Topher Scott
@HockeyThinkTank • 26,277 subscribers
Every day trying to add a little something positive to the hockey world.
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Videos
Rod Brind’Amour setting the tone for the Canes a few years ago. No shock they’re now in the Stanley Cup finals.
Topher Scott171,497 görüntüleme • 11 gün önce
KIDS: Logan Stankoven is 5'8". I get asked a lot how a smaller player can advance to the higher levels of hockey. This clip is a perfect example. To be a smaller player, you have to have what I call "Little Man Syndrome". An off the charts compete and belief in yourself that it doesn't matter how big the player you go into a battle with, you're coming out with that damn puck. Check out this effort from Stankoven that completely changed the game for the Canes last night. It's a lost faceoff but he single-handedly, through pure will, won the puck back and scored. Amazing determination. Stankoven also played four years of junior hockey. Three of those years he was a captain on the team. To be a smaller player - your IQ, compete, and intangible leadership and life skills have to be off the charts to achieve this level of hockey. Logan Stankoven is a great example for all smaller young players with a dream.
Topher Scott65,938 görüntüleme • 5 gün önce
KIDS: Nic Dowd is from Alabama. Went to Culver Military Academy. Played in the NAHL then USHL. Went to college as a 20 year old freshman. Played four years at St. Cloud. Spent a couple full years in the AHL before being an NHL regular as a depth player. Now on the ice taking the faceoff in the Western Conference Finals up a goal in the Dzone with Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner on his wings. Everyone has a different path. And if your path is the long way, be a great teammate and a versatile player. Dowd is widely known as an unreal locker room glue guy. And a great role player. What an effort to score this goal beating everyone up the ice to seal it for Vegas. This is why I love watching the playoffs. Players who don't normally get the spotlight stepping up in big situations to help teams win. Hockey rules.
Topher Scott203,380 görüntüleme • 20 gün önce
Kids: when the Colorado Avalanche won a Stanley Cup a few years ago they had a motto: TRACK OR DIE. They’re on their way to win another one with this mentality. Watch how hard they get back on the backcheck. UNREAL. It takes away the Wild scoring opportunity and then they transition the other way fast to score the OT winner. Amazing hockey. Track or die.
Topher Scott173,646 görüntüleme • 27 gün önce
KIDS: This is why hockey is the greatest sport on the planet. In the NHL...goals equal money. The more you score, the bigger the next paycheck. But check out this unselfish play from Connor McMichael with the Caps. It's Cole Hutson's first NHL game, and Cole has a clear passing lane to McMichael with the net empty. But McMichael doesn't get ready for the pass...he's pointing at the net for Hutson to shoot the puck. Great teammate. Love this. Hockey is the best.
Topher Scott315,561 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce
I’ve never been a part of a championship team where the best players weren’t the hardest working and most bought in players on the team. If you want to win, your best players have to lead the way with effort and being a great teammate. Check out Wild superstar Matt Boldy on these clips from yesterday’s game against Detroit. First, he scores a great goal after getting physical and helping to create the turnover. Next he threads a SWEET pass to Kaprizov for the game winner. Then – he gets in front of a one-timer on the ice 6on5 in the dying seconds with a one goal lead. Blocks a bomb from MORITZ SEIDER to seal the win. Minnesota is getting ready to make a run. Having Matt Boldy help lead the way is HUGE.
Topher Scott118,518 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce
Yesterday I posted that the Flyers' 4th line all deserved assists on this goal by Porter Martone. Here's why: This is the game within the game. They're matched up here against Malkin's line and they spend the entire shift in the Ozone. Winning races and battles for pucks, wearing them out with possession forcing them to have to defend the entire shift. Selflessly changing in the offensive zone to get their top line out there against a tired Malkin line who eventually scores the opening goal. They played their role perfectly. Just look at the hard work and compete. They get an offensive line for the Pens to have to play in the Dzone for an extended period of time. And set the table for their own offensive line coming out next to do their thing. Amazing TEAM hockey for the game winning goal. The 4th line didn't get actual assists on the scoresheet, but you better believe they'll be on the team video for their effort in the morning.
Topher Scott75,123 görüntüleme • 1 ay önce
COACHES: When I do faceoff stats - I don't do it for the centers. I do it for lines. Because faceoffs are often won or lost by the players NOT taking the draw. Coaches refer to faceoffs like the "line of scrimmage" in football. It's the trenches that take second and third efforts to gain possession. A typical NHL game will have between 50-60 faceoffs per game. In a sport that so values puck possession, it's 50-60 times to gain possession. In last night's game, there were two faceoffs "won" by the center, but the opponent with their effort at the line of scrimmage WON possession and it led to a goal. Faceoff intensity doesn't show up on the scoresheet but is such a big part of winning hockey. Great clips to show your teams!!
Topher Scott10,588 görüntüleme • 7 gün önce
COACHES: Three of Montreal's first-period goals last night came from great breakout principles under heavy forecheck pressure. Goals 1 and 3 are literal textbook breakout support clips. Under heavy pressure you want to have close support. Unreal job by Hutson to support his partner as he’s under fire. Great support from the center, low, getting into great position when the puck comes up to the wing. Just incredible. Goal number 2 is a great example of positionless hockey and decision making. It's a rim and players are in different positions but the whole line does a fantastic job in close support, making reads and providing options. Unbelievable, unbelievable job by the Canadiens against a team known for a great forecheck.
