I thought this was interesting coming from coach Greg Puhalski after last night's game as he was talking about the lack of spark in the Komets' play:
``If you feel like that, then you've got to try to change the attitude and mix it up, and we didn't do that,'' Puhalski said. ``Some of our physical players didn't try to help the hockey club by changing momentum, they just went along with flow. They know better. They have to help the team out in those areas. You want to change momentum, you have to do certain things in order to change that.''
Puhalski gets slammed all the time for supposedly not wanting physical, aggressive teams, but he talks all the time about wanting to set the tone at home with physical play. I wonder if sometimes the coach doesn't get too much of the blame for not having physical teams.
Now, before someone accuses me of being soft on Puhalski (which I'm sure he'd laugh at), think about this: How many teams actually do play the old physical style any more? Maybe Danbury, which we haven't seen here yet? (Did you realize that Danbury has 32 majors and the Komets have 28?) Other than that, there's no one that does, even though that's the one thing fans want to see more than anything else. I'd also argue, and there are stats to back it up, that this year's Komets team is more physical than any of the past four or five teams in terms of body checks.
That still doesn't come close to matching the physical intensity of some of the Al Sims' Komets teams of the early 1990s, but the whole sport has become finesse driven. I'd argue that the rules have taken some of the physical play out of the game, even though the best way to combat a finesse team is to take the body.
Ah, the good old days.
Comments
For folks that complain about the ads, let me offer you a trade. The Komets can cut the ads in half.....and replace the revenue with higher ticket prices.
P.S.
Blake still working on it. On a 2 week vacation now though lol
JR...a plus one? That is your best defense for Jorde? That's about as good a defense he plays.
Jorde is a poor excuse for a defender. No no one wants him to skate accross the ice and come off his feet to hit someone. We just want him to stand his ground, hustle, and act like he wants to play Hockey. That's all. He goes out of his way to not make contact. That is poor. Another comment in the paper today after the Butt kicking in K-zoo from the "AHL wiser" Jorde about being a half step slow. He is the same guy that said he was having trouble adjusting to the UHL because it is too slow for him. You would think that he would be awesome if things were that much slower. Could you imagine the numbers Barry Bonds would put up if he played for the Wizards? And I'm not comparing this clown to Bonds by no stretch of the imagination. Just play Hockey Jorde! Please.
J.R.- Nobody said anything about wanting Stewart back. Jorde is not being picked at because he is his replacement. He is being picked at because he is not performing. He is constantly getting juked and beaten in one on one situations. He does not play angles in the slightest. He stands there and watches the guy go around him and get a shot on goal. He spends more time on his back than Jenna Jameson. I'm glad the other players like him, but it is not a popularity contest. You can move someone out of the crease without getting a penalty. Every other team does it every night. Look in front of the opposing teams goal when it is in our zone on any given night. You will see tons of opposing players and not one Komet waiting for a rebound or screening the goalie. If it is so impossible to clear out the goal on defense then why do all the other teams do it with such ease? As far as the advertising goes...who gives a crap. I don't have a bit of a problem with the team generating revenue. For that matter I don't even notice it. If it hadn't been brought up I wouldn't have given it a second thought. Blake-I respect your opinions and appreciate all you bring to the blog (especially since it's your blog!!). However, the comparison in fight between Jorde and VanDerBreggen is shaky at best. Jorde has had ton's of games and opportunities to get those 3 fights, while VanDerBreggen played probably 3 or 4 games to get those 2 fights. I agree that I don't necessarily need to see fights to think that physical play is happening. I'm just saying lets compare apples to apples. That time when there was a big pile of guys arguing in front of the opponents bench and VanDerBreggen came skating across the ice and jumped onto the whole thing was probably the most exciting thing that has happened all year. I think we have shown immense improvement over the past few weeks. If we can just get that one more physical defensemen it is the key we need. Hopefully, Jorde will continue to develop his style and fill that need. Go K's!!!
Do you want the team to fight all the time or win? I love how all these guys talk about the lack of fighting on the team; but then say they don't necessarily need to see fighting to be a physical team. Just come out and say it....you like fighting in hockey and you want to see more of it...I do and would. I grew up watching hockey in the 70's and 80's and that was fun!!! I think pulhalski as a coach has changed over the years, does anyone remember the tough team he had in Port Huron before coming here? I think these guys are too afraid of being out of position and dont want to land on the pine for mixing it up, like it seems always happens to Worlton...when he actually gets to play. I just wish the Komets could find a big enforcer that can play a regular shift like Rockford has seemed to be able to get recently. Go Komets
good call jr
Well for all you Jorde haters, that horrible defenseman just got called up to the AHL....he must really be terrible.
The AHL must be crazy. Do they actually watch the games at this level before they call somebody up? Jorde is awful. He plays with no fire and no hustle. If you all call stay at home defense tobe standing in one place and never moving, ok. But give me a break. He cherry picks toward Frenchy when we are trying to move the puck into the zone for offense. Marty McSorely said exactly what I have been saying: He leaves too many opportunities out in front of our net in front of Frenchy by not playing physical. This has nothing to do with fighting. Body-up a man and move him for crap sakes. He won't last long in the AHL. What kind of league is that anyway. Who's the next call-up? Rob Guinn? What a joke.
Blake, is the AHL that political of a league that brings back a so-so player in this league like Jorde, but doesn't give a shot to other players who have talent?