Defensive systems have been around for a long time. What's interesting now is that they've actually become less important than ever before. Teams don't play "defensive systems" as much as they play "possession hockey" these days.
Starting around ten years ago, possession metrics became a very big part of scouting and coaching in hockey. The rationale was that the best way to play defense is to keep possession of the puck and keep it in the offensive zone as much as possible. This major transformation was solidified with the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, when Canada employed it to perfection to win the gold medal. They spent much of the tournament putting a line of Jonathan Toews, Jeff Carter and Patrick Marleau out there against the top lines of the opposing teams. These guys aren't defensive stars by any measure, but they shut down the opposition simply by maintaining possession for long stretches of time in the offensive zone.
No more artistry or skill? That's ludicrous. Just a sample of the kinds of skill and coordination NHL players have these days:
Rackell's ridiculous deflection goal
Ridiculous saucer pass on 2-on-1
Kovalchuk one-timer off the crossbar (he consistently aimed to score goals this way)
I can see why some of this is hard to appreciate. The game simply moves too fast to capture this as it actually occurs. The second link I posted above is a perfect example of this. The defenseman coming back to defend the 2-on-1 plays it perfectly, diving and stretching to cover the passing lane between the passer and the shooter. But the guy carrying the puck into the zone passes it right over him to his linemate streaking down the middle of the ice.
What's most ridiculous about that play is that the announcers didn't even realize how magnificent the pass was!
Love your post. Also please don’t forget the goalie skill and athleticism. These guys are leaded down with pads and pounds and pounds of sweat, and they fly, split, and use unearthly hand eye coordination, these top goalies. They are a joy to watch.
I wish I was experienced enough as a fan to understand team defense strategies. I have to have them explained to me. And I still don’t see them. But I love the game more than any other team sport ever.
you wanna see “possession” hockey?...watch videos of the Soviet Red Army teams...or the 1980’s Edmonton Oilers. Again...these teams are scoring at the rate that teams did in the 1940’s..when they only played 70 games. The fact that the league keeps trying bizarre rule changes to “open” up ice tells u somethings not right. Imagine the Oilers playing with no center red line and 2 line passes. The goalie equipment is ridiculous...this might sound crazy..but the game is too fast now...ive never seen so many 2 and 3 on 1’s butchered because these guys are skating out of control. Theres no way an expansion team should be in the finals..but the teams all play alike...Wayne Gretzky said that this stuff is being taught at the bantam and midget league level...the games to robotic now. You gave me a few plays of “skill”..but it all comes down to who gets the lucky bounces. During the season...out of 7 or 8 league games on any night, 5 or 6 ..the score will be 2-1..or 3-2. Ive watched game from the 80’s and 90’s,,,and i cant believe its the same game. You gotta let your stars be stars. Every niow and then ill see a good game...but its mostly just a boring, scrambled mess.