He has a lethal howie, but not enough vision for my liking. It's no wonder the Caps haven't had secondary scoring in forever. Get your standards up...
Bura has a sick shot..but it stops there. He has no vision....the Caps need some guys that can find trailers and make seem passes. Open the ice up. Backstrom is that guy, but I don't know...
Bura has a sick shot..but it stops there. He has no vision....the Caps need some guys that can find trailers and make seem passes. Open the ice up. Backstrom is that guy, but I don't know...
Bura had a play late in the 3rd or in OT that makes me wonder about Backstrom and understand why Trotz put 65 on the top line for a bit.
Bura drew 3 players to him in the high slot on an entry play and made a beautiful (backhand?) pass to Green for a meaningful slapper. That's creating offense. When was the last time Backstrom skated through space and forced a triple team like that? Everyone wants to bash Ovie for his even strength numbers but what's Backstrom doing out there aside from the occasional give and go saucer pass?
Well, yeah, it's part of the problem. I think Backstrom is naturally less of a target for criticism (compared to Ovi) because a) he is at least pretty solid defensively, and b) he is on a quite reasonable deal that doesn't carry much risk at all. Plus you could add he is a very good PP distributor and does generally find a way to put up points.
But yeah, Backstrom just doesn't have the speed/power/aggressiveness to force his will on the opposition. He can hurt you if you give him time & space, or if he has really smart/active/skilled teammates who'll extend the cycle and get into the right spots for him to thread passes to them for scoring opportunities. Unfortunately, playing on the first line the opponents' top D/checkers don't really give him time & space, and Ovi + whoever haven't measured up in terms of being active and crafty off the cycle. Of course, I think you could also make just as strong a case that Backstrom's crafty game has been far from an ideal fit for Ovi. Hence our continued predicament of Ovi + Backstrom being (far) less than the sum of their talent.
People put a lot of hope on Wilson. Well, I agree to some extent that if he can generate energy by banging (and so get Ovi more revved up), and then can create havoc in front for Ovi to throw pucks on net, it could very well be an improvement on the other wingers so far. But at the same time, I think it's a very tall order for him to connect what seems to me very disparate playing styles of Ovi and Backstrom.
Wilson on the top line changes that dynamic in a few ways.
For one it doesn't allow the familiar, possibly jaded and habit-bound 8 and 19 to sit back and fall into old patterns. Wilson goes out there and stirs **** the **** up. He's got enough speed to keep up with 8 and 19 if they want to move so he can join the rush, start the rush, get back on defense, or get to the net. Obviously he bangs on the boards and has deceptive puck skills that I believe will only improve. And of course he punches faces.
But the most important strategic thing he brings is a massive amount of disruption to the other team's defensive gameplan. Suddenly every player on the ice has to have his head on a swivel and can't just retreat back into the same old defensive postures they've been applying to Ovechkin and Backstrom these last 4 or so years. Every time that first line steps on the ice it's a whirlwind of 43 they've got to account for and that creates potential lapses in coverage and concentration (not to mention guys crumpled on the ice) that can benefit Ovie and Nick.
I think 8 and 19 have to recognize this and begin using it to their advantage.
Wilson on the top line changes that dynamic in a few ways.
For one it doesn't allow the familiar, possibly jaded and habit-bound 8 and 19 to sit back and fall into old patterns. Wilson goes out there and stirs **** the **** up. He's got enough speed to keep up with 8 and 19 if they want to move so he can join the rush, start the rush, get back on defense, or get to the net. Obviously he bangs on the boards and has deceptive puck skills that I believe will only improve. And of course he punches faces.
But the most important strategic thing he brings is a massive amount of disruption to the other team's defensive gameplan. Suddenly every player on the ice has to have his head on a swivel and can't just retreat back into the same old defensive postures they've been applying to Ovechkin and Backstrom these last 4 or so years. Every time that first line steps on the ice it's a whirlwind of 43 they've got to account for and that creates potential lapses in coverage and concentration (not to mention guys crumpled on the ice) that can benefit Ovie and Nick.
I think 8 and 19 have to recognize this and begin using it to their advantage.
Fantastic point. And a good write up.
We all remember how great and dangerous the first line was with Knuble. Hopefully Wilson is the second coming.
We all remember how great and dangerous the first line was with Knuble. Hopefully Wilson is the second coming.
Knuble was playing with a different Ovechkin.
2014 Ovechkin needs something a hell of a lot better than Knuble.
Plan B (for Trotz) imo, is if 43 doesn't click with 8 & 19, will be to break up 8 and 19.. (Which may not be a bad thing either, but something we'll be "going back to the drawing board" waiting and waiting to get figured out.
He has no vision? Just last night he had a sick pass to a dman (forgot who) who had a good shot on goal. Think in the 3rd. Other than Nicky I doubt anyone on this team makes that pass.
They were not particularly impressive with Knuble in playoffs...