Don't forget the PP went back to its sucking ways AFTER Fraudster Quenneville "loaded up" the 1st unit PP. The irony is the only PP goal scored in the playoffs was by Bickell, of the imaginery 3rd/4th unit.
I've been defending Q for a while now, but now I'm honestly at a complete loss for words with his decision to fire Haviland.
This. I honestly think if next season starts poorly Q will be gone fast. I hope so anyway. I feel like the team needs a hard nosed coach, not a "players coach."
This. I honestly think if next season starts poorly Q will be gone fast. I hope so anyway. I feel like the team needs a hard nosed coach, not a "players coach."
I think he loses the locker room with this move. We'll see how they start out next year.
#Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville: "I love everything about our situation here in Chicago."
This is a paraphrase that actually is a blatant misquote. When I read it, I doubted he said that … and he didn’t.
Q said this, verbatim: "I'm excited about being here in Chicago,. I love the opportunity, love the organization and love where we are headed in the future,"
Actually, Sharp being on the point opened up the ability for him to sneak backdoor for a one-timer/tap-in.
When he wasn't on the point, he would tend to just stand at the far post and wait for someone to feed him.
When our PP has been at it's best over the past 3 years, we had Sharp on the point with one of Keith/Seabrook. That's where Sharp needs to be. We just need a player to provide net presense and to occupy Dmen infront of the net to open Sharp up for those cross-crease passes.
When was that exactly? And every team in the league knew we were a one trick pony with that back door play and they defended it well. As a coach, you should then adjust strategy. Not stick with it for for three flipping years while it goes south. Unless you are Q and get a pass for being there when a loaded team won the Cup.
When was that exactly? And every team in the league knew we were a one trick pony with that back door play and they defended it well. As a coach, you should then adjust strategy. Not stick with it for for three flipping years while it goes south. Unless you are Q and get a pass for being there when a loaded team won the Cup.
The Blackhawks had the 4th best PP last year.. it hasn't been "going south" for 3 years.
The difference between this year and the past couple years was that the coaching staff never identified a net-presense guy to occupy the crease/tie up Dmen infront of the net. When we have that guy, then the cross-crease/ice pass becomes far more effective. When you have two Dmen defending on the PK and one of them is concerned with Toews having the puck in the corner or Kane with the puck on the half-board and the other Dman is concerned with the guy infront of the net.. that's when Sharp's opened up at the point to come down low and tap-in a cross-ice/crease pass.
When you don't have that net-presense, as Chicago never did have consistently throughout the year, then the cross-ice/crease pass obviously becomes far less effective.. especially against higher quality competition.
The answer? A big-body player, who's tough to move away from the crease, who can clean up rebounds and screen the goaltender effectively. Whether that's Bickell or Hayes or Beach or whoever... that's what they need. It doesn't always have to be a perfect seam-pass to Sharp backdoor.. but those jam plays that Toews has scored on so many times also become more effective when you have a big man infront of the net making life tough on the Dmen and the goaltender.
The Blackhawks had the 4th best PP last year.. it hasn't been "going south" for 3 years.
The difference between this year and the past couple years was that the coaching staff never identified a net-presense guy to occupy the crease/tie up Dmen infront of the net. When we have that guy, then the cross-crease/ice pass becomes far more effective. When you have two Dmen defending on the PK and one of them is concerned with Toews having the puck in the corner or Kane with the puck on the half-board and the other Dman is concerned with the guy infront of the net.. that's when Sharp's opened up at the point to come down low and tap-in a cross-ice/crease pass.
When you don't have that net-presense, as Chicago never did have consistently throughout the year, then the cross-ice/crease pass obviously becomes far less effective.. especially against higher quality competition.
The answer? A big-body player, who's tough to move away from the crease, who can clean up rebounds and screen the goaltender effectively. Whether that's Bickell or Hayes or Beach or whoever... that's what they need. It doesn't always have to be a perfect seam-pass to Sharp backdoor.. but those jam plays that Toews has scored on so many times become more effective when you have a big man infront of the net making life tough on the Dmen and the goaltender.
Those guys should be doing it too but we need to bring in someone from the outside that specializes and enjoys playing in front of the net because we haven't see that from anyone we have consistently. Others should feed off that guy if we get him though.
Our PP last year wasn't as bad as some make it out to be, but it wasn't that good either. We scored in bunches and when we needed the PP to be good, it sucked like this year
Our PP last year wasn't as bad as some make it out to be, but it wasn't that good either. We scored in bunches and when we needed the PP to be good, it sucked like this year
And I was about the only one seeing the problem, against a sea of "but look where we're ranked!" apologism.
The Blackhawks had the 4th best PP last year.. it hasn't been "going south" for 3 years.
The difference between this year and the past couple years was that the coaching staff never identified a net-presense guy to occupy the crease/tie up Dmen infront of the net. When we have that guy, then the cross-crease/ice pass becomes far more effective. When you have two Dmen defending on the PK and one of them is concerned with Toews having the puck in the corner or Kane with the puck on the half-board and the other Dman is concerned with the guy infront of the net.. that's when Sharp's opened up at the point to come down low and tap-in a cross-ice/crease pass.
When you don't have that net-presense, as Chicago never did have consistently throughout the year, then the cross-ice/crease pass obviously becomes far less effective.. especially against higher quality competition.
The answer? A big-body player, who's tough to move away from the crease, who can clean up rebounds and screen the goaltender effectively. Whether that's Bickell or Hayes or Beach or whoever... that's what they need. It doesn't always have to be a perfect seam-pass to Sharp backdoor.. but those jam plays that Toews has scored on so many times also become more effective when you have a big man infront of the net making life tough on the Dmen and the goaltender.
I think we can agree to disagree on the effectiveness of Sharp on the point.
And I was about the only one seeing the problem, against a sea of "but look where we're ranked!" apologism.
There were a few of us actually. Even in the Fall of that year when the PP was near the top, percentage wise, it was sputtering much of the time but still producing in the precious few chances that were being produced. When Kane sprained his ankle, it went south pretty quickly … and has been awful ever since.
Well Q is on a short leash now and both specialty teams had better turn it around next season. I still cringe looking back at the thought of Kopecky, Kruger and/or Brunette all getting quality PP time.
