Maybe it's just me, but I don't see this as Ruff changing "his system" as much as he's learned new ways to sell it to the players ("Hey, it works for Detroit, guys!") and he's learned new practice drills to help hone things in.

Ruff has been harping on things like getting in on the forecheck, back pressure and defensive responsibility, the defense being active and getting into the attack, and a bunch of other "puck possession system" things for years.

I just hope this team has matured to the point that the players play the system 65+ nights this year and on average for more than 20 minutes per game.

The issue with this team the past two seasons hasn't been Ruff's system. It has been getting the players to play Ruff's system on a more consistent basis.

It's been great that they have stuck with it for 4 games.

Now let's see what things look like after 20, 40, and 60 games........

It's created a ton of goals, and when I get my computer telestrator set up, I'll load the videos on youtube and show you what I'm talking about. It's pretty cool.

You... you have a telestrator? Awesome like possum.

Ham

With all due respect, this year's system is much different than the past 2.

In a nut shell, we played the trap the past 2 years. It was a box and 1 formation; 1 forechecker, with the rest of the team sitting back in the neutral zone trying to force the other team to the outside wall.

The problem is, we had a small team with no grit. How can you expect guys like Derek Roy and Tim Connolly to be enthused about throwing hits on much larger players in the neutral zone?

You can't.

This year, we aren't sitting back in a trap formation. Ruff is utilizing the speed and agility of our roster to pressure the puck carriers from all sides and force them to make quick decisions, resulting in turn overs.

It's much, much easier to get players motivated when you play to their strengths instead of their weaknesses.

As an example. Watch when the other team comes out from behind their own net with the puck. 2 forwards pressure and funnel him towards the half wall, while the other forward sits near the blue line at center ice, taking away the passing option, and looking for a giveaway that would set up an odd man rush.

Another example. When we lose the puck in the offensive zone on the cycle, and the other team sends the puck up the wall, the defenseman on that side pinches. His parter swings across to cover behind him, and the winger on the opposite side of the puck drops his head and skates towards the neutral zone to prevent a 2 or 3 on one.

If the defenseman successfully makes the pinch, the Center drops behind the net for a pass and the near side winger drives to the slot.

It's created a ton of goals, and when I get my computer telestrator set up, I'll load the videos on youtube and show you what I'm talking about. It's pretty cool.

I have a pet peeve to share, if you care . . .

Why does it matter whether goals are ugly? (I'm guessing that the rise of ESPN is to blame. I know, I sound old.) As long as the puck goes into the net, I couldn't care less how it got there.

I really appreciate you knowledgeable hockey gurus explaining the systems. Thank you. I played the game, only as a kid/teenager, and have a hard time seeing all this stuff.

Rant over. Carry on.

I have a pet peeve to share, if you care . . .

Why does it matter whether goals are ugly? (I'm guessing that the rise of ESPN is to blame. I know, I sound old.) As long as the puck goes into the net, I couldn't care less how it got there.

Ugly goals aren't as fun as the highlight reel ones!

Any player would rather dangle forehand, backhand, top corner for a goal as opposed to banging in a rebound from 2 feet out.

Ruff has been trying to drill into their heads that they need to keep making the fundamentally sound play of getting the puck to the net early and often as opposed to trying to dangle too much or make the extra, pretty pass.

Vanek might have gotten yelled at for trying to make the pass to Stafford had Lidstrom not deflected the pass in, for instance.

Unfortunately, more often than not, Thomas is guilty of the soft or whiffed pass that ends up being intercepted. He just is.

I have yet to see crisp "tape-to-tape" passes come off his stick. Finesse is one thing, a seeming indecisiveness is another.

Butch up those wrists, Tommy. Put a bit of snap into those passes.

Vanek was making that play happen, if it hadn't gone in, I don't think it would have mattered because it would have been one hell of a chance for a goal anyways.

And who says Vanek can't pass a puck, well I guess he can't, it went into the net instead.