TheJokesOnYou Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 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...
aqua59 Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 See Ducks, Bruins, La Kings, and the last Chicago team that won it. All had effective size and grit.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckleHorse Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 The Nucks played better when AV let the horses run I say an attack style they have good speed but not the system to compliment their strength. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananas Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 Gotta set trends, not follow them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheJokesOnYou Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 Gotta set trends, not follow them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanGnome Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 If you're talking to skill and speed contextually with regard to the Canucks, we really don't have a lot of it. Kesler, Burrows, Hansen, Booth (when healthy) and that's really it. This team wasn't built with skill and speed in mind it was built with puck possession. Think Sedins, Burrows, Kesler, Higgins, Lapierre, Kassian. Don't get me wrong, I believe these players ARE capable of speed and skill, but in order to enable them to do so, the defense requires a major overhaul towards speed, mobility and a quick tranistion game: the first pass out of the zone to hit the streaking wingers is critical. I think we need to play a hybrid style, fast, skilled and tenacious. Strong on the body, less emphasis on possession and more on working the zone, stretching out the defensive coverage using quick passes (max 1-2) then throwing a shot on net with plenty of coverage. We definitely need to play an upbeat tempo which ultimately will result in more chances against, but realistically speaking our defensive game is about as porous as a tennis racket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thLineGrinder Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 You bring up some good points about the talent pool in the NHL regressing. I agree that the skill level in the NHL seemed to be noticeably lower this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Creature Blue Lagoon Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 Honestly, I think this question can be answered in a very simple way: We need a team full of players, where each one is willing to block every shot! Now, I know this might seem stupid, but I believe shot blocking represents heart, and if you look at teams like Chicago and Boston, every player on those rosters is willing to step in front and risk injury for the greater good of the team. What shot blocking represents is passion, commitment, heart and attitude. These teams are tough because they are willing to lay it on the line. Skill and finesse are key as well but they don't matter if you don't have heart. Find players willing to "die on the ice," the rest (skill, scoring, etc.) will follow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananas Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 The referees set the trends in today's NHL. Teams will never set the trends under the NHL's current administration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doobiedoodoo Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 I want to see big bodies that can skate and throw their weight around. Unfortunately the Canucks core all have NTC so the chances of that happening are zero. Just only hope whatever style they choose, it isn't the same style they have been playing the last two years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANGO Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 What is needed is balance, producing the ablility to adjust to the other team. You need skill/speed and toughness, but on the same line. Bringing in size is a great idea, but not if they are all on the forth line. you need it all on the same line. My belief is that having a scoring line and then a tough line and a speed line is totally ineffective. Spread the scoring out, put some size on each line, roll four lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggins Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 I am very willing to say that if Babcock was coaching the Canucks in the past 3 or 4 years they would have a cup now. This team is actually much moire suited to his style than AV's. And he is a much better coach who can get the most out of players. I bet he would turn the Sedins into guys who can play defence and be trusted on the PK and to defend leads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aqua59 Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 What is needed is balance, producing the ablility to adjust to the other team. You need skill/speed and toughness, but on the same line. Bringing in size is a great idea, but not if they are all on the forth line. you need it all on the same line. My belief is that having a scoring line and then a tough line and a speed line is totally ineffective. Spread the scoring out, put some size on each line, roll four lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmployeeoftheMonth Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 The referees set the trends in today's NHL. Teams will never set the trends under the NHL's current administration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananas Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 Sounds like an excuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmployeeoftheMonth Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 Agreed. Canucks need to dictate their own play. That's what Boston does, and that's how they won a cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianoman13 Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 I understand what you are saying, but who are the last two cup winners?? The two teams that you don`t really want to be like Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmotamed Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 The type that wins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runtzguy Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 Skill or a better term: offensive IQ. Not sure if it was AV's doing or whoever is in charge of the offence. Our players only go in a straight line while entering the offensive zone or use the dump and chase. This system is effective because it allows the dman to change efficiently and not get caught too often. But, this is very predictable and can be shut down quite easily by other teams fast good dmen. Other offensive teams like Chicago and Pittsburgh would either do simple criss-crosses to confuse the dmen and create space or use the triangle formation where one man charges the net while the guy with the puck decides whether to shoot to score, shoot for a rebound, or pass to the third guy for a shot. In short, I have basically watched all the regular season games for the Canucks and I have not seen them do any criss-crosses or triangular attack formations while entering the zone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snucks Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 A brand that doesn't involve choking in the playoffs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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