The New Lines

Well, I have to admit that at first glance I've not really been a fan of the new blue and goal lines that the NHL put into place.

However, after playing on them Sunday, I've changed my mind.

One of the rinks I play at is also the practice rink for the Dallas Stars.  Recently, they staff there re-did the ice and laid out the new lines.  My first look at them as while coaching.  And, yeah, it was a little wierd.  Then Sunday I got to play on that ice.

As a defenseman, I like them a lot.  There's a lot more room for the D to move around in.  Basically, I tried to play about the same position as I did with the old lines, which put me about 3-4 feet  inside.  What was nice was that if I was being covered, I had more room to move around in and try to get free.  Also, by being in the zone that far it was a lot easier to jump down and get in front of the opposing wings to get a puck that they were trying to clear up the boards.

From the defensive side, I did notice that we did have more trouble getting the puck out, but then I'm thinking that was really just more a case of bad passing and poor positioning of the wingers.  As far as clearing the puck, pretty much the same thing.

Speaking of wingers, and forwards in general, I'm going to get on a rant here.

Forwards, lean in and listen closely...when the D has the puck and we're trying to get a breakout going, your job is NOT to head up the damn ice!!!!!

I mean, really, I've got the puck, I'm coming out of the zone and I'm looking at a bunch of forwards' asses.  Guess what guys...I can't pass to your ass.  About the best I can do is either try to skate the puck up, and I'm no Zubov, or try to bounce it off the boards and hope I can hit your stick.

It's pretty simple, keep facing the play.  If you keep your shoulders facing the play, then it's much easier to either get the puck passed to you, or to be able to adjust to what happens with it.

So, guys...when the D is coming out, the winger on the side he's coming out on needs to get his butt on the boards, about the hash marks and be ready to the breakout pass.  The center and weka-side winger need to be looping in to recieve the pass from the winger.

And defenseman, listen up too...if the winger is in his position, pass the damn puck!  I hate it when I play winger and I'm in position and wide open and the D just skates.  You can move the puck faster with passing than with skating it, so pass it.

Oh, and that thing about seeing forwards butts...well, the centers especially have to realize that also applies on the second breakout pass.  Guys, you've got to time out loop and make it wide enough so that when the puck arrives on the wingers stick, you're entering the area where he can make a quick, short pass to you.

If everyone does their jobs, you end up breaking out of your zone and entering the neutral zone with speed.  The nice thing is that this forces the opposing forwards into a panic mode as they try to back check and intimidates the defense.

It's all about moving across the ice, not just up and down it.  It's about keeping your head up and moving the puck smartly onto your team mate's stick.  It's about giving the puck carrier a good target to pass to by keeping your stick on the ice in front of you.

At pick up today, there was another guy out there, light turnout.  But this guy would skate with his stick pointed behind him or off the ice!!!  Arrrgh!  How do you expect to get good passes if you don't give a good target??

With the new lines, I think good passing is going to become even more critical in hockey.  There is a lot more room to work in both zones and the teams that move the puck well are going to benefit.