What is the best model for a successful hockey team?

Question

What should a championship team look like?

Should one focus on defense and build from the net out? Should the "lunchpail" approach to teamwork be the basis for your team.

Should you build around an offensive star, acquiring players that compliment his talents?

Should you go for speed and try to make a run and gun team that can win shootouts?

Is toughness and the ability to "beat 'em in the alley" a prerequisite?

To bossdman: Gordie Howe was not a goalie but a forward, the 2nd highest scoring of all time (next to Gretzky) and was known as 'Elbows' and 'Mr. Hockey'.

To HABITANT: do you go to work for the love of it, or do you want to be paid well for your time? I'm a little tired of people throwing that old saw out. No one would turn down the money if they could get it, so why do we dump all over the players for taking it? The mythical player who does it only for the love of the game does not exist. Never did.

Answer 1

There is no one model at all. The Devils built on D. The Dead Things basically on puck possession and prayed Vernon or Osgood did not screw it up (Hasek was a bit diff). Dallas was built on D really. The Avs on speed and lucking out with Roy.

To build a dynasty you need the whole package esp. in goal.

It also depends on the era. Now it has to be speed and a Fuhr-type netminder.

Answer 2

Goaltending is obviously VERY important. You could have an amazing team and without a goalie you dont have a chance. For example the Tampa Bay Lightning. '04 they win the cup with Khabibulin '06 they have just as good of a team but no goalie and have an ok year.

Defense- I believe now you have to have a smart, fast, physical, and somewhat offensive minded defense. Also you need a defense that is good at shot blocking. When Tampa won the cup they had excellent shot blocking and Buffalo was also very good at it this year and they got to the Easten Conference Finals. By offensive minded i mean that they are not affraid to join the rush or be aggressive when pinching at the points

Offense- SPEED! In todays NHL speed is everything you need forwards that can forecheck hard and get to loose pucks and with all the new rules and no more clutch and grab speed on offense can draw alot of power plays. Also you need an offensive line that is very good defensively and can shut down the opposing teams top line.

Overall I think you need a team that likes eachother where everyone is playing for the team not themselves.You need speed and a strong goaltender. Good Special team especially now with all the penalties and a tenacious defense who would rather die then get scored on.

one more thing about toughness. Toughness can be looked at in alot of different ways. You can be a Team like the Flyers last year and be tough physically and at times a little cheap. But then you look at what Buffalo did to them in the playoffs which was use there speed and they destroyed them so I think speed is more important then toughness because with speed it allows you to be very aggressive.

Answer 3

The best approach is to build from the net on out. So start by getting a solid goalie, then build the defense and lastly upgrade your forwards.

As for individual positions, well in an ideal world I would do it like this:

Goalie - go for a net stopper that has superb positioning. That type of goalie can stop shots he doesn't even see because he concentrates on perfect position rather than relying on reflexes

Defense - Stick with big and chippy yet mobile defensemen except have 2 offensive minded ones that can quarterback the powerplay

Top 6 - Centers should be big, possess excellent vision and a pass first mentality while wingers should be speedy snipers and/or power forwards (if you're lucky enough to find the rare breed)

Checking Line - Aggressive, punishing yet defensivley sound players that can also be relied upon to kill penalties

4th Line - High energy hustlers that stir up the pot and have a knack for keeping the puck in the offensive zone by using their cycle first, shoot second mentality.

One last note, all your centers should have quality face-off skills.

Well there ya go, that is my opinion on building a championship team. It's much easier said than done of course!

Answer 4

NO! No. And, no!

People are in the right area, but not entirely correct. You do need a goalie who has the ability to steal a game for you, but that isn't the most important thing. The most important thing is defense. Plain and simple.

It can't be all one way and it has to be more than the d-men. You need a good checking line to wear down the other teams top line. You also need at least one guy back there that can setup an offensive rush. i.e. Make a good outlet pass / bring the puck up ice. But they also have to be smart enough to know when to stay back AND have teammates that know how to cover the weakness in the defensive end when the d is up in the rush.

Power forwards can be overrated. I would take a speedy winger over a hulking brute anyday. Those big guys can never get to the corners fast enough to handle dump-ins or to jump back to help on d. Most of them are a waste of space. (speaking as a formerly speedy winger) You do have to be able to take and give hits though and make sure that the other guy comes out on the losing end either way.

The absolute MOST important thing of all...
Your players have to be smart. Forget about "vision" or "seeing the ice," they need to be smart. If they can think about what they are doing and basically play chess in their heads, they can dominate almost anyone.

Answer 5

Look at what the New Jersey Devils have accomplished. They built their team around a great goalie (Brodeur) and a great defenseman (Stevens). The team had a coach the created a defensive system that could not be beat (Jacques Lemarie's neutral zone trap) until the NHL changed the rules. The Devils have a great development system. Forwards have left the defensive minded Devils and gone on to have productive, high scoring seasons (Shanahan Guerin). A great goalie. A very strong set of defensemen, a sniper on offense and some solid, but unspectacular two way forwards.

Defense results in wins and the low scoring output allows you to keep payroll down. Jaromir Jagr will never play for the Devils.

Answer 6

you know what they say, defense wins championships. any team that wants a shot at the cup has to have a great goaltender (patrick roy or gordie howe). from there, go with a pair of good defensemen, they don't have to be the best as long as they know the game and can follow the coach's commands (paul coffee or chris chelios).

Answer 7

if you can just find the right players that want to play for the love of the game and not for the money, then you should have a great team.

Answer 8

Angry players Because when it comes to playoffs teams are over confident

Answer 9

Think of the New York Islanders organization and do the exact opposite of what they do and you'll do just fine!!!!