http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html A Haven for the Hockey Malnourished Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:47:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html/comment-page-1#comment-4570 On Frozen Blog | Summer State of the Team - The Defensemen Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:18:48 +0000 http://mvn.com/onfrozenblog/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html#comment-4570 <strong></strong>

]]> http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html/comment-page-1#comment-4569 Vv Sun, 05 Aug 2007 03:37:52 +0000 http://mvn.com/onfrozenblog/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html#comment-4569 ready for next season! ready for next season!

]]> http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html/comment-page-1#comment-4568 Gustafsson Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:22:46 +0000 http://mvn.com/onfrozenblog/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html#comment-4568 CapitalGoodie, thanks for answering Doug's question. I found the answer interesting and helpful as well. Doug, thanks for posting your question here. As you probably already know, hockey players and hockey fans are the absolute best... especially when helping a "novice" learn more about the game. CapitalGoodie, thanks for answering Doug’s question. I found the answer interesting and helpful as well.
Doug, thanks for posting your question here. As you probably already know, hockey players and hockey fans are the absolute best… especially when helping a “novice” learn more about the game.

]]> http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html/comment-page-1#comment-4567 Doug Wed, 01 Aug 2007 08:39:19 +0000 http://mvn.com/onfrozenblog/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html#comment-4567 CapitalGoodie, thank you so much for the analysis. It is very helpful for me as a novice hockey fan. I'll pay attention to what you've said as I watch this year. In the brief set of shifts I saw Backstrom, he always looked to be finding a guy to pass the puck to. Thanks again. v/r Doug CapitalGoodie, thank you so much for the analysis. It is very helpful for me as a novice hockey fan. I’ll pay attention to what you’ve said as I watch this year. In the brief set of shifts I saw Backstrom, he always looked to be finding a guy to pass the puck to. Thanks again.
v/r
Doug

]]> http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html/comment-page-1#comment-4566 CapitalGoodie Wed, 01 Aug 2007 08:28:41 +0000 http://mvn.com/onfrozenblog/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html#comment-4566 Doug, my short stab at your question: He's not speedy player, but he'll always appear slower than he is. He's a pace controller on the ice, if he's got the puck with no one open he'll just bring the play to a standstill until someone peels off and goes after him - then he'll dish. A guy like Ovy just puts his head down and goes, a guy like Backstrom gets his head up, throws an offspeed pitch into the attack (for lack of a better metaphor) and plays chess with the coverage until they waste their time attacking him (the puck will be gone just before they pose him any danger, and long after the checker has a chance to get back into the play). He's not a bad skater, but due to the way he plays, constantly reading and controlling the pace of the game, he'll probably always be accused of being a step slower than he actually is IMO. If you watched Forsberg through the neutral zone one would think he couldn't skate at the NHL level either, ditto for a guy like Oates. They never have any plans to outskate someone through the neutral zone, they know the puck can move a lot faster than any hockey player in the history of the game ever has - and his game is built around taking advantage of just that. Doug, my short stab at your question:
He’s not speedy player, but he’ll always appear slower than he is. He’s a pace controller on the ice, if he’s got the puck with no one open he’ll just bring the play to a standstill until someone peels off and goes after him – then he’ll dish. A guy like Ovy just puts his head down and goes, a guy like Backstrom gets his head up, throws an offspeed pitch into the attack (for lack of a better metaphor) and plays chess with the coverage until they waste their time attacking him (the puck will be gone just before they pose him any danger, and long after the checker has a chance to get back into the play).
He’s not a bad skater, but due to the way he plays, constantly reading and controlling the pace of the game, he’ll probably always be accused of being a step slower than he actually is IMO. If you watched Forsberg through the neutral zone one would think he couldn’t skate at the NHL level either, ditto for a guy like Oates. They never have any plans to outskate someone through the neutral zone, they know the puck can move a lot faster than any hockey player in the history of the game ever has – and his game is built around taking advantage of just that.

