Are DMen no longer required to cover the point?

[Galatians221jb1]

I still remember MacInnis and Pronger as fixtures faithfully manning the points and contributing to effective cycling of the puck in the OZone. Now we try to cycle the puck, and the point isn't covered so the effort fails. I'm not a hockey expert but was a season ticket holder for over 20 years and what I observe now is different from what I remember.

I remember the "Cycling Slovaks", (Handzus, Demitra and Bartecko). I wish Monty would show the team videos of how they cycled the puck so effectively. Without someone manning the points I don't think that they would have been as effective.

[hotrivets]

Current trend during normal play is for Dmen to pinch and attack which requires forwards to cycle back to cover the rear. It should work and makes it harder for the other team to defend but of course the forwards have to be able and willing.

[Army's Mom]

I'm not expert either, but my understanding is that the system the Blues operate has the D-men encouraged to join the rush as the opportunity presents itself, with one forward assigned to drop back and cover the D's spot. So it might be that if the point position is vacated, it's because that D-man is even deeper in the offensive zone and the Blues forward covering his spot is playing more conservatively, conceding the blue line but guarding against a home run pass the other way?

[seattleblue]

With players like Makar, Higher, Hutson, etc, they have to be able to attack dynamically in the zone and so it outs a premium on having 200' defensive forwards who are intelligent and who can work seamlessly with them. The league has followed this evolution. You'll also notice the standard PP is now 4 forwards and a defenseman instead of two defensemen manning the point.

[blues2112]

Five up, five back. The days of bubble hockey are over!

[Mr.Snuggleupagus]

With players like Makar, Higher, Hutson, etc,

Who the hell is "Higher"?

I never heard of this player.

[bluetunehead]

With players like Makar, Higher, Hutson, etc,

Who the hell is "Higher"?

I never heard of this player.

Hughes presumably. Probably an autocorrect fail.

[seattleblue]

With players like Makar, Higher, Hutson, etc,

Who the hell is "Higher"?

I never heard of this player.

Hughes presumably. Probably an autocorrect fail.

Yeah I absolutely typed 'Hughes' but inexplicably some words get changed by the super intelligent overseer