EvoLu7ioN Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 If you don't have time to read below, what brand of hockey do you think gives us the best chance to win next year? "Five years ago we came in here and reset this organization and it's time to do it again," Gillis said. "When I took this job we decided on a style of play [skill, speed, puck possession] that resulted in great success, and clearly the landscape has changed and we have to address those changes". "I don't think the style of play is any longer a one-off; I think it's a trend and we have to address it". Both of those quotes are from Gillis at the year-end press conference last Thursday, it appears Gillis believes the league is moving away from a skill and speed oriented style, and towards a crash and bang style. He mentioned the landscape has changed, and that the Canucks need to evolve and get bigger and younger. Honestly, this is the first offseason in a long time I think Gillis has it wrong. When I look around the league at the teams doing really well, those who are succeeding in the playoffs, I see a lot of speed and skill. Chicago, Pittsburgh, Washington, Ottawa, Detroit are all built with the same system gillis wants to change. Heck, San Jose beat us with skill while we were outhitting them and trying to be the bigger team. Yeah, Boston, Anaheim, and LA are all big teams that have had success, but all of those teams also have tremendous skill and speed. And why would the league want to move away from skill and speed which are the exciting parts of the game? These are the part of the game that fill the seats, generate revenue, and grow the sport. The end to end style is so exciting, and makes this sport different from other sports like football basketball and baseball. Who would generate more audience and popularity in the finals, Pittsburgh v Chicago or LA v Boston? If Gillis moves out skill and brings in size and banks on the league going in the direction of LA and Boston instead of Chicago or Pittsburgh, he is wrong. We have a ton of skill and speed, we should play to our strengths and get even faster and more skilled. We already have decent size, any more and we will sacrifice other aspects of the game, What do you guys think! Is Gills right in his assessment, or is he out to lunch on this? What aspects of the game should we focus on to give us the best chance of success? For me, it's speed and skill. Size is important too, but we can't go out of our way to be the bigger team. Lets go out of our way to be the better team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henrik Kesler Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 I think the best chance at this core winning a Stanley Cup is to try and recreate the 2010/11 team with grittier wingers, so yes I agree MG may be overplaying the need to get big if he brings in bigger players who don't have the skill to produce points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ButterBean Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 We can't have a team too heavily leaned on by size/toughness or speed/skill. We need a good balance of both. Chicago, Boston and LA all had this recipe. Those teams had the ability to adjust to any style and beat it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christophe Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Big, gritty workaholic team. Seriously, go for the whole crash-and-bang mentality. That type of play will just destroy teams in the playoffs. Having huge wingers on the forecheck just kills teams defence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 We need to play fast and skilled. Overwhelm teams with our speed, puck possession and transition game. When the Sedins are the center of this team, you need to support them with players that play their style. That's why we've had our most success ever with players like Samuelsson, Ehrhoff, and Malhotra. It's all about getting the puck, keeping the puck, and moving it quickly up the ice. The thought that skilled team can't win is wrong. Skilled teams can win, but you have to have enough skill, to counter other teams toughness. We had that winning formula 2 years ago, but ultimately injuries took their toll. At the end of the day, we didn't have enough depth believe it or not. One or two more depth guys, or one or two less injuries and the cup would have been ours. To build a team of big tough grinders, we would have to blow up the team and start from scratch IMO. We need to just stick to the style that gives us the most success and not worry about what other teams are doing. Really, the league might switch back to rewarding skill next season for all we know. So why constantly change our roster? You don't see Detroit reacting every year to try and keep up. They build teams the way they always have. Because at the end of the day, there's no substitute for skill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L'Orange Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 The brand of hockey this team needs play is consistent hockey. Oh and winning in the playoffs is always good to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henrik Kesler Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 We need to play fast and skilled. Overwhelm teams with our speed, puck possession and transition game. When the Sedins are the center of this team, you need to support them with players that play their style. That's why we've had our most success ever with players like Samuelsson, Ehrhoff, and Malhotra. It's all about getting the puck, keeping the puck, and moving it quickly up the ice. The thought that skilled team can't win is wrong. Skilled teams can win, but you have to have enough skill, to counter other teams toughness. We had that winning formula 2 years ago, but ultimately injuries took their toll. At the end of the day, we didn't have enough depth believe it or not. One or two more depth guys, or one or two less injuries and the cup would have been ours. To build a team of big tough grinders, we would have to blow up the team and start from scratch IMO. We need to just stick to the style that gives us the most success and not worry about what other teams are doing. Really, the league might switch back to rewarding skill next season for all we know. So why constantly change our roster? You don't see Detroit reacting every year to try and keep up. They build teams the way they always