]]> http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html/comment-page-1#comment-4565 Doug Wed, 01 Aug 2007 06:48:01 +0000 http://mvn.com/onfrozenblog/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html#comment-4565 Okay, so call me naive. I'll admit I'm a novice hockey fan and 2nd year STH for the Caps. Here is my question: Is there some concern that Backstrom is perceived as slow? I know this is a relative term. Is he (1) average speed for the NHL (2) under-average speed for the NHL How likely is this to inhibit his career? He sure looked good to me in the Saturday practice -- his passes were right on the money and there was one pass between the legs --- oh my, oh my. I hope young Backstrom isn't reading this and comes to camp all nervous about perceptions as "being slow". v/r Doug Okay, so call me naive. I’ll admit I’m a novice hockey fan and 2nd year STH for the Caps. Here is my question: Is there some concern that Backstrom is perceived as slow? I know this is a relative term. Is he
(1) average speed for the NHL
(2) under-average speed for the NHL
How likely is this to inhibit his career? He sure looked good to me in the Saturday practice — his passes were right on the money and there was one pass between the legs — oh my, oh my. I hope young Backstrom isn’t reading this and comes to camp all nervous about perceptions as “being slow”.
v/r
Doug

]]> http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html/comment-page-1#comment-4564 TG Tue, 31 Jul 2007 17:51:12 +0000 http://mvn.com/onfrozenblog/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html#comment-4564 I'm hoping that they pick four lines and pretty much just roll them. OK, match up Gordon vs. the other team's stop scorer sometimes, but instead of having just garbage minutes for the fourth line, keep rolling all the lines. Not only will that allow you to see what Klepis, Fehr, Fleischmann, etc. can do with regular minutes, but then at the end of the game, if you have to rely on Ovechkin/Semin for a goal, they'll still have plenty of get up and go. I’m hoping that they pick four lines and pretty much just roll them. OK, match up Gordon vs. the other team’s stop scorer sometimes, but instead of having just garbage minutes for the fourth line, keep rolling all the lines. Not only will that allow you to see what Klepis, Fehr, Fleischmann, etc. can do with regular minutes, but then at the end of the game, if you have to rely on Ovechkin/Semin for a goal, they’ll still have plenty of get up and go.

]]> http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html/comment-page-1#comment-4563 CapitalGoodie Tue, 31 Jul 2007 07:34:50 +0000 http://mvn.com/onfrozenblog/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html#comment-4563 Nice job Empty. On the established lower roster players...Gordon emerged last year to fill the most important one of those roles (checking line centre and a primary pk'er) and did so at a level above average to the league IMO. That's really the most important of all the forward 'role' players and once you have it - you can build and fit the right pieces around it the same way you do when you find the offensive leader of your team (Ovechkin). Gordon's season made me feel all warm and fuzzy about the future of checking lines and pk'ing in D.C. going forward. Nice job Empty.
On the established lower roster players…Gordon emerged last year to fill the most important one of those roles (checking line centre and a primary pk’er) and did so at a level above average to the league IMO. That’s really the most important of all the forward ‘role’ players and once you have it – you can build and fit the right pieces around it the same way you do when you find the offensive leader of your team (Ovechkin).
Gordon’s season made me feel all warm and fuzzy about the future of checking lines and pk’ing in D.C. going forward.

]]> http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html/comment-page-1#comment-4562 OrderedChaos Tue, 31 Jul 2007 02:18:16 +0000 http://mvn.com/onfrozenblog/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html#comment-4562 TG, I see the competition as an important positive step in the team's progress. Yes, once the Caps have reliable and consistent depth players (wouldn't we all like a Kris Draper on the fourth line?) they'll be even better. But hopefully certain youngsters will develop into that type of player this year or next. If not, then the Caps can start filling depth roles with UFAs/trades -- roles that are much easier (and cheaper) to fill than shopping for top-line talent. TG, I see the competition as an important positive step in the team’s progress.
Yes, once the Caps have reliable and consistent depth players (wouldn’t we all like a Kris Draper on the fourth line?) they’ll be even better. But hopefully certain youngsters will develop into that type of player this year or next. If not, then the Caps can start filling depth roles with UFAs/trades — roles that are much easier (and cheaper) to fill than shopping for top-line talent.

]]> http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html/comment-page-1#comment-4561 TG Tue, 31 Jul 2007 02:09:04 +0000 http://mvn.com/onfrozenblog/2007/07/30/summer-state-of-the-team-the-forwards.html#comment-4561 What a difference a year makes. Maybe competition for jobs will get the veterans to play with more passion. But after the top 2.5 lines, everyone else is pretty much interchangeable. And that isn't necessarily a good thing. What a difference a year makes. Maybe competition for jobs will get the veterans to play with more passion. But after the top 2.5 lines, everyone else is pretty much interchangeable. And that isn’t necessarily a good thing.

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