Travis Yost: Actions and Words

Karlssons is back up to speed but that goal last night was atrocious goaltending not great hockey IMO

He scores top of the net - middle of the net - from the face off dot - quite sad for CBJ

Great for the Sens

How do you explain the decline in TOI with Spezza? Serious question.

How do you explain the decline in TOI with Spezza? Serious question.
- A_Tree

Paul Mclean starts Turris line with EK+ whoever on defence more often than he does with Spezza line.

I actually thought the MacLean explanation made some good sense. He talked about instinct and survival. In survival mode Karlsson was trying too hard to make the right play, he was thinking too much and his decision making suffered.

When he plays by instinct, he thinks less, he allows himself to react intuitively and his decision making improves. These are pretty well understood concepts in regard to skill acquisition and execution.

A piano player who over thinks the playing of a composition will struggle if they try to perfectly manage each key stroke. The challenge becomes far too complex for the brain. But, if he practices and he develops high level skill his hands and eyes will perform at virtuoso level that is somewhat automatic. The hands and eyes know what they need to do with minimum involvement of the brain.

Think for example how hard you had to think and how stressful it was when you learned to drive a car for the first time. Think about how easy and relaxing driving can be once you master the skill. You are able to drive complex routes and patterns with minimal brain engagement.

I think MacLean was exactly right. When Karlsson was in survival mode at the very beginning of the season he was overthinking the play and his decison making suffered. For some observers it looked like his physical skill had diminished due to injury. But, he was just failing to trust the intuitive nature of skill.

Claude Giroux is the best example this year of a player who has thought himself out of his own skill set (I love Giroux and hope he gets his game back soon).

How do you explain the decline in TOI with Spezza? Serious question.
- A_Tree

Can't really explain that type of thing... Not that it matters

Spezza could still be limited because of soreness

Either way whatever answer fans say is purely speculative and no where near any truth... my GUESS would be soreness and if I were coach I would limit one of my best players because of how early it is in the season and limit him for a long while..

Can't really explain that type of thing... Not that it matters

Spezza could still be limited because of soreness

Either way whatever answer fans say is purely speculative and no where near any truth... my GUESS would be soreness and if I were coach I would limit one of my best players because of how early it is in the season and limit him for a long while..
- Sens89

Yes you can it's explained in the post pretty clearly that Mclean doesn't think Karlsson has stuggled at all really. This is based on the rambling, nonsensical answer he gave the media. MacLean doesn't really care for the media narratives. That's why he either plays things off with a joke like, " I'm just a fisherman from Nova Scotia", or simply doesn't give an answer and just stares straight ahead. That whole quote from MacLean in the post means nothing, it's just crap he gave the media.

He's just started putting Karlsson out with a stronger forward line more often and you're seeing more scoring as a result. Karlsson is playing about the same, but who he is spending more time on the ice with ( Turris, MacA, Ryan), have been more effective than Spezza and whoever had been playing with him.

Why is this so lost on people?

I actually thought the MacLean explanation made some good sense. He talked about instinct and survival. In survival mode Karlsson was trying too hard to make the right play, he was thinking too much and his decision making suffered.

When he plays by instinct, he thinks less, he allows himself to react intuitively and his decision making improves. These are pretty well understood concepts in regard to skill acquisition and execution.

A piano player who over thinks the playing of a composition will struggle if they try to perfectly manage each key stroke. The challenge becomes far too complex for the brain. But, if he practices and he develops high level skill his hands and eyes will perform at virtuoso level that is somewhat automatic. The hands and eyes know what they need to do with minimum involvement of the brain.

Think for example how hard you had to think and how stressful it was when you learned to drive a car for the first time. Think about how easy and relaxing driving can be once you master the skill. You are able to drive complex routes and patterns with minimal brain engagement.

I think MacLean was exactly right. When Karlsson was in survival mode at the very beginning of the season he was overthinking the play and his decison making suffered. For some observers it looked like his physical skill had diminished due to injury. But, he was just failing to trust the intuitive nature of skill.

Claude Giroux is the best example this year of a player who has thought himself out of his own skill set (I love Giroux and hope he gets his game back soon).
- spatso

oh my god

Karlssons is back up to speed but that goal last night was atrocious goaltending not great hockey IMO

He scores top of the net - middle of the net - from the face off dot - quite sad for CBJ

Great for the Sens
- Garnie

Actually, the real reason the police knew the mayor of Toronto was smoking crack is because he predicted that the Maple Leafs would win the Stanley Cup.

Actually, the real reason the police knew the mayor of Toronto was smoking crack is because he predicted that the Maple Leafs would win the Stanley Cup.
- JS_19

Actually, the real reason the police knew the mayor of Toronto was smoking crack is because he predicted that the Maple Leafs would win the Stanley Cup.
- JS_19

Saw this on twitter a few times today lol

oh my god
- Talkshowhost

This is a good discussion explaining thinking in relation to skill as it relates to coaching soccer. I think it makes exactly the point that MacLean was trying to make, but it is just a little more language precise.

http://addisonsoccer.info/?p=623

The most important lines in the article are:

Instinctive: “A behavior that is mediated by reactions below the conscious level.”

