Dubas Idea: Play 4 Forwards vs. Opposition's 4th Line

[LawMan]

I was reading this TSN article about the Maple Leafs hire of Dubas and how he's an advanced stats thinker as well as a think outside the box kind of guy and this line struck me as really interesting:

On other topics, we talked about employing four forwards on the ice at times. He said the Greyhounds were experimenting with it, adding a top-line forward when the other team put their fourth line on the ice, figuring that there was a potential mismatch available, with minimal downside because other teams' fourth lines weren't necessarily a big threat.

The strategy seems pretty simple: When the other team gets trapped with their 4th line out there we essentially send out our powerplay to try and take advantage of the mis-match. This is an extreme continuation of the strategy of throwing your top line out against a teams 4th line. Like all coaching moves if it works you're a genius if it doesn't your an idiot.

Personally, I like the idea and would love to see the Leafs, or any team, try it a few times this season. Most NHL coaches are extremely conservative, reactive and are copycats so I bet it takes awhile for any team to try it. But, if it works for that team early on it could be the latest strategy in the league.

[Pengwin7]

Interesting.
But, big mistake at the NHL level, IMO.

Even 4th line NHL players are very good skaters.
And I'd bet that the majority (50%+) could burn your standard forward-playing-defense on a rush up-ice.

Stuff that works in the OHL doesn't always translate to every level.
But... that said... there are always pioneers that change the way we play the game.

Interesting concept, thanks for posting.

[Big Ev]

It would be cool to take a bet on how long Dubas lasts in this position/the league.

This isn't a kiddy league anymore, champ.

[doulos]

Seems like something you would try out at the AHL level first to see what comes of it. Looks a little risky, but it's the type of out of the box thinking that's going to need to start happening in the NHL. People balked at the idea of pulling your goalie way early as well, even though the underlying numbers suggested it was smart. An then Patrick Roy started doing it, and whaddaya know - it works!

[yougo]

Kind of strategy that would have worked well against the.... Leafs 4th line

[Pengwin7]

On this thread-topic... I wonder which NHL forwards could make the best transition to defense.
(obviously, excluding the obvious ones like Burns & Buff)

It reminds me of when the Wings pushed Fedorov back to defense for a while.
That was an interesting experiment, that actually went relatively well IIRC.
Fedorov was a near perfect hockey player, perhaps the most versatile player of the modern generation.
He was so heady and understood the game so well that he could play any position, even defense, a true rarity of the hockey elite.
His phenomenal skating prowess and agility complimented his intelligence so that he could excel in any situation.
http://redwingslegends.blogspot.com/...i-fedorov.html

It'd be a fun list to make.

[doulos]

Stick Pavel Datsyuk on the blueline - his brains and athleticism would win him the Norris.

[yougo]

On this thread-topic... I wonder which NHL forwards could make the best transition to defense.
(obviously, excluding the obvious ones like Burns & Buff)

It reminds me of when the Wings pushed Fedorov back to defense for a while.
That was an interesting experiment, that actually went relatively well IIRC.
Fedorov was a near perfect hockey player, perhaps the most versatile player of the modern generation.
He was so heady and understood the game so well that he could play any position, even defense, a true rarity of the hockey elite.
His phenomenal skating prowess and agility complimented his intelligence so that he could excel in any situation.
http://redwingslegends.blogspot.com/...i-fedorov.html

It'd be a fun list to make.

Thomas Plekanec

[Big Ev]

Stick Pavel Datsyuk on the blueline - his brains and athleticism would win him the Norris.

I don't think he would do well on D. Doesn't seem like a D-man at all.

[Laendarian]

Seems like something you would try out at the AHL level first to see what comes of it. Looks a little risky, but it's the type of out of the box thinking that's going to need to start happening in the NHL. People balked at the idea of pulling your goalie way early as well, even though the underlying numbers suggested it was smart. An then Patrick Roy started doing it, and whaddaya know - it works!

This was exactly what I was thinking when I read his idea

[Pengwin7]

Maybe the Leafs are trying to find a way to justify Clarkson's contract.
$5m for a 15-20pt gritty defenseman... not so bad... eh?
Oh wait - nope, probably still pretty bad.

[newfcollins]

Interesting.
But, big mistake at the NHL level, IMO.

Even 4th line NHL players are very good skaters.
And I'd bet that the majority (50%+) could burn your standard forward-playing-defense on a rush up-ice.

Stuff that works in the OHL doesn't always translate to every level.
But... that said... there are always pioneers that change the way we play the game.

Interesting concept, thanks for posting.

I don't know. Depends on the team's top line and defecemen. Montreal sticking MaxPac-DD-Gallagher and then Pleks might not help as much as putting out Markov and Subban. The Habs top two dmen are better than whoever the fourth forward would be.

But Pittsburgh putting out Malkin with Crosby, Kunitz and Dupuis would be much more effective, you would think.

[doulos]

The obvious question is 'Did this work for the Greyhounds?' It says they tried it, but I obviously know nothing about how well it worked.

[deantime419]

Interesting.
I'd probably just stick to getting two offensive dmen out there and give them the green light (preferably above average skaters too).

Ie Gardiner and Rielly for TO.

[Mr. Guru]

Dubas is my hero. 25 year old GM in the O? 28 year old AGM for the Leafs? Truly remarkable.