Is it so goddamned important to block a shot?

[LTS]

Given that there are far more blocked shots than there are injured players from blocking shots I fail to see it as a negative.

I think anytime you can prevent the puck from getting to the goaltender it's a good thing. Not because the goalie should be able to make the save, but because of rebounds, net front presence, etc.  If the puck is stopped 35 feet out it reduces deflection opportunities, etc.

In addition, when teams are known for being great shot blocking teams it forces opponents to consider that and then attempt to play a style where they don't just throw pucks at the net because they don't want to have a shot blocked and have it result into a transition play the other way.

So, bottom line, blocking shots is important.

[mjd1001]

12 minutes ago, LTS said:

Given that there are far more blocked shots than there are injured players from blocking shots I fail to see it as a negative.

I think anytime you can prevent the puck from getting to the goaltender it's a good thing. Not because the goalie should be able to make the save, but because of rebounds, net front presence, etc.  If the puck is stopped 35 feet out it reduces deflection opportunities, etc.

In addition, when teams are known for being great shot blocking teams it forces opponents to consider that and then attempt to play a style where they don't just throw pucks at the net because they don't want to have a shot blocked and have it result into a transition play the other way.

So, bottom line, blocking shots is important.

This is anecdotal, so take it for how you will...

About a month or two ago I was home bored and we were discussing the Power play and how to make it better. On a Saturday night, I went to NHL's web site and watched the replay of every powerplay goal for that day and night. There had to be close to 15 that I saw. The point I was making was that most of a teams PP success is not by pure skill or coaching, its by doing the basics, because most goals were not people picking corners, rather scrums in front of the net and deflections. If I had to guess most were deflections.

Which gets me to my point.  A lot of goals, in that one night at least, a LOT more than I thought....were goals that were scored not by beating a goalie cleanly, but by a deflection, often times going off the defensive player.

Its not the injuries I am worried about. I think I would most of the time rather have my players stay on their skates so they can recover quickly, but more importantly don't screen your own goalie and for sure, don't allow for deflections that will be the cause of goalies allowing goals.

[Stoner]

41 minutes ago, LTS said:

Given that there are far more blocked shots than there are injured players from blocking shots I fail to see it as a negative.

I think anytime you can prevent the puck from getting to the goaltender it's a good thing. Not because the goalie should be able to make the save, but because of rebounds, net front presence, etc.  If the puck is stopped 35 feet out it reduces deflection opportunities, etc.

In addition, when teams are known for being great shot blocking teams it forces opponents to consider that and then attempt to play a style where they don't just throw pucks at the net because they don't want to have a shot blocked and have it result into a transition play the other way.

So, bottom line, blocking shots is important.

[Mr Peabody]

2 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

I'm not disagreeing with you, but just throwing this out there....

ARE those guys the top Defensive defensemen in terms of helping their teams prevent goals?  Or is it just thought they are because they are at least decent-to-good defensively, and the fact that they block a lot of shots adds to the perception they are better than they are because many people DO beleive blocking shots is a good thing?

The 2nd question is...if we do agree blocking shots is a good thing....then how are blocked shots credited? Is it good if a guy slides on the ice (Jay McKee style) to get the blocked shot? Or are some of the current blocked shots leaders more guys that are good at the subtle art of getting in the way of shots, taking them off of their legs or shins?

To me....blocked shots....its far too generic. There is a BIG difference in real application between a guy who goes down off of his skates and one that just approaches a shooter at the point and stays upright to take it off the shinpads.   In an ideal statistical record keeping world, it would be great to see blocked shots broken down by the type of blocked shot.

Good points and I’ll give a couple real world examples I’ve seen.  In the early to mid 70’s the Amerks had a d man - Harry Shaw? - who would slide and attempt to block everything.  He was a fan favorite - they’d yell Harr-Eee after every block.  His goalie wasn’t so enamored as he claimed Harry was obstructing his view.  

Dial ahead 40 years and Syr Crunch had a d man named Dan Smith who would do anything to win, including blocking shots.  Teammates and goalies alike loved his play and I believe he was made captain and wasn’t nearly the most talented guy on the team. 

I think a lot of these shot blockers lead by example by putting themselves in harms way for the sake of the team. How can you not notice the commitment?  (Where have we heard that word before?)  I was listening to the Stars beat reporter and he raved on what a pleasant surprise and important piece Lybushkin is to their team this year.  He’s also top 10 in blocks. 

Lastly, if the shot is truly blocked it didn’t go in the goal. 

[That Aud Smell]

3 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

if we do agree blocking shots is a good thing....then how are blocked shots credited? Is it good if a guy slides on the ice (Jay McKee style) to get the blocked shot?

"Mike Ramsey style" for the old(er) timers.

Also - are there many players who regularly block shots that way anymore? Ramsey was infamous for it.

2 hours ago, LTS said:

Given that there are far more blocked shots than there are injured players from blocking shots I fail to see it as a negative.

I think anytime you can prevent the puck from getting to the goaltender it's a good thing. Not because the goalie should be able to make the save, but because of rebounds, net front presence, etc.  If the puck is stopped 35 feet out it reduces deflection opportunities, etc.

In addition, when teams are known for being great shot blocking teams it forces opponents to consider that and then attempt to play a style where they don't just throw pucks at the net because they don't want to have a shot blocked and have it result into a transition play the other way.

So, bottom line, blocking shots is important.

I commend you to that Reddit discussion I linked upthread. I think it's a fascinating discussion to have and there's a lot of nuance to it.

It also appears to be an open question among the #fancystats crowd - at least as far as I can tell so far. Which is also fascinating in its own right.

24 minutes ago, Mr Peabody said:

In the early to mid 70’s the Amerks had a d man - Harry Shaw? - who would slide and attempt to block everything.  He was a fan favorite - they’d yell Harr-Eee after every block.  His goalie wasn’t so enamored as he claimed Harry was obstructing his view.  

As Dom Hasek used to absolutely screech from his crease "I MUST SEE! I MUST SEE!"

(I think there was a TV ad that got made that riffed on that habit of his? If memory serves, the ad featured him yelling that ... in a way that worked for the ad? It was not an ad for an optical store -- but you get the idea.)

haha - there it is!

 

[pi2000]

Statistically speaking how it impacts wins and losses, blocking a shot probably doesn't have a big impact.

However, in key situations... PK, end of period, close games... it is important to prevent pucks from getting to the net. 

That said, it's less about the statistical impact and more about the player proving to his team that he's willing to sacrifice himself by "eating one" for the benefit of the team.    It's culturally significant. 

[Thorner]

2 hours ago, LTS said:

Given that there are far more blocked shots than there are injured players from blocking shots I fail to see it as a negative.

I think anytime you can prevent the puck from getting to the goaltender it's a good thing. Not because the goalie should be able to make the save, but because of rebounds, net front presence, etc.  If the puck is stopped 35 feet out it reduces deflection opportunities, etc.

In addition, when teams are known for being great shot blocking teams it forces opponents to consider that and then attempt to play a style where they don't just throw pucks at the net because they don't want to have a shot blocked and have it result into a transition play the other way.

So, bottom line, blocking shots is important.

And there are more headshots than injuries from headshots but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem 

not taking issue with your whole post but the bolded logic doesn’t make very much sense 

Not saying you aren’t “right” either re the rest of what you are saying but the bold is neither here nor there as it’s simply an inevitability. Could apply same logic to guns

Edited February 11 by Thorner

[Thorner]

Whyyyyyyyyy lol