Great (but ugly) Article on Flyers O Zone Entry Stats

[JBM73]

2013 Zone entry data: The wheels come off - Broad Street Hockey

No surprises here. This team was terrible from the defensive zone to the offensive blue line last year, with ZERO continuity in their breakout passing, settling for dump and chase on the occasions when they actually managed to get the puck that far in the first place.

 

[lasgop8]

2013 Zone entry data: The wheels come off - Broad Street Hockey

No surprises here. This team was terrible from the defensive zone to the offensive blue line last year, with ZERO continuity in their breakout passing, settling for dump and chase on the occasions when they actually managed to get the puck that far in the first place.

No suprise here we all know this comes from Bryz not being able to handle the puck.

 

[JBM73]

No suprise here we all know this comes from Bryz not being able to handle the puck.

That's one factor, but Bryz was here in 2011/12 and the team wasn't nearly as bad then in terms of moving the puck out of the defensive zone. Better puck handling goalies will definitely help, but the d-men need to be much better with overall puck movement and the forwards need to be better at not getting too far ahead of the play and forcing the d-men to make overly-long passes out of the zone.

 

[lasgop8]

That's one factor, but Bryz was here in 2011/12 and the team wasn't nearly as bad then in terms of moving the puck out of the defensive zone. Better puck handling goalies will definitely help, but the d-men need to be much better with overall puck movement and the forwards need to be better at not getting too far ahead of the play and forcing the d-men to make overly-long passes out of the zone.

Bryz wasnt nearly as bad in 2011/12 either.

 

[dspice07]

Bryz wasnt nearly as bad in 2011/12 either.

wait...i remember him being worse that year minus March ha.

 

[lasgop8]

wait...i remember him being worse that year minus March ha.

Not according to this

Ilya Bryzgalov NHL Statistics | Hockey-Reference.com

 

[JBM73]

I don't think you can just look at the stats. The team in front of him was TERRIBLE in the defensive zone last year, giving up a ridiculous number of quality scoring chances. My main point though was that his PUCK HANDLING wasn't much different in 2011/12 vs. 2013.

 

[lasgop8]

I don't think you can just look at the stats. The team in front of him was TERRIBLE in the defensive zone last year, giving up a ridiculous number of quality scoring chances. My main point though was that his PUCK HANDLING wasn't much different in 2011/12 vs. 2013.

We also had a ton of injuries on defense last season which had us playing with 6 and 7's in the second pairing.

 

[Progeriakid]

The has has been decimated with injuries, can't blame young guys who are just getting their feet wet in the pro game but it definitely contributed.

 

[JBM73]

Sure injuries played a role last year, but the D has been pretty poor again thus far in the preseason, with far too many defensive breakdowns and miscues. Not a good sign.

 

[awaz]

Sure injuries played a role last year, but the D has been pretty poor again thus far in the preseason, with far too many defensive breakdowns and miscues. Not a good sign.

hopefully things improve when they start playing in their actual pairs and in games that have meaning

 

[JBM73]

hopefully things improve when they start playing in their actual pairs and in games that have meaning

I suspect that much like last year this team will struggle out of the gate, as they adjust to so many new faces. However, if they can keep the injury bug at bay I have hope that they can develop into a true contender. The first few games will still probably be a bit of an adventure in the d-zone, even with set pairings.