Who Is This Years X-Factor?

[southern_cross_116]

Not a fan of bringing back the redline/calling two-line pass again. That just constricts the game so much. Being able to stretch out the defense, especially on the PP, is an art and creates more room. If a guy is open and onsides, I think you should be able to hit him with a pass...even in your own zone.

I don't buy the 'constriction' angle -as there were many teams and players that had the talent to deal with it -not only that posted historic offensive totals - by removing it -is basically an acknowledgement that the talent level isn't up to the challenge.

Case in point, the 1980's Oilers' teams .... and ironically enough, Gretzky was labelled as a cherry-picker --- yet, he still had to be on his own side of the red line ... so, not sure that it was really that constrictive at all considering the highest offensive, and goal scoring totals were posted well before removing it came into effect.

There isn't really much skill in the home-run pass -not anymore than say if you expanded the goal cage to be the size of a garage door.


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Edit: 4 on 4?! Buff.... I mean come on leave that stuff in the arcade - why not one on one if that is the case - or settle the game with a drinking match at center ice - first player to puke -their team loses. . .

 

[HawkWriter]

^^^ I don't think scoring in the past and the red-line/two-way passes can go hand and hand. Without it today, I really think offense would drop big time. I can think of 3 reasons that influenced scoring in the past much, much more than the 2-way pass - goaltender equipment, disparity between top end players and low end players, no emphasis on defense (all things which have changed dramatically today).

 

[HawkWriter]

I still say the trapezoid being removed should be the first change

I agree completely. It is a minor change, but one that would be good for the game of hockey.

What about keeping the trapezoid, but saying that if a goalie plays the puck outside of it (which would be legal) that you cannot be called for "incidental" contact with him? You can't necessarily run the goalie, but you can bump him a little or hold him up in a sense because he traveled outside of the trapezoid.

 

[krazyhawk]

To me the X-factor is Leddy.If he comes anywhere close to to replacing Campbell's contributions,the Hawks D goes from good to very good.IMO,the offense will be just fine,it's the defense that must improve.Lepisto,O'Donnell and Montador are a vast improvement over last years 5/6/7.That alone will make up for some of Campbell,Leddy must add the rest.

If he doesn't,I question whether the D will be improved enough to go deep into playoffs.

As for a breakout player,instead of a particular guy,I pick whoever gets the most time on the left side of Toews/Kane.Could be anyone,maybe more than one.:shrug:

 

[TheChicagoFan]

To me the X-factor is Leddy.If he comes anywhere close to to replacing Campbell's contributions,the Hawks D goes from good to very good.IMO,the offense will be just fine,it's the defense that must improve.Lepisto,O'Donnell and Montador are a vast improvement over last years 5/6/7.That alone will make up for some of Campbell,Leddy must add the rest.

If he doesn't,I question whether the D will be improved enough to go deep into playoffs.

As for a breakout player,instead of a particular guy,I pick whoever gets the most time on the left side of Toews/Kane.Could be anyone,maybe more than one.:shrug:

I think all the guys who were rookies last year are X-factors. Every rookie was pretty good. Leddy, Smith, Crawford, and Kruger were all very important last year especially in the playoffs. If they can play like that this year, the team will be very good.