Jets @ Leafs - Nov. 4th, 7:00pm - SN, TSN 1050

[bustaheims]

So, you're calling pivoting into the desired position for a defenceman to play an odd man rush "getting turned around"? Wow. Gardiner was actually playing it well right up until the end, which, shockingly, is what I criticized him for.

Not the pivot, no. That he had to stop skating to his left and start skating to his right to keep up with Burmistrov on what was, at the time, a one on one play. He may not have been physically turned around, but an abrupt reversal like that is still getting turned around.

 

[bustaheims]

Wrong. Gardiner was never turned around. In fact it would have been EASIER for him to pivot and use his stick to block the pass.

If Gardiner tries to pivot there, Wheeler would have had more than enough time to step around him and make the same pass. The fact that Wheeler is a right-handed shot means it would have taken a little more time for Gardiner to be able to get in position to get his stick into the passing lane, leaving Wheeler with more than enough time to slide the puck across to Burmistrov. Going down on the ice was the only way to possibly get into the passing lane quickly enough to stop the pass. Unfortunately for Gardiner, he was losing momentum, and instead of sliding as he expected to, he just kinda stopped.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Gardiner was skating in 1 direction to angle Burmistrov off, then abruptly turned to another direction to keep up with a cutting Burmistrov, then had to revert back to his original direction once Wheeler came into possession of the puck. All within like a second. That's getting turned around to me. Apologies if you thought I meant he did a 360 or something.

 

[Bender]

No it's not. No coach worth his/her salt at any level will ever tell you to leave your feet. The moment you leave your feet you take yourself out of the play.

And, yet, defencemen have been doing exactly that on 2 on 1s for generations. What defencemen are taught to do in that situation is to take away the pass and allow the goalie to focus on the shooter. Gardiner attempted to do that in the same ways hundreds of defencemen have in the past. More often than not, that move successfully removes the passing option. This time it didn't. It wasn't a bad play, nor did he play it poorly. It just didn't work out for him.

Defencemen are taught to use their stick and skates to block the pass. They are also taught to take either the shooter or the open man, not just to block the pass. They are also taught to be ready to clear rebounds, which is pretty impossible to do laying on your face.

The fact that defencemen drop to the ice often doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. It's what happens when you panic. These guys are pros but it doesn't mean they don't make mistakes.

I'm pretty sure Gardiner knows how to clear rebounds when the situation calls for it. This was not one of those situations.

What if they didn't score on the original shot? What's Gardiner going to do laying on his butt?

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts we'd all have a Merry Christmas. It's a desperation play that required a desperation move. It didn't work out but it wasn't a bad idea.

Gardiner could do anything. If they scored you would still say he played it wrong.

No I wouldn't. I acknowledged 2 on 1s are difficult in my initial post. You're acting like I'm blaming him for the goal. I'm not. You're just jumping to defend Gardiner because around here, you simply can't criticize Jake Gardiner.

You obviously don't know me very well.

 

[TML fan]

Gardiner was skating in 1 direction to angle Burmistrov off, then abruptly turned to another direction to keep up with a cutting Burmistrov, then had to revert back to his original direction once Wheeler came into possession of the puck. All within like a second. That's getting turned around to me. Apologies if you thought I meant he did a 360 or something.

Except that he stayed with Wheeler. He takes one backwards stride and he's right on him. He cut the angle and basically took away the shot. All he has to do is pivot to get his stick on the other side and Wheeler now has to make a play to get the puck to Burmistrov. It's actually a testament to his skating ability that he was able to stay with Wheeler with basically one backwards cut.

And no, busta, Wheeler would not have gone by him if he pivots. There was nowhere for him to go. He was already at the top of the circle when Gardiner decided to drop down. Gardiner clearly has no idea where Burmistrov is on this play. He's got his stick down protecting the slot but Burmistrov is already by him. If you're going to stay in the middle, it helps to know where the other guy is. If he lost the other guy, then his only play is to attack the puck carrier, which he didn't do. He was guessing at that point. Guessing is not playing defence.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Gardiner was skating in 1 direction to angle Burmistrov off, then abruptly turned to another direction to keep up with a cutting Burmistrov, then had to revert back to his original direction once Wheeler came into possession of the puck. All within like a second. That's getting turned around to me. Apologies if you thought I meant he did a 360 or something.

Except that he stayed with Wheeler. He takes one backwards stride and he's right on him. He cut the angle and basically took away the shot. All he has to do is pivot to get his stick on the other side and Wheeler now has to make a play to get the puck to Burmistrov. It's actually a testament to his skating ability that he was able to stay with Wheeler with basically one backwards cut.

And no, busta, Wheeler would not have gone by him if he pivots. There was nowhere for him to go. He was already at the top of the circle when Gardiner decided to drop down. Gardiner clearly has no idea where Burmistrov is on this play. He's got his stick down protecting the slot but Burmistrov is already by him. If you're going to stay in the middle, it helps to know where the other guy is. If he lost the other guy, then his only play is to attack the puck carrier, which he didn't do. He was guessing at that point. Guessing is not playing defence.

Which leads to the question, how long will it take Gardiner to learn to play defence?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Is it worth pointing out that Gardiner's score-adjusted CF so far this season is 54.7%?

 

[Bender]

Is it worth pointing out that Gardiner's score-adjusted CF so far this season is 54.7%?

NO, BECAUSE THE PLAY WAS BAD AND HE SHOULD FEEL BAD!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Is it worth pointing out that Gardiner's score-adjusted CF so far this season is 54.7%?

Why isn't it 55%? Loser.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Is it worth pointing out that Gardiner's score-adjusted CF so far this season is 54.7%?

Why isn't it 55%? Loser.

Clearly he's terrible defensively because the puck's not in the Leafs' end enough for him to practice.

 

[herman]

Is it worth pointing out that Gardiner's score-adjusted CF so far this season is 54.7%?

Why isn't it 55%? Loser.

Clearly he's terrible defensively because the puck's not in the Leafs' end enough for him to practice.

Perhaps he should spend more time with Polak to gain that experience.