Tuesdays With Hildy: What Do The Forwards Need To Work On?

by hildymac on Aug 31, 2010 5:17 PM CDT

Looking at the Blues' Season Preview that's already up on the official site, I figured hell, I know stuff (actually, I pretend to), so why not do a season preview of my own? I watched last season's disappointment agog with agog-ment at the flatness of the team at times, and the regression of many of the forwards. The goaltending was relatively solid (11th in the league in GA as far as teams go at 2.66 , which isn't awesome but not bad, either) aside from the occasional 3rd period meltdown and Chris Mason's soft goal a game. Defense wasn't horrible - Weaver really picked his game up and EJ, while not mind-blowing, rebounded from his year off pretty well. The only defensive weak point that was really glairing, not to beat a dead horse, was Eric Brewer with his -17 and ability to be on the ice for every goal against.

The bottom six forwards weren't horrible either. Heck, Alexander Steen scored 24 goals and 23 assists last season. That was good for fourth on the team. His +/- also improved from a -6 to a +6. Brad Winchester, for all of our unhappiness at his lack of scoring ability, improved his +/- by four. Janssen and Crombeen improved their defensive numbers, although they were still in minus territory. Silent Jay McClement had a career renaissance in some way, going from a -10 to even.

Then you shift to the top six, or who the fans would consider the "top six." Their scoring dropped off - not entirely, as Perron's stayed steady. Oshie and McDonald looked like they improved their numbers, but when you take into consideration the fact that both of them played more games this season than last and didn't score significantly more, you can assume that if they had played the entire season the year before that those point totals would have been higher - and last season's would have been stagnant or less in comparison. Patrik Berglund and Brad Boyes' point totals took the most noticeable drop, while David Backes' assists went up as his goals went down.

Obviously, scoring is the most important fix, right?

To be contrarian, what about +/- ratings? I know that some people consider them a bunch of hooey - more dependent on the others on the ice than anything that the player necessarily does - but the +/- ratings of some of the top six were abysmal. Berglund's plummeted from a +19 to a -5. Perron dropped from a +13 to a -10. Oshie dropped from a +16 to a -1. I know that the Blues weren't goal scoring machines last season, but the team wasn't much better the year before, either. Defensively speaking they were about the same both years, but the responsibility seemed to shift from the front lines to the bottom six, and the top six failed to make up for that with goals. The only player on the top six that improved hugely in +/- was Brad Boyes, who leaped from a -20 to a +1.

Goal scoring is a wonky thing from year to year (explain that to Brad Boyes), but working on team defensive strategy is something that can happen at camp as well as at practices. It might be easier to fix. But, dear readers, which do they need to look at first - goals or offensive defense?

Poll

What do the Blues' top six need to focus on this year?

Scoring goals.

113 votes

Being defensively aware.

3 votes

Both'd be swell.

82 votes

Nothing! And yes, before you ask, I am drunk.

13 votes

211 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Have to be able to put the biscuit in the basket.

If all goes well, I think a full year under Sir Davis will be one of the best cures for the regression woes. He’s kid friendly, likes the fast-paced game, and he’s kid friendly. Did I mention that he’s kid friendly?

New year, new chance to put up big numbers.

"He's the straw that makes the drink go."

by Thelonious Dunk on Aug 31, 2010 5:29 PM CDT reply actions

A return to an aggressive forecheck would be nice

If there were any lessons to be learned last year in the NHL it was that teams built around speed, like Chicago, Washington, and Pittsburgh, can be beat with constant pressure. The Habs and Flyers both used that pressure to create turnovers and scoring chances. During the playoffs, Chicago adapted and combined that pressure with lethal counterattacking, and we all know what happened in the end.

Yet far too often last year Blues forwards would sit back and play a defense that relied on stopping an opponent’s shot and THEN trying to break out. Instead, it would be nice to see forwards putting constant pressure on the puck, with more forwards coming up and taking away passing lanes, forcing the puck to an isolated defenseman, and then taking the puck away. The Flyers did this over and over during the playoffs last year, and the Blues can easily replicate it.

The Blues have speed and players with a scoring touch, but enough big forwards that an aggressive forecheck would make the Blues a feared team not just because they’ll beat you physically, but because they’ll hopefully turn that physicality into points. This was the type of game that sparked the Blues comeback in 2009, and I’d be surprised, given how successful it was for teams in the playoffs, to not see it make an appearance again.

Chicagoan in the Lou.

by Mike Martin on Aug 31, 2010 6:11 PM CDT reply actions 4 recs

this

Hail to the Blues

by medel19 on Aug 31, 2010 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Gotta agree with

everything you said here. I really couldn’t say it better myself. I would like to add though since I think they go hand in hand. Is the team really needs to get more traffic in front of the net/goalie.

As you said with as physical as this team can be, they really need to establish a physical presence in the slot, so they can not only pick up the easy goals off rebounds but make the goalie fight to see around a screen.

To many times last year it seemed like the team couldn’t score because the goalie could see the puck all the way. So I think if they up the physicality and forecheck, we will see an improvement in not only the offensive but defensive numbers as well.

I now officially ban the Illinois State Fair for letting the Hawks "fans", celebrate winning the cup!

by TheDarkMongoose on Aug 31, 2010 7:14 PM CDT up reply actions

I was constantly yelling

when Walt wasn’t on the ice
“GET IN FRONT OF THE NEEEEETTTTTTTTTT”

Hockey players wear numbers because you can't always identify the body with dental records.

It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. Laura Ingalls Wilder

by luvhockey on Aug 31, 2010 7:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Since all that requires is size, and the ability to park oneself in one place and not be moved...