Topher Scott24,582 görüntüleme • 19 gün önce
KIDS: Dominik Shine's path to his first career NHL goal is incredible: -Four years of junior hockey in the USHL -Comes into college hockey at Northern Michigan as a 20 year old -Doesn't get drafted to the NHL -Plays four years of college hockey before signing a pro contract -Plays 8 years in the AHL before getting a call up to the NHL -Becomes the captain for a first place team in the AHL -In his 9th full professional season, at 32 years old, scores his first NHL goal. Very few players see the results of their hard work in the time they want to see it. Resilience is a super-power, and if this isn't inspiration to keep at your dreams even through the low moments, I don't know what is. Everyone has a different path. Congrats to Dominik Shine on his first career NHL goal!
Topher Scott97,682 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce
COACHES: Here's a power play tactic I'd love to see more teams employ. Carolina has a player below the goal line on the opposite side you usually see. This allows him the ability to skate toward the net with the puck on his forehand ready to make a play. In this clip he finds the bumper player for the goal. If there's no play he can skate it around the net to find the bumper or look for other options like a player coming down the dot line or a cross-crease pass to a player sliding down to the back door. Great job by Ehlers and something to think about for your PP set up!!
Topher Scott64,624 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce
Just had this sent to me. Hockey parents need to figure it out. This is embarrassing.
Topher Scott570,556 görüntüleme • 2 yıl önce
Is there a better player ever at keep away than Pavel Datsyuk? My God this is fun to watch.
Topher Scott225,743 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce
KIDS: This is what it takes to win. Six blocked shots by Tampa Bay in the last two minutes of the game. Olympians, first liners, guys responsible to be great PKer's. It takes everyone. Buy in, sacrifice, and doing the little things that don't show up on the scoresheet. Amazing.
Topher Scott32,856 görüntüleme • 1 ay önce
I went to junior hockey a year too early. It was the hardest year of my life. Thank God I have a great family that supported me through the tough moments. But here’s the thing… My family always told me the truth and never let me make excuses. Even though we may have made the wrong decision rushing the process, the message from my parents was always to be the best teammate I could be, work through the tough stuff, and I’ll be better for it on the other side. In today’s landscape where kids are trying to get to the next level as fast as possible instead of at the right time, there will be many kids in my shoes. So for all the families out there that may be in that situation with their kid… Don’t make excuses for them. Don’t tell them it’s not fair and they’re getting screwed. Help them to look in the mirror, control what they can control, and focus on getting better and earning what they get. If my family made excuses for me or blamed other people, I would not have made it. I’m thankful for the tough moments and my parents helped me understand it was a part of the process.
Topher Scott62,402 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce
COACHES: Here is a GREAT teaching clip of something I see in youth hockey all the time. A player will skate the puck towards one of their teammates and will then pass it to them. It's one of my biggest pet peeves in the game. When you skate the puck towards your teammate, you're effectively bringing defenders towards them too so when you give them the puck you've put them in a difficult spot because now with more defenders near they have less time and space to make a play. This clip is a great example. The CHI defenseman skates the puck toward his partner and then tries to give him a pass. They turn the puck over with two CAR forecheckers now right there and the puck ends up in the back of the net. In youth hockey you see defenseman do this a lot and even more so they'll skate it towards their winger and then give them the puck either on the breakout or in the neutral zone. A better solution would be to move it right away or suck defenders towards you (and away from) your teammate so when you pass to them they'll have more time and space. Phenomenal teaching clip on time and space!!
Topher Scott38,498 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce
KIDS: Hunter McDonald just played his first NHL game where he had an assist and was a +3. I coached Hunter as a U16 and he was probably the 3rd most talented defenseman on our team and maybe 5th most talented overall player. At U16. But three things Hunter had: -Absolute love for the game -Insatiable work ethic -Old school compete and toughness. Total throwback. Talented at 16 but had the intangible skills that lead to massive development. Eventually that led him to Northeastern as a 20 year old and now the NHL. We say it all the time, but everyone has a different path. If you're a kid reading this, chances are your path will have to be the long way like Hunter. And if your path is the long way, it's non-negotiable that have those three intangible skills (love for the game, work ethic, compete). One of my favorites and an incredible example for any kid out there with a dream.
Topher Scott33,758 görüntüleme • 1 ay önce
KIDS: Not every player can be Nathan MacKinnon on their team. But you can be Parker Kelly. Check out this 6on5 sequence where Kelly blocks five shots. That’s not a typo. Five shots in one shift. Parker Kelly is not going to play on the Avs' first line. But you better believe he's earned the trust from his coaches and his teammates to play a role somewhere on the team. Turn the volume up and listen to the Avs' bench after he blocks a few of his shots. Amazing. If you can't lead your team in goals or points, you can lead your team in gritty plays and heart. It's a way to get in the lineup, stay in the lineup, and play a big role for your team winning a championship.
Topher Scott244,318 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce