BY TREVOR SMART – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
Does “the trap” get too much hate in hockey circles?
After the Philadelphia Flyers mocked the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 1-3-1 trap system Wednesday night by standing still and refusing to play the puck, debate over whether stifling defensive systems are ruining hockey sprung up like wildfire. Everyone is either pro-Philadelphia or pro-Tampa Bay – either the trap is terrible for the game of hockey, or it is a valid strategy and the Flyers just need to suck it up and play.
Personally, I found the whole thing vastly entertaining. It’s always great to see bizarre situations occur. It makes hockey enjoyable to watch.
But it is remarkable how many hockey fans hate the trap, with many going as far as saying it ruins the sport. Some fan commentators – and even some NHL GMs – have even that they would rather watch their team play exciting and lose than play a boring defensive game.
All I can say to that is – really? You want to watch your team lose?
Every team plays a defensive system. In essence, every team plays a version of the trap. Some – like Tampa Bay’s 1-3-1 – are more noticeable than others. But you need to play a well-coached defensive system to win games. Some teams can afford to be more aggressively offensive, but even the top teams still play neutral zone defense.
And if you have a young, inexperienced, less-talented team, the trap is an excellent tool. In fact, it might be necessary for player development. With the trap, even a less-skilled team can win games. During a rebuild or retool, utilizing the trap can teach a young team defense, and avoid development of a losing culture.
Vancouver did it. Five years ago, Alain Vigneault came in as coach, and implemented the dreaded trap. Against all expectations, the Canucks not only made the playoffs, but made it to the second round, losing to the eventual Cup champs. As the years progressed, and the Sedins and Kesler broke out, Vigneault allowed the offence to flourish more and more. Now, he is coaching a highly-skilled team that still knows how to play defence. Last year’s Final appearance was five years in the making.
Of course, Vancouver is an established market, so there’s no fear of losing fans. But a team like, say, Nashville will struggle to attract fans if they play such boring hockey, right? That must be why, when they trapped their way to a second round playoff appearance, their arena was packed full of screaming, cheering fans.
Well, the second round is pretty good, I guess. But not good enough, right? It’s not like you’ll ever see a team like Tampa Bay used their trap system to come within one win of the Stanley Cup Final. Or even win the Cup, like the New Jersey Devils.
The trap is not a bad thing. It is a great tactical tool for coaches to use. Some overuse it (see: Lemaire, Jacques) but it is not “ruining” hockey, and there is certainly a place for it in today’s game. It’s boring, but I would rather watch my team win in a boring fashion then watch them play a sloppy game and lose.