Here's a three-part question involving the neutral zone trap...?

Question

Of all the most annoying aspects of hockey, the neutral zone trap has to be the biggest harbinger of the sport. My question is a three parter:

1. Which teams employ the neutral zone trap as a defensive scheme?
2. What is the best way to neutralize the trap?
3. Should the neutral zone trap be banned in the NHL?

Answer 1

1. New Jersey and Minny are best known for employing the trap, although most teams encorporated some variety of the scheme in the years leading up to the lockout. Even the Wings had their fabled 'left wing lock' during their cup years.

2. Speed through the neutral zone is the most effective way to disrupt the trap. The trap tries to force play towards one side of the ice, so the ability to quickly transition to offense via speed and passing before the defense can be set will overcome the tactic.

3. Many of the rules implemented in the 'new' NHL are directed at this very issue. By removing obstruction, hooking and holcing, teams can now develop plays unimpeded. Other than that, I don't see how a ban can be enforced in hockey without establishing lacrosse style rules that would limit the number of players in each zone of play.

Answer 2

1 The Devils and the last great Canadien Dynasty in the late seventies to an extent. The Flyers during their cup winning years once trapped Boston into the stone age. The trap was a standard defense in the old days before WWII, when there was no red line and a single player from each team was allowed beyond their own blue line until the puck had crossed it.
2 Another thing the Devils did well in the early days of L'Amorillo was to have well balanced lines. The Devils of the early nineties had a four line rotation as opposed to two or three. These lines changed regularly they also featured adjusted versions switching key personnell to comply with each specific situation during a game. Whereas the last great Canadien Dynasty did it all with just Gainey nad Riseborough. The best way to beat the trap is to create a mismatch of talent or overload one portion of the trap. Once the trappers are forced to retreat, or support an overloaded zone, the slot becomes very vulnerable. Drop passes and one timers are good tools against the trap as well.
3 No the trap is part of the game. Fighting should be banned in the NHL.

Answer 3

As a guy who has played hockey all his life,

1. Every team has used a neutral zone trap at some time or another, but some teams, like NJ, and Florida have used it alot in the past.
2. The way to beat the trap is to use your speed. You have to gain your blue line, and make maybe one good hard pass. Once you gain the red line, you have to dump it deep, and use the speed of your forwards to dig the puck out of the corner. The trap is designed to contain the puck, so if you get it deep, the whole thing is useless.
3. No, the trap shouldn't be banned by the NHL, because their would be no way to enforce it. Teams would just say they are playing defensive hockey, and really they are. The trap is a good way to kill time, and that is a part of hockey, it isn't like it is impossible to beat it, or teams would use it all the time. Most teams only use the trap when they are up in the third, and need to kill the clock.

Answer 4

Every team at certain times employs some version of the trap. Of course Minny and NJ use it more but every team does it. It is such a misconception that only this team or that team do it.
The NHL has tried to neutralize it by taking the clutching and grabbing out of the game, because it helps to have clutch and grab and interfere in the neutral zone. Also, the removal of the center line helped and goalies only being able to play the puck in that little area helped.
How could you ban it? Tell teams they must forecheck with atleast 2 guys at all times. I don't think there is an efficient way to ban it.
It really doesn't annoy me as much as most.

Answer 5

Lots of teams use the trap, and when done to perfection, there is no way to neutralize it. But most people don't know that the trap was invented by the greatest coach ever, while coaching possibly the greatest offensive team of all time. Scotty Bowman, mid 70's Canadians. A team with Guy Lafleur, Steve Shutt, Bob Gainey, Larry Robinson, and a slew of other hall of famers were the first to use the trap. It was a huge reason that Monteal still holds the single season point and win records

Answer 6

Chris, The neutral zone trap was a ploy invented by coach/painter Pat Remburns. Initally used as method to test drying time of certain paints and later adapted to defensive hockey. It involved stalling play at centre ice until the opposition fell asleep, enabling his team to grab the puck and score on slumbering opponents.
Now employed as the main strategy of the New Jersey Devils and to a lesser degree, most other teams.
The best way to neutralize the trap is a massive dose of amphetamines or have your forewards approach the enemy blue line at full speed while your defender hammers the puck deep, catching the "trappers" flat footed.
While many futile attempts have been made to ban these strong sedatives, little success has been achieved. Driving while watching trapping teams is to be avoided.

Answer 7

Keep in mind the official term is called the 'Left-Wing' lock and was devised in the early 70s by Scotty Bowman and adopted extensively in Sweden where the Tre Kronor have used it for years.

1. All 30 teams have used this in the past, you can see it in almost every game.

2. The idea isn;t to 'neutralize' the trap, but to beat it. Speed is the most effective weapon against the trap.

3. You can't ban it, because it's not 5 guys choreographed together. The only solution is for coaches to develop new offensive methods to beat it.

Answer 8

1. The Devils and the Wild.
2. Have lots of offense, or have lots of fast players on your team, either way, it's not that hard anymore, the Devils and the Wild aren't that good because most teams in the NHL can counter the trap these days.
3. You can't really ban it, it's a playing style. That would be like banning "dump and chase", lol. It shouldn't be banned, it'll wear itself out in a couple more seasons.

Answer 9

Other than New Jersey and the Wild, the Sabres seem to play a system similar. Which I do not get. They don't need to play that kind of system with the offensive power they still have.

One way is utilizing speed along the boards. quick puck movement.

Yes of course it should be banned. Why these stupid systems were ever created is beyond me. It's almost as bad as the old "shadow" games teams used to play back in the late eighties. Every team had one or two guys who would shadow the opponents best players. It's stupid. Another team we can thank for these slowed down boring defensive systems is the Calgary Flames who tried utilizing the Left Wing Lock system, back in the mid nineties.

Almost as bad as dump and chase. something I had to deal with watching those mid to late eighties Leafs teams.

Answer 10

1. teams known for the trap are the devils (also noted as the creators) and the wild
2. the best way to neutralize it, i'd say, is to use it. fire with fire. or, if you could get alot of scoring lines, eventually you would get some chances.
3. it should not be banned. it is a playing style, not an illegal move or bad substance. even though it may seem boring, it shows alot of teamwork and wins games.