The trouble with contemporary North American coaching is that everyone plays the same system; collapse in front of the goalie. There's too much space to really challenge anyone on the perimeter effectively so no one does.
- jfkst1

I disagree. Lovejoy is 31 and I wouldn't consider Cole a kid either.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

As I said if you'd continued on, I wasn't aware they were both under control for next year.

Still, given the other UFA options this upcoming offseason (assuming Green doesn't resign in Washington), I think Martin can be had for 3-4 year at a mild raise and, to me, that is preferable for your top-4 as opposed to Letang and 3 kids, then a mixture of Lovejoy/Cole/Scuderi in the bottom pair.

I agree that a low scoring games can be exciting. Take last night for example.

The contrast between the Kings game and Sharks game was pretty stark. Maybe I'm in the minority, but the Kings game was "paint dry" hockey. Lot's of interference, obstruction. Zero open ice.
- madmike71

Disregarding the outcomes: I'd watch both the Kings and Sharks game again before I would watch the Avs game again. There is nothing entertaining about listlessness.

I've actually noticed the Penguins have gotten very good at setting picks when cycling the puck in the O zone. It's led to a lot of chances...about time we start doing what other teams get away with.

So because there is more outside³ then there is more outside to be forced to? I don't think so.
- Johnny Wrath

Yeah, I'm not seeing this. If there is more square footage of ice, it is harder to defend a portion of it.

- Johnny Wrath

Fewer NHL teams are using a small box system. Though blocking shots has increased in prevalence, the ability to effectively obstruct on the perimeter makes a collapsing system less useful when defenders have the advantage in challenging puck carriers. Which is why if you watch the Sochi games, everyone just collapses in front of the net in the defensive zone. I think the best blend would be NHL sized rinks with IOC rules.

As I said if you'd continued on, I wasn't aware they were both under control for next year.

Still, given the other UFA options this upcoming offseason (assuming Green doesn't resign in Washington), I think Martin can be had for 3-4 year at a mild raise and, to me, that is preferable for your top-4 as opposed to Letang and 3 kids, then a mixture of Lovejoy/Cole/Scuderi in the bottom pair.
- jmatchett383

My bad...trying to play catch up on all these comments..

If Maatta had been healthy this year, I would definitely not categorize him as a "kid" or a "rookie" because of his age. He's as poised or more poised than many experienced defenders. But with health issues lingering, it is a bit of a question mark.

Not against bringing back Martin (a reasonable deal) at all, particularly because he and Letang work so well. Just be careful with the term. Ideally, I'd let Ehrhoff and Scuds go and re-sign Martin @ 6.

Also, think there are huge benefits to having a cheaper D core and allowing us to spend more up front. Too many variables will happen by offseason though to start making decisions on that stuff.

As far as Martin, I think he goes home to Minneapolis next year.

If playoffs started today we'd play the team that scares me most the rags. Assuming hank is back
- dbell646

ideal situation would be that we come back and win the division and get capitals first round and let the rangers and islanders duke it out. at least one of them would go home which would be better than having to go through 1 in round 1 and then get the 2nd in round 2.

My bad...trying to play catch up on all these comments..

If Maatta had been healthy this year, I would definitely not categorize him as a "kid" or a "rookie" because of his age. He's as poised or more poised than many experienced defenders. But with health issues lingering, it is a bit of a question mark.

Not against bringing back Martin (a reasonable deal) at all, particularly because he and Letang work so well. Just be careful with the term. Ideally, I'd let Ehrhoff and Scuds go and re-sign Martin @ 6.

Also, think there are huge benefits to having a cheaper D core and allowing us to spend more up front. Too many variables will happen by offseason though to start making decisions on that stuff.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I agree with this. I'm not saying retain Martin at all costs, but with the current UFA crop, I really think you can get for for 3-4 years at $5.5M or $6M per.

Also agree about Maata. Had he been healthy all year and played as well as he had before going out, he's already a veteran. Sadly, not the case, he's a (small) question mark.

As far as Martin, I think he goes home to Minneapolis next year.
- all-pgh

i would guess minnesota or LA.

Recipe for more scoring:
-Call the rules as written in the rulebook.
-Reduce the size of goalie pads to 1994 levels
-Eliminate body armor type shoulder and elbow pads

Recipe for more scoring:
-Call the rules as written in the rulebook.
-Reduce the size of goalie pads to 1994 levels
-Eliminate body armor type shoulder and elbow pads
- Emperor Filonius

What's the last one have to do with scoring?

Also, you CANNOT play hockey without committing infractions. It's impossible to always hit shoulder-t-shoulder/chest, elbows always come up, players get slashed jockeying for position (which is also technically interference)...you'd have 20 power plays per team per game, and that's AFTER the teams adjust to the new rules. You just cannot play at a high level without committing several minor infractions that have to direct impact on the game.

You wouldn't adjust the ice size to international (100x200) from NHL (85x200), which there is precedent for, before calling 4-on-4 'even strength' and so on?
- Johnny Wrath

Sure..but the owners will never go for the removal of the seats....

Sure..but the owners will never go for the removal of the seats....
- Tiogadog

Absolutely. Only way to do it would be to require new rinks to fit the format. Then you have an NCAA situation where different arenas have differently-sized rinks.

