Do most teams play 'boring' hockey?

[Kuroi]

So I've been watching the Sharks since about 2015/16ish. And I also watch the Canes living in NC. Looking at them play this season versus what I've watched from the Sharks over the years made me ponder if I was ever truly 'excited' watching the Sharks.

Jumbo, Couture, Jones.. damn good players. But it seems most my memory of Sharks games is pass pass pass shoot. Repeat. They surely moved slower imo and frankly it's like you watch them try to get the puck in the net. Versus when I watch the Canes this season it's fun just watching the physical, speed and resonance aspects of the team.

Then I realized.. I think most teams plays that. Pass pass pass shoot. And you can kinda tune it out like baseball. Where as teams like the Canes, Lighting, or Pens/Caps playoffs is way more fun to watch, dare I say.

What's your thoughts on this?

Of course the Canes are a better team this year. But even when teams like the Sharks had deep playoff runs...

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[ItWasJustified]

High skilled players on a NHL sized rink = boring hockey.

Simple as.

 

[WeeBey]

Every team that's beating my team is playing boring hockey

 

[GreeningOil]

Yes. Some teams play mostly boring hockey. It’s all effort and lower skill usually.

 

[TheNumber4]

So other teams do pass pass pass shoot. What are the Canes doing that different? Just trying to better understand your take.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Coaches aren't hired to coach their teams to play entertaining hockey. They're hired to coach their teams to play winning hockey. They design systems to limit entries and limit slot chances. Slow the opposition's forwards down, force possessions, choke creativity. I can appreciate a great defensive game as much as a great offensive one, even if I'd rather watch the latter.

Sometimes winning hockey is boring. Those that can get winning and exciting from their teams are truly great coaches.

 

[PG Canuck]

Pass pass pass shoot?

You watch them try to get the puck in the net?

What are we trying to talk about here. Teams play different systems. Coaches have different philosophies of offense.

A team with less skilled players has to play to their capabilities. Where a more skilled team can pass pass pass PASS shoot.

Do the Canes shoot shoot shoot pass? We may never know...

 

[542365]

"Exciting" hockey doesn't work in the NHL. It's why the Leafs, Avs, Oilers Pre-Trotz Caps etc. always fail in the playoffs.

 

[Kuroi]

So other teams do pass pass pass shoot. What are the Canes doing that different? Just trying to better understand your take.

This is hockey, you gotta pass and shoot. But the way the Canes, Lightning and even Caps play make the pass pass pass shoot a less noticeable part of the game. As in its speed, body crashing, persistence, great puck control, lots of shots (Canes often have 10+ more shots than every team they play this season) and more.

Sharks and 80%+ IMO is does way less of this. So all you are watching is the team pass pass pass shooting. Or it seems that way.

Coaches aren't hired to coach their teams to play entertaining hockey. They're hired to coach their teams to play winning hockey. They design systems to limit entries and limit slot chances. Slow the opposition's forwards down, force possessions, choke creativity. I can appreciate a great defensive game as much as a great offensive one, even if I'd rather watch the latter.

Sometimes winning hockey is boring. Those that can get winning and exciting from their teams are truly great coaches.

I agree with you. I think youre talking 90s Devils hockey right? Good thing nowadays fun and winning can be accomplished.

Pass pass pass shoot?

You watch them try to get the puck in the net?

What are we trying to talk about here. Teams play different systems. Coaches have different philosophies of offense.

A team with less skilled players has to play to their capabilities. Where a more skilled team can pass pass pass PASS shoot.

Do the Canes shoot shoot shoot pass? We may never know...

Idk, you're even confusing me. I agree not every team has a mcdavid, Aho or Point on their team. So yeah they have to play a certain way.

That last sentence actually might be true since the Canes often outshoot their opposition by atleast 5-10+

And by watch them try to get the puck in the net I mean it's nothing else that entertaining going on. So youre just watching the puck and them pass 80% of the time. When its a lack of speed, physical hockey and back and forth. Youre just watching them pass and hope the puck goes in the net. Similar to baseball when your team is pitching. All youre looking for is strikes. Why Its boring to people my Gen (Z) at least.

"Exciting" hockey doesn't work in the NHL. It's why the Leafs, Avs, Oilers Pre-Trotz Caps etc. always fail in the playoffs.

Welp, I disagree with that. Every cup winner since 2017 has played fast, physical, fun hockey. Damn sure Lightning and Caps. Its a reason people say those teams play 'dirty' hockey.

Yeah, maybe in 1994 that was true. Its the 2020s, not even 2010s.

I watched the 95 finals and it looked like another game it was so slow. I started watching in 2014/15 so that is like slow motion to me.

 

[Chips]

"Exciting" hockey doesn't work in the NHL. It's why the Leafs, Avs, Oilers Pre-Trotz Caps etc. always fail in the playoffs.

