Topher Scott
@HockeyThinkTank • 26,281 subscribers
Every day trying to add a little something positive to the hockey world.
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COACHES: Years ago I asked one of my smartest hockey development buddies who I should do a player study on. His suggestion: Mark Stone. I was like, "Really?" He said - "Dude, trust me." I was blown away. His hockey sense legit blew me away. His game doesn't "look" pretty, but he's one of the smartest players in the NHL. Here are a couple examples from last night. Incredible anticipation and a reading of the game. First defensively reading where the play is going to create the turnover and breakaway. Then reading the defensive structure and finding the passing lane for the breakaway and goal. If you're interested, zone in on Mark Stone next game. I promise you won't be disappointed.
Topher Scott156,378 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat
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 Scott204,440 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten
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 Scott315,642 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten
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 Scott173,815 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten
KIDS: Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake are both under 6 feet tall. But their absolute will helped lead the Canes to the Stanley Cup. This line has been one of the best lines of any team for the whole playoffs. Through plays like this. They are absolute dogs on second efforts, battles, and in the dirty areas. Just RELENTLESS on this shift. Winning races, multiple efforts, and eventually they get rewarded with the goal. These two set the tone all playoffs. And for all the smaller players out there, they showed us that it truly isn't the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog. Congrats to the Canes for reaching the dream and winning the Stanley Cup. And thanks to all of you who've been following along with these breakdowns all year!!
Topher Scott69,354 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat
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 Scott66,701 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat
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 Scott118,679 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten
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 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten
Just had this sent to me. Hockey parents need to figure it out. This is embarrassing.
Topher Scott570,627 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren
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 Scott97,757 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten
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 Scott64,765 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten
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 Scott244,388 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
“The hardest part of getting a kid to work on skating… is getting a kid to work on skating.” This is a great perspective from development coach Justin Selman. Developing better skating skills is massive if you want to play at the highest levels of our game. Challenging kids and making it fun while developing those habits should be at the forefront of every skating session.
Topher Scott10,225 Aufrufe • vor 14 Tagen
COACHES: Identity wins championships. Scouting, signing, and recruiting players who fit and buy into that identity is everything. I'm not sure there's a team in the NHL who plays to their identity better than Carolina. And I'm not sure there's a leader that epitomizes playing to that identity more than Jordan Staal. This play is a perfect example. Hard on the forecheck. Finishes his check on the defender. Beats him back to the net because it and scores. Staal's just having a monster Cup Final. Not just on the scoresheet. But leading the way for how Carolina plays. One more and he lifts the cup.
Topher Scott24,745 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat
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 Scott62,660 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten
KIDS: Every level you go up, the less likely you are to see a player try to beat a defender 1v1. Why? The higher the level you play, the less likely you are to beat a defender 1v1. Defensemen are too good. They are faster, smarter, close quicker, and there’s less time and space to even try to attempt it. If you want to play at higher levels of hockey, beating defenders down the ice 1v1 is not what is going to get you there. Developing your hockey sense by using your teammates and understanding how plays develop…that’s what translates to the next level. Check out Matt Barzal on this play. It’s 3v3 overtime so he has plenty of time and space to beat the defender up the ice 1v1, especially with his elite skillset. But no. He brings the puck to the middle, uses his situational skating to protect it, and bides time for his teammates to get open. And once Horvat does get open – he hits him for the overtime winner. 1v1 hockey does not translate to the next level. Hockey sense and awareness does. I’ve seen so many kids that were bigger and faster than everyone at young ages be rewarded for taking the puck end to end and scoring. That gets you wins at young ages, but it does not make smart hockey players. Because when everyone else catches up physically, if that player wasn’t taught the right way to play…they will get passed by. Smart hockey players make it to higher levels. Fast players who do not know how to use their teammates do not. Coaches, please coach accordingly.
Topher Scott264,641 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren