**I am subscribed to the Hockey Tactics Newsletter by Jack Han, and his most recent posting is about the CBJ’s struggles. I thought I would share it here, as Jack is very knowledgeable about hockey and hockey systems…**
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2023-24 will likely mark another season of no playoff hockey in Columbus.
Yet the team is really not so bad on paper:
* Johnny Gaudreau
* Zach Werenski
* Patrik Laine
* Ivan Provorov
* Adam Fantilli
* Damon Severson
* [Kent Johnson\*](https://substack.com/redirect/f6f33377-55a4-4699-b727-7ee4721f6c76?j=eyJ1IjoiMmx4Y2duIn0.70rrLFshAT3ofo5KTMpC7ot-fkIkSsaDdYKm5pHnIPs)
Et cetera.
The Blue Jackets (6-12-4) ought to be doing better than they are.
I tweeted the following after CBJ went up 2-0 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday afternoon:
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https://preview.redd.it/x5xp9hpdcw2c1.png?width=1195&format=png&auto=webp&s=5e7ec484854621522f127f8e9ce8188b776a69b1
And then the following after CAR scored three quick unanswered goals to steal the game:
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https://preview.redd.it/6tj8xwmfcw2c1.png?width=1179&format=png&auto=webp&s=b5cf17cf3443482cdd895fb4b8bd7abee2f7fbc8
The Blue Jackets’ problem is a holdover from the previous coaching regime, as illustrated in *Hockey Tactics 2023.*
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https://preview.redd.it/v3gp9mvhcw2c1.png?width=1613&format=png&auto=webp&s=8b1232fb8b0b741b72389201cceb651766719394
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Right now CBJ player are forcing every breakout attempt north, regardless of how difficult the play is to execute. As a result, they’re completing few passes, turning the puck over in open ice and having to defend without giving themselves time to get organized.
Skating the puck *anywhere but north* and completing east-west or south passes for *no apparent purpose* is anthesis to CBJ’s tactical identity. Delays, change-of-sides and long regroups won’t even help CBJ win more games in the short term. But at least they’ll give their (many) skilled players more rhythm with the puck and more clarity without the puck. Maybe the investment pays off in the longer term?
”
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I think this nails it on the head. We have all seen how bad this structure can be, but also how good it can be when it works. The problem is still getting it to work.
What I have shared is from Jack’s free emails that he sends out from his newsletter. I am in no way affiliated with him or the Hockey Tactics Newsletter, but, if you would like to check it out, you can click [here](https://substack.com/redirect/2/eyJlIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9qaGFuaGt5LnN1YnN0YWNrLmNvbS9zdWJzY3JpYmU_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249ZW1haWwtc3Vic2NyaWJlJnI9Mmx4Y2duJm5leHQ9aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZqaGFuaGt5LnN1YnN0YWNrLmNvbSUyRnAlMkZ3aHktdGhlLWJsdWUtamFja2V0cy1hcmUtYmFkIiwicCI6MTM5MTg0Mjg5LCJzIjo0MTM1MCwiZiI6dHJ1ZSwidSI6MTU3NzYwMDg3LCJpYXQiOjE3MDEwNDkyMTQsImV4cCI6MTcwMzY0MTIxNCwiaXNzIjoicHViLTAiLCJzdWIiOiJsaW5rLXJlZGlyZWN0In0.mfIfp2PsJ-T6ch594xd2bpVZQncPrLNC2IsNKdzKywk?). There is the free sign up, and you can also pay to subscribe for more.
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GO JACKETS!
by Hugo_Stiglitz95
