Why are the Wings Afraid to Block Shots?

[redwingfan19 293]

[Guest mindfly]

Just wanted to say that this issue is the one that frustrates me the most about the current team, you see so many teams out there who are so willing to block shots while some few teams don't.. i think it's a character problem, wings dont have players that just loves to sacrifice their body and feel the pain and take a hit for the team and be a true teamplayer...I thought it was the eurofactor cause people in europe never block shots but now wings are way more north american and still no one wanna block-.-

Look at these stats... Colorado and Montreal have lots of guys who loves it

http://www.behindthenet.ca/2009/5_on_5_blo...;team=&pos=

Edited December 11, 2009 by mindfly

[55fan 5,133]

Not so long ago, it had a flame coming out of it's butt.

And those good North American boys (and Lilja) STILL blocked it, dadblameit.

[Flamezfan 0]

I cn remember watching the Wings years ago and it seemed like they blocked every other shot.

[Guest ZetterbergFourty]

Shot blockers are idiots. Why risk the injury?

Shot blockers obviously have zero faith in their goalie.

I wouldnt blame any player for not blocking shots.

I'd be interested to get numbers on blocked shots to injuries because of.

I dont think they're afraid to, I think they're not stupid enough to.

[Echolalia 2,961]

Methinks there's a fisherman afoot...

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Shot blockers are idiots. Why risk the injury?

Shot blockers obviously have zero faith in their goalie.

I wouldnt blame any player for not blocking shots.

I'd be interested to get numbers on blocked shots to injuries because of.

I dont think they're afraid to, I think they're not stupid enough to.

Have your forgotten the Pens in game 6 and 7 last year?

Blocking shots won them the Cup.

[bdavis 28]

They can't risk any more injuries out there, that's why they are more resistant to block shots. Hell, if they can deflect the puck with their stick, that's good enough (as long as it doesn't wind up in the net). The team doesn't need any more injuries. I think we'll see more blocked shots in the playoffs.

Edited December 12, 2009 by bd2988

[MTU_Huskies963 398]

Bumping this thread

I was going to make a thread of a similar topic, but did a quick search first and found this one. Watching last nights game Montreal had 19 blocked shots and the wings had 8. Why is this a stat that the wings find themselves every year ranked in the bottom 5? Invidual stats wise Kronwall is ranked 94th this year, and that's leading the team.

[krsmith17 7,191]

I'm not going to speak of the reason for our low blocked shot totals throughout the season, however, last nights game, the Wings carried the play for the majority of the game. Of course Montreal were going to have more blocked shots... I don't think anyone on our team is "afraid" to block shots, I think if anything that comes down to coaching. We don't have a Gorges or Orpik or... Cody Franson... that blocks shots like its nobodies business, I think our defense has been doing a great job boxing out and limiting scoring chances though.

[number9 3,297]

Some coaches probably prefer that their goalies can see the shot/puck. Babs might be one of them. Constantly diving in front of pucks can lead to injuries and unintentional goalie screens. It's a trade off thing I think. Less blocked shots, but Howard can track the puck better.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Unreal bump. Some quality responses in this thread (mindfly!!!)

To the topic, for as long as I can remember, we don't block shots. Just watch the way we play defense, we back off rushing forwards and let our goalies do the work. That's all well and good on the rush, but when the opposition get zone time and we don't ever get in front of pucks, gonna end up bad more often than not unless Jimmy is on his bean. What is kind of annoying about it nowadays is, we don't have Nick and Rafalski anymore. We got guys who really should be getting in front of pucks, E, Smith, Q, DK, Marchenko, ya know not exactly a bunch of offensive guys there. Defensive minded defenseman should block some shots.

[Buppy 1,720]

Bumping this thread

I was going to make a thread of a similar topic, but did a quick search first and found this one. Watching last nights game Montreal had 19 blocked shots and the wings had 8. Why is this a stat that the wings find themselves every year ranked in the bottom 5? Invidual stats wise Kronwall is ranked 94th this year, and that's leading the team.

Partly because of our strong possession stats, but mostly because we just don't have many defensemen who are very good at it. Most likely this is because, when drafting and developing players, we don't make it a big priority. Nor is there any real reason to do so. We have the best corsi, fenwick, and total shots against in the league (though 3rd in SA/60). We're clearly doing well enough without blocking shots. Nor is there any correlation between being a good shot-blocking team and being a good defensive team.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Unreal bump. Some quality responses in this thread (mindfly!!!)

To the topic, for as long as I can remember, we don't block shots. Just watch the way we play defense, we back off rushing forwards and let our goalies do the work. That's all well and good on the rush, but when the opposition get zone time and we don't ever get in front of pucks, gonna end up bad more often than not unless Jimmy is on his bean. What is kind of annoying about it nowadays is, we don't have Nick and Rafalski anymore. We got guys who really should be getting in front of pucks, E, Smith, Q, DK, Marchenko, ya know not exactly a bunch of offensive guys there. Defensive minded defenseman should block some shots.

No kidding. Half the posters who responded have been banned.

I remember we were last or close to last every season in this category. Not sure what it's like now.

My main point in the past was that we played a collapsing PK style, yet refused to block shots, which I thought was the stupidest strategy. If you're going to give up the point and can't clear the crease, you need to block shots.

[Wings_Toledo 233]

That screen by Kronwall on the first Montreal goal last night was a prime example of "either block it or get the hell out of the way." I think if Jimmy had been able to see that shot clearly it wouldn't have gone in.

[WhiteLightning91 105]

Off Topic: too funny seeing some of the old school names that came up in this thread.