Having worked in a production control room for close to six years now – imagine a room filled with screens, where all the organized chaos behind live television happens – the entire operation still fascinates me.
You have a team of roughly 25 people in specialized roles, from the producer and director to someone who tracks time and another who colour corrects every visual, all working together with those you see on camera to deliver a broadcast.
The level of detail and coordination required for a 30-minute show to run smoothly is, frankly, a bit mind-boggling. Everyone needs to be clear about their role and move in sync with the larger group. When both happen, the result is a team that functions like a well-oiled machine.
In hockey terms, the result is a team that operates like the Florida Panthers.
When the Panthers are performing well — when their execution is sharp and everyone is connected — they are truly dominant. They smother opponents to the extent that it feels like there are 10 of them on the ice, and what`s interesting is the simplicity underpinning their control.
Florida`s success is based on collectively committing to and mastering a few fundamental principles rather than doing anything particularly unique or complex. In other words, their approach is straightforward, and when everyone is aligned, it works beautifully.
Consequently, it`s easy for players joining the lineup to make an immediate impact, as has been observed on several occasions this postseason.
We will explore three key principles central to the Panthers` game plan and how they have contributed to their third consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.
Reload above the puck
During a segment on the NHL Network a couple of weeks ago, former NHL player Blake Wheeler provided some insight into Paul Maurice’s coaching philosophy:
“When I played for Paul, on the forecheck, the two things he would say: ‘If you’re not on it, you’re above it.’ I mean, as a forward, how easy is that to play? There’s no thinking involved in that game.”
The “it” he’s referring to is the puck, meaning that a forward’s job when they are not directly pressuring the puck is to retreat and position themselves `above` it in the offensive zone (or even fall back into the neutral zone) to be on the defensive side of it.
The following image shows an example of all three forwards executing this principle:
This principle is a cornerstone of Florida’s game and one that creates advantageous conditions in multiple ways.
Firstly, it allows the Panthers to pressure the puck in layers (hence the impression that they have more players on the ice). When your forwards are dedicated to cycling above the puck, your defensemen are able to pinch, and everyone can aggressively challenge opponents with confidence, knowing they have support behind them. If the opposing team beats one player, another is immediately in position.
Tristan Blackwood