New coach sees trend in ‘pace’ of Cup final

Flames head coach expects every team to seek out speed

Bill Peters was watching Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, just like the millions of others on Monday night, including a record-setting number of viewers in Las Vegas and Washington.

The intrigue for the Calgary Flames head coach is understandably high when evaluating both teams — the Cinderella Vegas Golden Knights and the rebuilt Washington Capitals.

“Everybody is talking about the story that is Vegas, it’s been a wonderful story even in the preseason,” Peters was saying in the media lounge of the Scotiabank Saddledome, just a few strides away from his new office. “They had a great pre-season which went into the regular season and into the playoffs.

“There’s a great story there and a great story out of Washington with the turnover they had last summer. Now, all of a sudden, here they are — a few wins away from winning the Stanley Cup. It should be very exciting, it’ll be very exciting.

“The atmosphere in Vegas will be off the charts, as we know. But they play the right way and they play with lots of pace.”

Pace is the key word, as the Golden Knights have rebranded the mould of today’s NHL teams. They’re quick, they’re shifty, they’re opportunistic and it was all clearly on display in the Golden Knights’ 6-4 victory over the Capitals on Monday.

Peters sees a trend that is likely to dictate the summer’s moves and shape the way the NHL looks in 2018-19.

“I think everyone is aware of where the game is going and the direction, it’s changed here a little bit,” he said.

“That’s what happens. We’re a bit of a copycat league and the pace of the game has never been higher.

“The young guys coming into the league are unbelievable and have unbelievable pace.”

But of course, that pace comes with a price — young, energetic and inexperienced players that lack polish.

And Peters understands there needs to be guidance given when applicable, something that could apply directly to how the new Flames head coach approaches his first season as bench boss.

“What you’re finding now with the young guys coming into the league is that you have unfinished products,” he said.

“It used to be that some of those guys would spend one or two years in the minors before they came up. They’d come up and play a little deeper in your lineup and then earn that responsibility of that top-six or top-four role. Whereas now, they are in the top-six or top-four right away and playing on your No. 1 power play unit. But they’re incomplete.

“You still need to be able to coach and teach as you move along.”