This has probably been discussed before but ....

[icefields]

This has probably been discussed before but with the rash of serious injuries from forwards trying to block shots, why do coaches still encourage this type of "taking one for the team" mentality. the number of top line players who get hurt for lengthy periods of time (which equal games) is so wasteful. and if you watch the replay, many of these shots are going wide! and why block a shot in the third period of a game down 5-1. and most forwards turn their bodies, usually in the wrong direction unfortunately,
taking shots on their backs/back of their legs/arms/ankles where there is little to no protection. why. let the goalie block the shots. its his JOB, he has the padding (tools) to do the job safely.
with the NHL basically being a two line team. lets face it because of the huge paychecks two or three (chicago, toronto, boston) to name a few, most third and fourth line players, most not all, are basically AHL players who wouldn't have had a career in the NHL if teams could afford "better" players. players who because they are third and fourth liners now retire or go to europe to play. a lot of teams have 4 or 5 minor leaguers who fill spots, not due to the salary cap, but due to the huge salaries given to 2 or 3 players who are "locked up" for the future. and since the NHL is taking out physical play (and they are - remember the hip check)( remember trying to go to the front of the net)( remember fighting) what we have instead of the "grinders" is lifetime AHL players. and yes some of them become legitimate NHLers most dont. they play a year or two and are replaced by the younger cheaper rookies.
so why are the coaches expecting/letting (not teaching) their players to block shots? to lose a top six forward for a month or two has a serious effect on most teams to make the playoffs. why have a goalie, why not use four forwards and three defensemen? or five forwards. ever notice how early teams pull their goalies near the end of the third period. and if goaltenders are so valuable, then why did the zamboni guy get a win, besides the fact that he was playing against the leafettes lol. okay i was being facetious there.

[doniceage]

Are there coaches out there that personally tell their Top Forwards to do this? I mean I do not know all the coaches and their style of play so I cannot attest to any coach doing this. Of course I could imagine someone like Tort in the past telling all his players to block every damn shot. I see what you mean and it would be stupid to have a top forward trying to block pucks when they are not skilled in the technique. So just asking is it the coach pressuring or is it possibly the player wants to impress his teammates. I mean you have to admit a guy who takes pucks for a living has come serious balls. Seeing that the record for shot blocking in one season is just under 300 shots (283) I believe that more than 3 shots a game. Just think if even 5 percents of those shots went in that like a extra goal 15 shots over a season which would probably most definitely cost a few games. Having a few players doing this and your going to see a big time increase in wins. As there probably a stat for those shot blocked turning into goals when the dmen or his teammates recover the push for a quick rush.

I know they used to have classes on fighting but do they even have lessons for players on how to block a shot?

Don

[icefields]

i guess what brought it mind for me today .. i was watching some tube videos of guys getting hurt blocking shots. broken hands/fingers toes/feet/ankles and it wasnt just defensemen who couldnt get out of the way. and the forwards seemed to fall into the shot because they turn away at the last second exposing the unprotected areas.
i remember a game earlier this year (leafs game) where they actually blocked more shots then they gave up. let the goalie see the shot, goalies are bigger now, have huge equipment and have a better chance blocking it then if changes directions once or twice on the way to the net.

and when did it become a redirection what happened to the word deflection? am i that old

[kurri17]

Certainly valid points of discussion. Some of my ionitialt thoughts, just for purposes of that discussion, and no more or less valid than anyone elses would be these. I think the Blues were a four line team last year, and I don't really think they are the only one, as it takes more than your Crosby's and Ovechkins to win. If you look at the early '90s Red Wings teams that won the Presidents Trophy but then were eliminated in the first round, I think they are an example of some third and fourth line type players that eventually made them champions. I guess my next thought is that hockey is in my mind is kind of the ultimate team game. I think it would be hard to say not to block shots as that is goalies job. So does it then become that forwards don't back check hard because defense isn't their job? All of the little battles during a game determine its outcome more than the few on-on-one breaks or breakaways, and I think shots eliminated fall into that category. If shots don't get on net, they don't score, so the short term worth it there, but certainly still room for discussion. I guess I also think that there are a lot of injuries in hockey, and it would be interesting to see if a disproportionate amount of them came from intentional blocking of shots.

A lot of interesting ways to look at a topic like this, I will be curious to see other responses.

Please note, I am not arguing, criticizing, or in any other way being negative towards the original post and its author. I respect his and others opinions, I hope others can do the same.