AMac was elite at one thing, shot blocking, until this past season:
2014-2015: #6 on the Flyers, tied #133 in the nhl. 58 in 42 gm - 1.38 blocks/game
2013-2014: #1 in nhl: 242 blocks (#2 had 211) in 82 gm - 2.95 blocks/game (19 games with Flyers)
2012-2013: tied #3 in nhl: 123 blocks in 48 gm - 2.56 blocks/game
2011-2012: tied #5 in nhl: 185 blocks in 75 gm - 2.47 blocks/game
2010-2011: tied #14 in nhl: 160 blocks in 60 gm - 2.67 blocks/game
This is puzzling because shot blocking is just a matter of sacrificing your body and AMac doesn't seen to be close as willing to do this now that he has a new fat contract.
It is clear that Hextall values blocked shots and the Isles did while AMac was there:
Hextall:
“The game today is blocking shots,†said general manager Ron Hextall, who didn’t have as many teammates blocking shots when in his days as a goalie. “You’re right to block shots. As long as you think you can block it. You’ve got to try and block it.â€
Capuano1:
“Blocking shots comes from sacrificing yourself and putting yourself in the right position in the defensive zone, being in shooting lanes.â€
Capuano added: “It’s a read-and-react game. Players go by instinct. The rules are a lot different. Now the way to defend is a little different, too. Sometimes, a blocked shot is as big as scoring a game-winning goal when you see desperation on a six-on-five situation later in games, or the other team is on the power play.â€
Capuano2:
Capuano reminded that defensive work "is all five guys, making sure of having good gaps when [the offense] enters the zone, making sure you're taking away time and space, and having an active stick. And, yeah, you have to sacrifice your body, have a willingness to block shots."
Vigneault/Lundqvist during last year's playoff series:
“Shot blocking is a skill, but it takes a lot of will and courage. Our guys have that,†Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said Wednesday during a conference call. “It has more to do with the willingness to find that lane and block that shot.
“You know it’s coming and you know it’s going to hurt. That’s just part of winning hockey. Teams that usually have that in their repertoire are usually good teams. We had to make some great defensive plays.â€
“It’s a big part in the playoffs,†Lundqvist said. “That’s huge when guys pay the price like that. It’s tough mentally for the other team when you try to get going and guys are just throwing themselves in front of the puck and stop it.
USA Today with Quotes:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2014/11/30/shot-blocking-important-nhl-hockey/19687535/
Over the last 10 seasons, shot blocking has increased by roughly five a game. That means that there are about 6,000 more shots a season blocked today than there were in 2003-04.
In 1997-98, the New York Rangers led the NHL with 871 blocked shots and most teams had a total below 700. Last season, the Montreal Canadiens led with 1,491 blocked shots, an average of 18 a game. Four of the 30 teams blocked fewer than 1,000 shots.
"It is hard to get the puck to the net," Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson said. "Everyone is talking about blocking shots."
"It's considered a big team thing and you usually get the pat on the back when you get back to the bench," said Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa. "It can galvanize a team."
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman said shot blocking "can be as important as scoring a goal."
"Everyone hates to be scored on," Simmonds said. "I'm all for sacrificing your body if that is what you need to do to win. … You see guys putting their faces in front of pucks."
The popularity of shot blocking has escalated as coaches have become more defensive-oriented. Now, forwards are working on trying to overcome the shot blockers.
"These defensemen are so good at getting in lanes," New Jersey Devils forward Travis Zajac said. "It's almost like you have to make the extra pass if you want to score."
"Ryan McDonagh blocks everything he sees," Simmonds said.
The Rangers' McDonagh says the value of shot blocking outweighs the risk of injury. In addition to preventing a scoring chance, there's an inspirational boost, particularly in the playoffs.
"When you see a block," he said, "it motivates you as a player to make sure you are doing your part."
Note: there are those against it. Ie. if you have the puck in possession there is nothing to block.
Hitchcock on blocking shots:
"I think shot blocking is the most useless stat in the National Hockey League."
“If you’re blocking shots it means the puck is in your zone a lot,†Hitchcock said today, per NHL.com’s Dan Rosen. “When you’re a shot-blocking team, you never get it back.â€
... But it is not as if the puck isn't trapped in the Flyers zone when AMac is out there. He just isn't playing as he used to.
