I recently returned from a weeklong coaching trip to Czechia. It was my first time in Central Europe. What a trip it was.
In Czechia I found timeless architecture…
…delicious food…
…and a vibrant, distinctive hockey culture. (These folks get loud.)
In the context of this newsletter, however, my most noteworthy discoveries relate to the countries’ tactical philosophy.
Unusually in this day and age, Czech hockey is primarily driven by wingers.
NHL franchise cornerstones tend to be centers (McDavid, Matthews, MacKinnon, J. Hughes, etc) and offensively-minded defensemen (Makar, Fox, Heiskanen, Q. Hughes…). The name of the modern game is to gain the middle and then use the space between defenders to create dangerous chances (related read).
In contrast, the Czech way calls for wingers to sprint up-ice early, for defensemen to fire stretch passes from outside the dots and for centers to track the middle without necessarily being the key playmaker. Successful teams of this style tend to have toolsy (big, strong, fast, skilled, inventive - pick three of the five) wingers laying siege to the offensive blueline while the C and Ds stay back to defend and to initiate counter-attacks.
In the Defensive Zone
The typical Czech team plays a Box+1 DZ coverage, with both wingers (F1 & F2 below) ready to sprint to the point and the center (F3) holding the low slot as a third net-area defender.
This division of labor is a good compromise between defensive solidity (C & Ds packing the slot) and counter-attacking potential (Ws up quickly to force high turnovers or to get open following low turnovers).
Certain teams opt to have the center play an even more defensive role than illustrated above. Instead of staying out front and letting his defenseman cover the area behind the net, the center chases the puck carrier below the goal line while the Ds hold their posts, catch their breath and wait for the inevitable pass-out.
If the defending team is able to break a low cycle, the strong-side defenseman (D1) immediately move the puck up the wall toward the strong-side winger (F2). The weak-side winger (F3) skates straight up-ice or slashes across to create an overload. Transitioning out of DZ coverage, the center (#16 in the example above) is often so low as to be a poor passing target. To make up the numbers, the weak-side D (D2) activates as the third player in the rush.
Traditionally-minded Czech coaches perceive middle exits as overly risky. Consequently their teams prefer to reverse the puck or to rim it hard to the weak side if the strong side wall is blocked off.
In the Neutral Zone
Wide DZ exits tend to result in wide OZ entries. This is frequently the case in Czech hockey.
In a recent Champions Hockey League game, reigning Czech Extraliga champs Trinec faces Rouen from France’s Ligue Magnus.
Following a Rouen turnover, Trinec, in white, counter-attacks by playing the puck up the strong-side (left) wing.
Trinec’s forwards rely on their speed to create a 3v2. The puck carrier improvises to create a controlled entry while his linemates sprint toward the net.
The non-puck carriers’ aggressive, direct movement forces the Ds back, allowing the puck carrier to cut into the middle and shoot from the high slot.
The wing-heavy nature of Czech offense results in most teams employing a neutral-zone trap. It’s not the rigid 1-3-1 (read more) often seen in Russia and, until recently, Finland. Instead, it’s an old-school, loosely formed 1-4 trap that NHL teams relied upon decades ago.
The passive NZ structure favoured by Czech coaches leads to a feedback loop.
The 1-4 trap, with numerical superiority near the defensive blueline, takes responsibility away from individuals when it comes to denying entries. Consequently, Ds habitually fall into loose, safe-feeling gaps, which over time further erode their ability to defend speed.
The prototypical Czech defenseman is a product of his environment, one that is heavily shaped by wing play. He is physically imposing and moves the puck simply. He defends forcefully in the DZ, but spends more time in his zone than necessary because of how much ground he gives up in transition.