In other words, we perform these skills and react without having to “think” about them."

I believe Travis and yourself are in error when trying to dismiss MacLeans comments as meaningless.

I think Maclean's explanation makes a ton of sense, Karlsson wasn't playing effortless hockey in the first 6-8 games like he is playing now.

I think a big reason for the early season struggles were Ottawa was trying to do the long bomb pass through the neutral zone - chalk it up to whatever (Weircoche made some beautiful 3 zone passes look easy early in the season and maybe Ottawa thought it was going to be a habit for the team, I also think Karlsson's teamates knew he wasn;t up to speed and wanted to take the burden of clearing the zone off of his shoulders and his teammates were forcing plays)

Anyways, he's back and tonight he will show PK and the world who the planet's #1 Dman is.

How do you explain the decline in TOI with Spezza? Serious question.
- A_Tree

http://video.nhl.com/vide...2,219&navid=sb:highlights

Watch the first 20 seconds of this clip, if this doesn't explain why Spezza is a 3rd line center on this team (could an NHL Captain look more lost on the ice against a weaker opponent - please no Phaneaf jokes) then nothing will explain it.

Basically Spezza can't handle the 2 way game right now, he looks a step slower this season (injury? League getting faster? Age catching up to #19) and Maclean is trying to protect him.

Instinctive: “A behavior that is mediated by reactions below the conscious level.”

In other words, we perform these skills and react without having to “think” about them."

I believe Travis and yourself are in error when trying to dismiss MacLeans comments as meaningless.
- spatso

Dont be ridiculous. . There is no stat that can prove instincts exist

Its probably just luck

I think Maclean's explanation makes a ton of sense, Karlsson wasn't playing effortless hockey in the first 6-8 games like he is playing now.

I think a big reason for the early season struggles were Ottawa was trying to do the long bomb pass through the neutral zone - chalk it up to whatever (Weircoche made some beautiful 3 zone passes look easy early in the season and maybe Ottawa thought it was going to be a habit for the team, I also think Karlsson's teamates knew he wasn;t up to speed and wanted to take the burden of clearing the zone off of his shoulders and his teammates were forcing plays)

Anyways, he's back and tonight he will show PK and the world who the planet's #1 Dman is.
- tuna99

Dman battle between them is going to be fun to watch. My buddy is a Habs fan too, should be good.

I think Karlsson might be the best skater that I've watched since Niedermayer.

I think Karlsson might be the best skater that I've watched since Niedermayer.
- nucks_94

Patrick Chan

This is a good discussion explaining thinking in relation to skill as it relates to coaching soccer. I think it makes exactly the point that MacLean was trying to make, but it is just a little more language precise.

http://addisonsoccer.info/?p=623

The most important lines in the article are:

Instinctive: “A behavior that is mediated by reactions below the conscious level.”

In other words, we perform these skills and react without having to “think” about them."

I believe Travis and yourself are in error when trying to dismiss MacLeans comments as meaningless.
- spatso

Spatso, great point or points. I thought the same. Mr Yost has a bad habit of breaking down every little comment or blip into a graph or linear relationship. But anyway, judging by the response to your points, you have obviously out classed this group a tad
One stat before I leave, Ottawa GF GA - 46-48. Toronto GF GA 48-36. This is all that really matters. Talk puck possession all you want Yost...have to keep the puck out.

What's up with the Sens? I thought they were supposed to win the President's trophy and Stanley Cup this year? Holy overrated. Just because they did 'sort of' good last year the expectations were unreasonably high. They should be battling for 3rd in the Atlantic with the Leafs/Habs/Bolts.

Patrick Chan
- spatso

Patrick has nothing on Elvis Stojko. Best skater of all-time.

Patrick Chan
- spatso

This is a hockey blog. Just because you watch figure skating, doesn't mean the rest of us do.

I think Maclean's explanation makes a ton of sense, Karlsson wasn't playing effortless hockey in the first 6-8 games like he is playing now.

I think a big reason for the early season struggles were Ottawa was trying to do the long bomb pass through the neutral zone - chalk it up to whatever (Weircoche made some beautiful 3 zone passes look easy early in the season and maybe Ottawa thought it was going to be a habit for the team, I also think Karlsson's teamates knew he wasn;t up to speed and wanted to take the burden of clearing the zone off of his shoulders and his teammates were forcing plays)

Anyways, he's back and tonight he will show PK and the world who the planet's #1 Dman is.
- tuna99

Is he bringing a picture of Dion Phaneuf to the game??

Is he bringing a picture of Dion Phaneuf to the game??
- Njuice

I still think they need to make a move to bring in a dynamic winger to play with Spezza, since Michalek is clearly no longer that guy. I think the defensive problems will be shored up and isn't a primary concern. Spezza looks lost on most nights with his linemates. People will argue that his point production is on pace for a standard Spezza year, but look at the goals he's scored- most have been tap-ins, empty nets, or flukes. He doesn't look like the dynamic player we know he can be.

I think he needs to step up his game, but I think adding a high level winger to his side will help spark him and accomplish that. Who to go after? No idea, but perhaps pull the trigger on a deal before the deadline