…that role is perfect for Winchester, who is good for little else anyway.

"If we do not prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be nothing left but that of the anvil."

-- Otto von Bismarck, 1851

http://futurenotes.blogspot.com

by Tomorrows Blues on Aug 31, 2010 7:40 PM CDT up reply actions

So is that why

he was signed to a pointless contract? Or am I missing something?

BOOM SHAKA HALAKA!

Since this makes me think of NBA Jam, I wonder if Halak will magically transform into a brick wall if he makes 10 saves in a row, ala Wayne Gretzky hockey on the N64.

by TheDarkMongoose on Aug 31, 2010 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Rec'd like Ben Roethlisberger's endorsement potential...

"If we do not prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be nothing left but that of the anvil."

-- Otto von Bismarck, 1851

http://futurenotes.blogspot.com

by Tomorrows Blues on Aug 31, 2010 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions

...or like the $&@#ing Cardinals' team ERA...

"If we do not prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be nothing left but that of the anvil."

-- Otto von Bismarck, 1851

http://futurenotes.blogspot.com

by Tomorrows Blues on Aug 31, 2010 7:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Mike, I think you nailed it.

St. Louis Game Time . . . I need another beer.
And I can also write things in 140 characters or fewer.

by Donut King on Aug 31, 2010 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Word

couldn’t have said it better

The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. But that's the way to bet. - Damon Runyon

by baroose on Sep 1, 2010 7:14 AM CDT up reply actions

Everyone has made a good point so far

I agree with most of what is said above, but I am tackling this question with a much simpler approach.
During the binge also known as last years regular season, I really noticed two big things lacking.
These came to light in those certain situations when you need something big, obviously on my feet at this moment, but they strike out scarily if you think, and you will all know what I speak of.

(1.) Style of play when down a goal (mostly end of game) there were situations in which the entire other team would stand up to the blue line. 5 wide as most commentators refer to it.
-—- In these situations there were so many times when the puck is flipped in and the 50-50 meant to be generated results in an easy snag by the D-Man, resulting in pressure for the next pass at best.

I understand the necessity but we need to have our own breakout patterns and set plays for these, I am no coach so maybe that’s not the solution, but the fact that one is needed exists. Through our dump and chase, crash the net, style we have been too week we have NOT generated the 50-50 battle in the corner enough in these situations. A lot of post-season goals were generated off the cycle. So this tactic is crucial when the ice is choppy or the dangles just aren’t in question. This lack of play after the fact of the dump leads me to the second thing.

FINISHING.
finishing, finishing, finishing.
During the times spoken of above, and any and every other moment of a hockey game, finishing ability is that intangible created by a mix of abilities. We can dump and chase all game, but the formation of a scoring opportunity and then FINISHING has been our #1 problem (this is only 2 because 1 must be fixed first.). Even the powerplay (when actually clicking mind you, we all know how that goes), can dart the puck around, back and forth. The only aspect missing, the finishing. Erik Johnson better have worked on the slapper off the pass all summer long because this wrist shot has got to go. I get more deflections are possible but we need you to rip that shit. With the offense we have now, an “open” shot is a strong-side “whip” across the crease to a weak-side rusher just slapping the puck. Many goals are score this way but with skill and soft tape-to-tape passes. Its just not our game. I will end my diatribe now. I hope you all agree.

Finishing, Finishing, Finishing
and sustaining pressure late in games, the turnovers and weak rushes must be put to an end. Hopefully Payne’s aggressive style will take care of that one. Thank you for reading this novel if you did, sorry it was so long. Ill leave the real discourse to the Barcs, Bobbys, and Billys.

"I quit because I didn't feel like the Detroit Lions had a chance to win. It just killed my enjoyment of the game."
-Barry Sanders
(Soon to be the Detroit RedWings - Henrik Zetterberg '11)

by DasBlues74 on Aug 31, 2010 10:09 PM CDT reply actions

I'm hoping that the token Third Period Chris Mason Soft Goal (TM) will help with the finishing this season.

A goal like that is always demoralizing, especially so when it is the go-ahead. I feel like the dump-and-chase just isn’t effective enough to be used to score the game tying goal late in the 3rd.

"He's the straw that makes the drink go."
@Thelonious_Dunk

by Thelonious Dunk on Aug 31, 2010 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah i am blindling hoping that tread went out the door with Mason

Halak, I believe, will not allow this to happen. Like David Backes, he knows where the pucks children live, and he loves that twine, it shall never be twinlked.

"I quit because I didn't feel like the Detroit Lions had a chance to win. It just killed my enjoyment of the game."
-Barry Sanders
(Soon to be the Detroit RedWings - Henrik Zetterberg '11)

by DasBlues74 on Aug 31, 2010 10:35 PM CDT up reply actions

*blindling hoping wow

"I quit because I didn't feel like the Detroit Lions had a chance to win. It just killed my enjoyment of the game."
-Barry Sanders
(Soon to be the Detroit RedWings - Henrik Zetterberg '11)

by DasBlues74 on Aug 31, 2010 10:36 PM CDT reply actions

I agree with above

That’s how we had that incredible run two seasons ago. Our forecheck was tenacious. The opposing team had to earn every inch of ice they got. Not to mention the tremendous amount of scoring chances we developed off it. Besides, as anyone who plays hockey can attest to, if you get a good forecheck going, its frustrating as HELL to be able to bring that puck up. I think we get a good forecheck, and our goal scoring will naturally follow.

Barret Jackman is my hero.

Fueled. These new shores burn. Shadow, my sweet shadow, to you I look no more.

by BluesTiger on Sep 1, 2010 2:23 PM CDT reply actions