Jackets hope to wire better defense in DNA
What Vincent, staff plan during preseason action
Pascal Vincent admits to having an “offensive mindset” and “always thinking” about his Blue Jackets can generate more scoring. Don’t mistake that, however, for a coach who plans to ignore the other side of the puck.
In fact, it’s just the opposite. “That’s the game today,” Vincent said. “By (defending) properly, the byproduct of this is you create more offensively. Eventually, we’re going to be an aggressive defensive team, and we’re going to be an aggressive offensive team.”
Vincent and his staff are working to install their plan during this preseason’s practices and exhibition games.
“I want this to become our DNA,” he said. “You look at the playoffs and the teams that are successful, first to make the playoffs and then winning in the playoffs, they just play. They know their systems, but they don’t have to think about it anymore. They just execute them.”
Here are the strands of that DNA.
‘Tracking’ is key
Tracking involves all five skaters defending through the neutral zone with the singular goal of regaining possession. Vincent’s definition of the neutral zone is the area stretching between the tops of the circles in both zones. Once a puck is lost, teams that track well have defensemen who set good defensive gaps in their retreats and backchecking forwards looking to break up plays and regain the puck.
Vincent noted research done by Zac Urback, the Jackets’ director of analytics, on the effectiveness of tracking in relation to qualifying for the playoffs.
“The number one component to make the playoffs is how well you track,” Vincent said. “And it’s not only about intensity. Intensity has to be there, but it’s the gap and it’s how you sort it out.”
Columbus plans to improve in the slot area
The slot area within each zone is primarily the strip of ice between each faceoff circle that extends from the crease to the area just inside the blue line. It also extends horizontally to each dot, forming a “home plate” shape when highlighted on a video screen or white board.
“There’s going to be a lot of focus on protecting the middle of the ice and attacking the middle of the ice,” Vincent said.
He also pointed out this requires quite a bit of effort, and thus a lot of “buy in” from players.
“There’s lots of minds on a hockey team,” Vincent said. “They all see the game in their own perspective, but we need to have one heart for this hockey team, and how we’re going to play is dictated by this.”
Jackets aiming for better puck possession
The Blue Jackets have struggled in the past to break the puck out of their own zone and pin opposing teams into the Jackets’ offensive zone. Improving at each would increase puck possession, allowing the Blue Jackets to prevent opponents from scoring by simply denying them a chance to go on offense.
“We’re going to change the systems,” Vincent said. “It’s not going to be dramatic, but there are some key pieces that … if we include them into what we already do with the personnel, with a mindset, I think we’re going to be able to give up less chances against.” bhedger@dispatch.com @Brianhedger