Scotty knows why teams can’t score
ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH: Teams have adjusted to larger offensive zone and the goalies are much bigger Tony Gallagher
With his son Stan Bowman right in the middle of the Stanley Cup final as the Blackhawks general manager, Scotty Bowman is on hand in Chicago these days to offer his support and occasional advice.
When the 81-year-old answered his cellphone Tuesday he was in the video room trying to give a fellow who wants to become a video coach some pointers on what coaches look for, and given Bowman has 1,244 regular season wins and 223 in the playoffs — which is the most by any coach in history in either category — he may know what he’s talking about.
When he is asked about how the game is today, and specifically about how teams now leave the points open and collapse down low to take away chances in the actual scoring zones, he pointed out how while the change in the placement of the bluelines some 10 years ago was made to generate offence, these changes never seem to have the desired effect.
“What happened when they moved the blue-lines out four feet on each side toward the red line, they thought they were creating more room in the offensive zones where the goals were scored,” said Bowman. “But it wasn’t long before the coaches figured out that when defending in your zone, it’s now too big to do everything, so they said, let’s leave the points open and close down toward the net to take away chances closer to the net. Now you can’t get anything through.
“Before they changed it, the defending team used to play its forwards higher out toward the point, which meant once their team got the puck they were out of the zone quicker and there was more room in the neutral zone to make things happen on the rush. Now, unless you’re really good on the stretch pass the way (Victor) Hedman made that one last night, not much happens on the rush. So maybe that was better, but all the changes they make, like taking away interference the way they did, when they enforce it, was supposed to open the game up for more goals but it doesn’t always work out.”
Another reason for the lack of goals in the game right now is the increasing size of the goaltenders and the bigger equipment they can justify using. Ben Bishop is really now the poster boy for large goaltenders, as he’s closer to 6-foot-8 than his listed 6-foot-6, and that means by today’s rules he can have pads that allow him to virtually block the entire net. Or at least it appears that way to any shooter not directly in front.
“He’s 6-7 or 6-8 and that’s the way it’s going these days,” says Bowman. “Look at that kid the Canucks have in Utica now, that (Jacob) Markstrom who is playing so well. He’s pretty big, isn’t he? (He’s 6-foot-6.) I saw Eddie Lack when he was in Chicago with the Wolves and I thought he was going to be very good, and he’s big too (6-foot-4). They’re all big guys now.
“I hear they are going to do something about the equipment starting in the 2016-17 season. It’s apparently too late to do it for next year but they’re working with the manufacturers to find a way to get these guys protected and have it smaller.”
Bowman also indicated the Hawks aren’t nearly as worried about their salary cap issues for next year as many others in the media seem to be. While of course they would prefer not to have to be doing those things, they are really hopeful SKA St. Petersburg star winger Artemi Panarin will come in and make a huge top-six impact immediately. If he doesn’t, there is apparently a clause in his deal that will allow him to return to the KHL rather than play in the AHL, but this doesn’t figure to be a problem given the talent with which the Hawks can surround him.
“He finished ahead of Ilya Kovalchuk in St. Petersburg this year and tied him the year before,” said Bowman of the right-shot free-agent winger who was one of most sought after talents leaving the KHL.
“He was also really good in the playoffs. A lot of teams were trying to get him but he chose Chicago, plus they’ve had a couple of guys in the AHL who have been waiting to get their turn up here, so they should be all right if the cap comes in at around $71 million.”