Pens, bolts were exciting. I certainly argue the Bolts are exciting because three of their recent playoff opponents the Habs, Isles and Stars fairly consistently force dull hockey yet consistently when they matched up against the Bolts things became at least somewhat more fun lol. They’re too good and can flip the script with their offense into making those other teams, who normally try to frustrate the other team into opening up, be the ones who open up because they really need a goal, and still good enough defensively to sustain that




Also people weirdly only choose to acknowledge one team in the game sometimes. I watch this team play last night. It was boring. They are boring. One team can stink up a game, say Variations like injury etc

 

[Martinez]

Pass pass shoot sounds nice. The last few years of the red wings it’s been dump, chase, don’t get the puck, defend, get the puck back, dump, line change.

 

[Summer Rose]

To me at least, hockey is, by default, not boring, not even my Coyotes.

Therefore, "boring hockey" is an oxymoron. I don't need several high-danger scoring chances every minute to find the sport interesting. In fact, that's stressful, not necessarily exciting.

 

[koyvoo]

High skilled players on a NHL sized rink = boring hockey.

Simple as.

Imagine how shitty it would be on international size ice surfaces, where the play is pushed out even further west from the slot and prime scoring areas? That would be brutal.

 

[koyvoo]

NHL coaches are hired to win hockey games, not entertain fans. A lot of the tome, that means choking the life out of games.

 

[Legionnaire11]

Hockey isn't boring, even the dead puck, trap them to death, era wasn't boring.

What it is today, is very homogenized. There isn't nearly as much variance in the skill level and style of play between the teams and players of the league compared to previous eras. So most games tend to look identical and that can feel boring.

 

[Summer Rose]

Hockey isn't boring, even the dead puck, trap them to death, era wasn't boring.

What it is today, is very homogenized. There isn't nearly as much variance in the skill level and style of play between the teams and players of the league compared to previous eras. So most games tend to look identical and that can feel boring.

You put it way better than I tried to. Well done!

 

[Reality Czech]

Every team that's beating my team is playing boring hockey

So in other words, most teams...

 

[Caps8112]

its not boring but teams know they can keep games close when they are playing an opponent that they cant match up too by playing low risk defensive hockey. the caps gong show hockey in 09 is awesome to watch but teams that could counter well while playing a good defensive game would beat them when the stakes got higher.

 

[Zenos]

High skilled players on a NHL sized rink = boring hockey.

Simple as.

Sochi 2014 featured some insanely high-skill players playing on larger 100ft wide rinks. And it was some of the most boring hockey.

So consider me unconvinced

 

[tarheelhockey]

Generally speaking I’d say the league is a bit more open and skill-driven than it was 5-10 years ago. We went through a phase where most of the teams were just looking for point shots to be deflected. I see a lot more passing and direct shots on net now (not just the Canes, but across the board).

 

[ThankGord]

...pass, pass, pass, shoot? What do you want them to dribble or dunk it?

 

[Stewie Griffin]

To add to the OP, San Jose also played a system where they ran the puck through the point, and is usually resulted in Brent Burns wristing it on net and hoping for a deflection/rebound. Now as others have said, the game has gotten faster year after year, but teams do in fact play boring hockey when they want to play safe to ensure a lead/win, and minimize scoring chances against.

 

[KingsFan7824]

As 3rd and 4th line types become better skaters, coaches utilize those lines more. The faster you are, the more time and space you can take away from the opposition. Doesn't help that more and more defenseman become better skaters. Better skaters kill creativity

It's great that guys like Orr and Gretzky cane along. Orr changed the position of defense, and thus the game, and while nobody does quite what he did, you can see the influence in more players in a post-Orr league. That's not great for forwards trying to score pretty goals. There's no time. A D-man is on you quickly.

Gretzky, anticipated the game. Now every system deployed by coaches essentially anticipates where the puck will be. And it works well. Too well. If everyone on both teams is doing that during a game, you get stalemate.

The difference between today and the 80s is that rules are now made to try and increase offense. As far as I know, there were no rules in the 80s that made those days so high scoring. There were many factors, but none involved specific game opening regulations.

The NHL is a mature league now. Every idea has been done and tested. Studied. Video changed the game. There are no more secrets. Everyone knows what everyone is doing.

 

[DJJones]

As others have said, most exciting things in hockey come from either poor defense or players taking unnecessary risks.

Odd man rushes and overly long possessions in offensive zones where defense gets tired. Teams that can do those a lot are generally more exciting.

Flames have gone from stupid risk taking to boring low event hockey like a teeter totter last 5 years. Hard to know what will show up.

 

[Groo]

High skilled players on a NHL sized rink = boring hockey.

Simple as.

Bull