Recipe for more scoring:
-Call the rules as written in the rulebook.
-Reduce the size of goalie pads to 1994 levels
-Eliminate body armor type shoulder and elbow pads
- Emperor Filonius

Eliminate body armor shin pads to discourage shot blocking.

Eliminate body armor shin pads to discourage shot blocking.
- Tiogadog

That's an inane idea that NO ONE would want.

So because there is more outside³ then there is more outside to be forced to? I don't think so.
- Johnny Wrath

No. There's more outside space so defending teams rarely challenge the opposition out there. They stay in the middle and protect the inside forcing teams to shoot from the outside.

Recipe for more scoring:
-Call the rules as written in the rulebook.
-Reduce the size of goalie pads to 1994 levels
-Eliminate body armor type shoulder and elbow pads
- Emperor Filonius

I'd like some elaboration on why to the Body Armor change you want... at least you aren't getting rid of shin pads like someone else stupidly suggested.

Fewer NHL teams are using a small box system. Though blocking shots has increased in prevalence, the ability to effectively obstruct on the perimeter makes a collapsing system less useful when defenders have the advantage in challenging puck carriers. Which is why if you watch the Sochi games, everyone just collapses in front of the net in the defensive zone. I think the best blend would be NHL sized rinks with IOC rules.
- jfkst1

Skating toward the net to defend it from attackers presupposes that the coaches have to force the players to do this.

Latvia did indeed pay a 5-man between the defensive faceoff dots and the goal line system; to lump the rest of the teams into that category is a disservice. The systems in the Sochi Olympics were as different as could be when compared to the NHL. The Swedes play a torpedo system. The Fins play a mirror LW lock; Canada played a 2-1-2 weak side trap. Finland, Germany, and Switzerland play primarily defensive systems but are very different in their mechanics and physicality.

Am I to believe that the Slovaks, Russians, and Czechs obstructed and collapsed or could it be that you're placing the finding before the evidence?

No. There's more outside space so defending teams rarely challenge the opposition out there. They stay in the middle and protect the inside forcing teams to shoot from the outside.
- willi

Sounds good to me. Defend the middle and let the shooters walk in further with better angles. Also, it would allow for much better possession on PPs.

Skating toward the net to defend it from attackers presupposes that the coaches have to force the players to do this.

Latvia did indeed pay a 5-man between the defensive faceoff dots and the goal line system; to lump the rest of the teams into that category is a disservice. The systems in the Sochi Olympics were as different as could be when compared to the NHL. The Swedes play a torpedo system. The Fins play a mirror LW lock; Canada played a 2-1-2 weak side trap. Finland, Germany, and Switzerland play primarily defensive systems but are very different in their mechanics and physicality.

Am I to believe that the Slovaks, Russians, and Czechs obstructed and collapsed or could it be that you're placing the finding before the evidence?
- Johnny Wrath

I'm referring specifically to what is happening in the defensive zone. You're right that players are going to inherently defend from the net out. Which is why they are constantly collapsing in front. There isn't any obstruction allowed in the IOC games, even in the congested areas so the notion that NHL players can't learn to play within such rules seems dubious. The evidence is readily available on YouTube as all the Sochi games were posted there.

Okay.

Still, I think that Paul Martin is severely undervalued and viewed as a guy who can easily be replaced by some kid with like 30 games of NHL experience.
- jmatchett383

I know I'm late to the conversation but I agree 100%. Martin is criminally underrated and I have been calling for us to resign him if the price and details are right. You just cannot replace what he has brought to the table, even more so when you think of him and Letang as a pair. My thoughts on resigning him has nothing to do with a lack of trust or outlook of Pouliot, Dumoulin, and Harrington and everything to do with how awesome Paul Martin's game is sans being a prolific scorer.

Sure he is 34, but I haven't seen any decline in his game or decision making. He would probably be looking more for term and then at a raise. So I say if we can get him for 6.5 or less without any kind of NMC that would handcuff us I would absolutely do it.

Letang Martin
Maatta Pouliot
Lovejoy Cole/Scuderi

Dumoulin Harrington trying to crack the team at camp next year or waiting for the inevitable injuries. If Scuderi continues to play well try to move him to a team not on his no trade list and call it a cap dump at the end of the day.

Sure..but the owners will never go for the removal of the seats....
- Tiogadog

I think they would. If the sport increased in its popularity and more people on average attended, owners win. If it's a better TV product, owners win. More merchandise, more parking, more rapid exchange of cash. If the building in question is frequently below capacity in ticket sales, what's the point of having more empty seats?

I think they would. If the sport increased in its popularity and more people on average attended, owners win. If it's a better TV product, owners win. More merchandise, more parking, more rapid exchange of cash. If the building in question is frequently below capacity in ticket sales, what's the point of having more empty seats?
- Johnny Wrath

That's a lot of short-term revenue loss that you hope you can recoup in 10+ years.

Edit: I really hope that, at some point, the NHL and its owners will realize that hockey is not going to rival the other big-3 and stop trying to make it football/basketball. I love the sport, but there will never be the casual NHL fan.

Okay.

Still, I think that Paul Martin is severely undervalued and viewed as a guy who can easily be replaced by some kid with like 30 games of NHL experience.
- jmatchett383

I'm with you 100%... I want Paul Martin back for sure.