by CoachK, AllHabs.Net
SAINT-LAZARE, QC. — As the Canadiens’ roster continues to dwindle due to mounting injuries, they are beginning to look more like the Hamilton Bulldogs than the original 23 man roster that started the season. Players like Andrei Markov, Josh Gorges, Max Pacioretty, Jaroslav Spacek and Tomas Plekanec, to name a few, are replaced by Yannick Weber, Alexandre Picard, Nigel Dawes, James Wisniewski and Aaron Palushaj. Amazingly, the Canadiens have been able to afford themselves a cushion in sixth place in the conference, but, like any pillow, if you lean on it too long, it starts to sink in the middle.
When adversity like this affects a team, this is the time when a coach really earns his salary. This is the challenge that faces Jacques Martin at this very moment. While he insists that his “system” is the solution to all the issues the Habs’ face right now, his lack of adjustments is what scares me the most. I can understand his apprehension, but given the remaining talent on the roster, there is plenty of things Coach Martin and his staff can do to ensure the Canadiens remain competitive.
Given the current roster and system, here are some ways I would personally address the situation:
1 – Reinforce the forecheck
In my 30+ years in hockey, both as a player and a coach, I have NEVER employed a non-physical forechecking to my teams. I always emphasize finishing to the body, in order to get into the opposing player’s head that they need to hurry to make plays. More often than not, this results in turnover that benefit us.
My idea would be to not use a team-wide forechecking scheme. I would ask my players to mix it up, depending on a given situation. For example, early on, since players are fresh, use a 2-1-2 forecheck to exert pressure on the opponent, forcing them to be sharp. Early turnovers normally leads to early goals, and getting the other team off their initial game plan. Then, as the game progresses, employ a, AGGRESSIVE 1-2-2 forecheck, emphasizing the finishing of body checks, and maintain the mental edge over the opposition. Finally, mix both forechecking schemes together, using them against specific match-ups where you had success at the onset of the game.
2 – Triangulate Your Attack
When attacking the offensive zone, the Canadiens use more of a North-South approach, going wide along the boards and separating from each other. The Habs’ forwards do not attempt switching lanes going into the zone, facilitating the opposing defenders’ task of keep them to the outside, and sealing the mid-ice lane. Not only does this force players to make long passes, but it often results in turnovers because the defending team effectively cuts off the passing lanes. This approach is the primary reason why Scott Gomez, the much maligned Canadiens’ centreman, is having such a hard time generating any offense effectively.
Triangulation also employs switching of skating lanes, whether a player is in possession of the puck or not. This is yet another tactic that forces defending players to rethink their coverage and opening up the offensive zone.
3 – Spread the Opposing Defense Out
In the Martin system, forwards are often asked to collapse below the top of the faceoff circle in the defensive zone. This tactic in itself is flawed, as the point-high defensemen can remain a few steps inside the Canadiens’ blue line and trap them in their zone. The opposition take away the Habs’ time and space, often resulting in dangerous turnovers in the defensive zone.
To reduce some of this pressure, the Canadiens should force keep only their defensemen and one defending forward, normally the centreman, deep in the zone. To complement the D-zone coverage, depending on the position of the puck, the point-high forwards can alternate their depth inside the zone, allowing for an easier outlet from the zone, or possibly a quick stretch pass, something we don’t see from the Canadiens that often.
4 – Use Your Players Strengths and Define Their Roles
In the current Canadiens’ coaching philosophy, players are expected to produce, regardless of their linemates, and are expected to play similarly. Because of the varying talent on the roster, this will NEVER produce consistent results. Using players’ individual strengths would be beneficial to everyone.
Players like Travis Moen, Tom Pyatt and Nigel Dawes bring toughness to the roster. They are not offensive juggernauts, so they should be used in a defensive capacity, primarily on the penalty kill. Players of this mold should be used when engaging the cycle down low. Defenseman like Hall Gill and Roman Hamrlik, play well in their own zone and should be assigned to that unit as well. Then, given the talent of Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez, Lars Eller and Andrei Kostitsyn, they should be used on the powerplay. Kostitsyn, in my opinion, with his heavy wrist shot, would make a great point man on the powerplay. On defense, Subban, Weber and Wisniewski all have heavy shots. Their strength would force the defending team to play them close, opening up the low play for the Canadiens’ smallish forwards.
Defining specific, yet different roles to players would keep everyone on an even kiel as far as ice time is concerned, and would allow the players to get the needed anaerobic rest their bodies need between shifts. This would also reduce the possibility of injury, by allowing the body to recuperate.
These are but a few steps that can be taken, given the current situation, to allow the Canadiens to maintain their grasp of the playoff position, and possibly the top of the division and home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. It remains that all this and more lies in the hands of Coach Martin. And given his past, I’m not too optimistic.