have. Because at the end of the day, there's no substitute for skill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gooby Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 We need to play the type that wins the cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlayoffHockey Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Whatever brand is the complete opposite of what I watched this year. 180 degrees please. This year was total and utter complete joke. Zero intensity , like watching ikea staff play a game of shinny. Western hockey league animals that thrive on playoff warfare and finish every check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrippledCanuck Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 The brand of hockey where you dont sit back and defend a 1 or two goal lead and fail at it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 The question is would you rather watch a team that plays like the Isles? Or a team that plays like the Blues? I would personally take a team that plays like the Isles. People that say they just want to play whatever style that wins, don't seem to care that we have to watch that style of hockey for 82 games during the regular season. Sorry, but the Blues and Kings are such a boring team to watch in the regular season. In 09/10 and 10/11 when we were knocked out it sucked, but at least I was able to look back on the season and realize that I watched some damn entertaining hockey. If I looked back on those same seasons after playing like the Blues or Kings did, or even like we did this season, I would not be very happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cigano Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 We need to play fast and skilled. Overwhelm teams with our speed, puck possession and transition game. When the Sedins are the center of this team, you need to support them with players that play their style. That's why we've had our most success ever with players like Samuelsson, Ehrhoff, and Malhotra. It's all about getting the puck, keeping the puck, and moving it quickly up the ice. The thought that skilled team can't win is wrong. Skilled teams can win, but you have to have enough skill, to counter other teams toughness. We had that winning formula 2 years ago, but ultimately injuries took their toll. At the end of the day, we didn't have enough depth believe it or not. One or two more depth guys, or one or two less injuries and the cup would have been ours. To build a team of big tough grinders, we would have to blow up the team and start from scratch IMO. We need to just stick to the style that gives us the most success and not worry about what other teams are doing. Really, the league might switch back to rewarding skill next season for all we know. So why constantly change our roster? You don't see Detroit reacting every year to try and keep up. They build teams the way they always have. Because at the end of the day, there's no substitute for skill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neversummer Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Depends on who wins the SC ... then we will try to mimic them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Tried it, didn't work. See Boston Bruins 2011. When guys are getting banged into the boards every shift, they don't have the same speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BI3KSA- Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 We need to play fast and skilled. Overwhelm teams with our speed, puck possession and transition game. When the Sedins are the center of this team, you need to support them with players that play their style. That's why we've had our most success ever with players like Samuelsson, Ehrhoff, and Malhotra. It's all about getting the puck, keeping the puck, and moving it quickly up the ice. The thought that skilled team can't win is wrong. Skilled teams can win, but you have to have enough skill, to counter other teams toughness. We had that winning formula 2 years ago, but ultimately injuries took their toll. At the end of the day, we didn't have enough depth believe it or not. One or two more depth guys, or one or two less injuries and the cup would have been ours. To build a team of big tough grinders, we would have to blow up the team and start from scratch IMO. We need to just stick to the style that gives us the most success and not worry about what other teams are doing. Really, the league might switch back to rewarding skill next season for all we know. So why constantly change our roster? You don't see Detroit reacting every year to try and keep up. They build teams the way they always have. Because at the end of the day, there's no substitute for skill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neversummer Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Actually in the video of MG's press conference MG said he talked to Ken Holland and that Mr. Holland said that he has seen the trend of big, tough teams and that he is working towards that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BI3KSA- Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Look at Detroit this year ... that is far from the truth. They do not have big tough guys unless you consider Tootoo big and tough ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Actually in the video of MG's press conference MG said he talked to Ken Holland and that Mr. Holland said that he has seen the trend of big, tough teams and that he is working towards that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BI3KSA- Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Well he's taking his time then, cause if you look at his recent drafts he's drafted nothing but skilled Europeans as usual. I don't think it takes a hockey genious to realize that it has been the trend. The only question is will that trend continue? I don't think it will. Cause at the end of the day, it's exciting hockey that sells. In some markets they only wanna see blood, but I think most of the marketts respect skill and fast paced excitement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlayoffHockey Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 40 years of watching playoff hockey and its always the same, you need savages not pacifists. Time to load up on some savages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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