the canucks don't use the center of the ice and would rather advance the puck by chipping it or dumping it towards the opponent end than play to carry the puck in. they barely use the middle of the ice. it's an outdated system and the only team that's seen success with it in recent years is carolina
Dump and pray.
Dumb it down and pray.
Except Hughes and Hronek, they get puck possession and have great numbers. Pettersson has mostly stopped the puck possession game.
It is early yet but it looks like Tocchet is doing what he knows. Dump and chase. A game that relies upon skating speed and board battles. A system used for teams with limited skill levels.
Funny how before Tocchet started this year with "structure and staples" they team won many more games even though they were meaningless games.
Pettersson isn't the Selke candidate he was last year IMO because his finishing checks and hitting robs him of the time needed to get back consistently.
Tocchet has a image of the type of player he wants, he see's it in the mirror everyday. But some players were signed here because they had higher than average skill levels.
I don't like seeing "A" particular player singled out when lines play as lines.
Kuzmenko was signed because he scored, a skill. Both Pettersson and Kuzmenko's games have deteriorated under the new board battle, give the puck away at center ice game.
I really don't like that Boeser keeps getting a free ride from Tocchet. Miller and Boeser and whomever as the forechecker, why not Boeser?
It may be that Tocchet's blind spot is showing. He is a great communicator to media, he should be he had a few years on sports shows. But is he deflecting criticism from some players?
Joshua is a Tocchet guy, runs around banging with the occasional goal here and there. But Tocchet prizes just being physical above skill.
Guys who should not be forecheckers;
Pettersson
Hughes
Hronek
Kuzmenko
even Garland
they should be the #2 guy at best.
Miller has the size and attitude for forechecking but his big issue is back checking mostly because he, like Pettersson get caught behind in the back check.
Do fans remember watching Pettersson deeking out players skating down the ice? Now only when way behind on the scoreboard.