and get up the middle. Barzal's game is too one dimensional. If he doesn't learn to handle the puck near his feet and get around players he'll never be elite. Pageau showed some nice stick handling to get into the offensive zone, instead of our usual intercepted passes at center ice.