Hockeybird.com: Genius on the Defensive

In a move that proved as marketing savvy as Chevy's decision
to keep the car name "Nova" in spanish-speaking countries, the
MSG crew began the slogan "hockey is different here."

After the difference was clearly defined by a losing
streak, the gurus decided to replace the slogan with Messier
holding aloft the Stanley Cup from eight years ago.

I applaud Sather for not giving into the stifling defensive
systems that some teams employ. Hockey is supposed to be
entertainment - and I'd rather watch women's bowling than any
of the Devils playoff games.

But he takes the needs to be different - read, genius - a step
too far by always needing to be different. The status quo, no
matter what it is, is underneath his genius.

And this team wart is no more glaring than in the composition
of the defensive corps.

Most teams pair their offensive defenseman with a stay-at-home
defenseman, but will pair up two offensive defensemen on the
power play and if they trail in the third period.

Example? Dallas. Sergie Zubov is paired with Derian Hatcher, but
will play with Sydor or Boucher on the power play.

Puck movers, baby! Poti and Leetch are a pair that play together
for 25 minutes a game. 5-on-5, penalty kill, power play - you
name it, they play it.

Like with most geniuses, Sather always feels that he can replace
the average-talent, no matter the chemistry he brings.

Cory Cross is the perfect example. Prior to his arrival, Darius
Kasparaitis struggled with every partner on the team. His
aggressiveness didn't match with either offensive partners (Poti,
Malakhov) or youngsters learning the ropes (Purinton). Then he
paired with Cross and his +/- rose faster than Martin Brodeur
with his wife's sister.

Let's assume that Brian Leetch will be resigned. (Not a given, but
a safe assumption given Sather's praise of #2 at season's end)

Four of these players need physical stay-at-home defensemen as
a partner, and the other (Purinton) needs a seasoned vet to help
him adjust to the NHL on a full-time basis.

Purinton could play with any of the other four on the third pairing,
but the other four can't be combined with each other.

The reality is that Leetch, Poti, Malakhov and Kaspar all need a
no-frills partner to succeed. None have a consistent defensive
conscience to enable them to play together.

And since we can't have four defensive pairings on the team, the
result is that one of Leetch, Poti, Kaspar and Malakhov should not
be on the team next year.

We can talk all we want about additions, and the Derian Hatcher
bidding will be tempting. (Sidenote - I liked Bobo this season,
and as a right-handed shot, he could be Leetch's partner if he
accepts a significant pay cut.) But the first move should be a
subtraction.

Because until Sather abandons his need to be a genius and plans on
unexciting stay-at-home defensemen as part of the mix, then
the same problems will haunt this team next season.

Why is it that everyone gives the Poti-Leetch pair a hard time? If Leetch had stayed healthy, they'd have combined for about 25g 75a and stayed + players on a team that as a whole wasn't very good.

That's startling production. Remember those articles around the midway point about how good Leetch and Poti were on the PK together (usually used to highlight how awful Malakhov and Kaspar had been)?

I dunno, probably the only positives I took away from the first half of the season were Dunham and Leetch-Poti. Seems pretty silly to break them up.

Oh yeah, one other thing, go no further than the Islanders quartet of offensive dmen (Aucion, Johnson, Hamrlik, Niminaa) to find a team that pairs up blue-liners who can move the puck. Sure, Leetch and Poti are a bit more 'high risk' than that foursome . . . but they're also more productive.

If you ask me, the Rangers need a solid two-way third dman that they can use on a 'stopper' pair while Leetch and Poti play as the offensive 'pumpers'. But I wouldn't break up Leetch and Poti unless I had too.

Posted by: Kubera55 on April 28, 2003 03:20 PM