When I wrote about David Kämpf over the summer, I noted that the defensive-minded center would be at his best playing alongside an explosive rush player. Two months into the season, compariot, friend and linemate Ondřej Kaše is proving to be just that player.
In terms of creating chances, Kaše has simply been the most influential forward in the NHL.
How does Kaše do it?
Simply put, he is able to acquire the puck multiple times in the same offensive sequence.
Multi-Puck Sequences Off the Rush
As a right winger, Kaše isn’t looking to stretch for breakaways from the defensive end. Instead, he posts up, fights his way off the wall, gets the puck into a teammate’s hand, then sprints back into the play as F3.
While many skilled wingers fall for the “get rich quick” scheme of cheating for offense out of the DZ, Kaše stays patient early, then hustles to the next puck.
Against the New York Islanders, TOR25 facilitates a breakout, then fans on a rush chance early in the first period. Two minutes into the third, he scores on a nearly identical play.
Multi-Puck Sequences Off the Cycle
In the OZ, Kaše again succeeds thanks to a mix of will and skill. He fearlessly sprints into wall battles and wins his share of retrievals against bigger opponents. Then, instead of swinging away from the play in search of open ice, he swings with the play and looks for way to get the puck in traffic - something that not all players are comfortable doing against a five-man DZ coverage.
Kaše wins a wall battle to set up a TOR64 shot, then prevents a NYI exit by swinging from the middle and angling the play dead at the blue line. Seconds later, he leads a counter-attack by getting off the wall and creating a middle entry. Finally he pops out from the net front and redirects a TOR38 point shot for a chance.
TOR25 touches the puck four times in 35 seconds, an elite, multi-possession shift.
Get ahead of the pack by reading Hockey Tactics 2021
If you enjoy this newsletter and want to see more free content, then join a select group of professional players, coaches and managers and read about hockey from a unique perspective. Buy the ebooks now
