Sitemap - 2023 - Shap Shots

Routes and triangles with Roope Hintz

Let's talk about goalie glove positioning

Predators coach Andrew Brunette on Pep Guardiola, gegenpress, and trying to find hockey's version of Total Football

Some notes from a fun night of college hockey in Grand Rapids

It's been five years since the Stars burned the bridges with Benn and Seguin, why it all worked in the end

The Shap Shots quick viewer guide to the 2024 World Junior Championship

Friday Funbag: The Red Wings slide since Kane, why NHL Network gets World Juniors, and more

How Mavrik Bourque and Logan Stankoven are ripping up AHL defenses

On Nolan Patrick, Stephen Johns and remembering the real cost of head injuries

Analytically speaking, goalies should shoot for the empty net

The Weekend in hockey: Välimäki's scary time in Dallas, EBUG issues, and the transfer portal

Rémi Poirier and the potential long-term backup solution in Dallas

Everyone knows Simon Edvinsson is NHL ready, for now he's doing his best to wait patiently in the AHL

On good vs bad skating, and how NHLers use side-by-side pictures to create better habits

20/20: Stars beat Red Wings to win "Shap Shots Bowl"

Patrick Kane and the drive for his son to see him at his best, like Joe Pavelski has with Nate

Friday Funbag: How many NHL teams actually have a "starting" goalie?

On the reality of the Stars defense and the Nils Lundvist

Did you know there was an SHL-NHL agreement that impacted prospect assignment?

Friday Funbag: It's not easy being an NHL PR person

For new father Ville Husso mornings with Emmi have become the best start to the day

Understanding why Stars top defensive prospect Lian Bichsel is returning to Sweden

What NHL scouts think about the Red Wings adding Patrick Kane

By signing Patrick Kane the Yzerplan has moved into the next stage

It's time to officially consider the Red Wings a playoff contender

Friday Funbag: Chicago doesn't get the benefit of the doubt

How skating coach Luke Chilcott helps the Stars find an edge

Twas the night before Thanksgiving and the hockey was good

Lucas Raymond improved defensively and it's let him play faster in the process

Mike Modano is finally getting his statue in Dallas

Could and should anyone even trade for Nikita Zadorov right now?

Friday Funbag: A look into the RSN crystal ball

Let's chat about Wyatt Johnston

Friday Funbag: Mason Marchment is basically Justin Dowling with a massive contract

My Three Thoughts on Stars-Blue Jackets

My Three Thoughts on Red Wings-Canadiens

Teams over value their own players and why the Stars should have waived Joel Hanley on Sunday

My three thoughts on Stars-Bruins

On Jake Walman, Mr. Baseball, and how hockey is a game, and games are supposed to be fun

Friday Funbag: Using puck and player tracking to improve broadcasts, visors, and much more

A look at Jake Oettinger's performance thus far

Carcast: Ramblings on Trey Augustine's season, the Senators punishment, and Ty Dellandrea as a utility player

Wing Wednesday: A look at Ville Husso's performance thus far

My thoughts on a night they also played hockey

On the Seattle Kraken and how depth really only matters if it is actually depth

On ESPN, Frozen Frenzy, the NHL Draft, and how TV makes the world go round

Wing Wednesday: Using NHL EDGE to get Walman to the All-Star Game, plus Gostisbehere and shooting mentality

My Three Thoughts on Red Wings-Kraken

Carcast: The Red Wings look legit, Bourque is cooking in Texas, plus much more

Sunday Thoughts on Red Wings-Senators and Stars-Flyers

Friday Funbag: Press box vs. TV, what tells you most about the game?

Miro Heiskanen could actually win the Norris Trophy this season

Wing Wednesday: How Dylan Larkin's speed is opening new shooting lanes for Alex DeBrincat

My Three Thoughts on Red Wings-Blue Jackets

Should a defenseman leave their feet when defending a 2-on-1?

My Three Thoughts on Red Wings-Lightning

Friday Funbag: The Marketing of Bedard, broadcast thoughts, goalie depth

My Three Thoughts on Stars-Blues

My Three Thoughts on Red Wings-Devils

"It's not a fashion choice." Why Daniel Sprong is wearing a pink visor this season

Stars Thursday Observatory: Realistic expectations for each player

Wing Wednesday: What does Klim Kostin bring to the Red Wings?

Alex Lyon and the mentality needed as an organizational No. 3

Friday Funbag: More on 11-7 and do faceoffs matter? Plus, laugh at my failed college hockey tryout from 15 years ago

How high-level team practice: Vol. 1

Wing Wednesday: How Nate Danielson has impressed during preseason

After 14 years and close to 1,200 games with the Stars, Kelly Forbes is happy to focus on the family

A user guide to the 11-7 lineup

Friday Funbag: How Vasilevskiy's injury might force other teams to carry 3 goalies

Stars Thursday Observatory: Let's have a conversation about Logan Stankoven

Wing Wednesday: Shayne Gostisbehere and the flank on the power play

My Three Thoughts on Red Wings-Penguins (preseason edition)

Let's talk about hockey in Australia

How Jake Walman's summer training prepared him to build on breakout season

Friday Funbag: The guidelines for watching NHL training camp

Stars Thursday Observatory: Looking at Lian Bichsel's game from Traverse City

Wing Wednesday: Looking at Marco Kasper's game from Traverse City

Scouting reports from Traverse City

My Three Thoughts on Blue Jackets-Red Wings (prospect tournament edition)

My Three Thoughts on Maple Leafs-Stars (prospect tournament edition)

Friday Funbag: A thought on the Babcock phone situation. Plus your questions on actual fun stuff.

My Three Thoughts on Red Wings-Stars (prospect tournament edition)

Stars Thursday Orbit: What to expect from Matt Duchene in Dallas

Wing Wednesday: The key elements of the in-zone power play

A quick viewer guide to the Traverse City Prospects Tournament

How Wyatt Johnston quickly became part of the Pavelski family

Friday Funbag: Mannheim, Gretzky racing Pelé, best goals, and much more

Stars Thursday Orbit: Looking at prospect Mavrik Bourque

Wing Wednesday: The non-negotiable elements of the power play entry

The Shap Shots plan for the 2023-24 NHL season

A guide to reading NHL prospect rankings

Jake Oettinger wants to be the best goalie in the world

On pleasing the summer hockey algorithm and "surf plays"

With trade to Detroit, the Petry family can actually plan for the school year

On Messi, McDavid, scanning, and better defining "hockey sense"

Shap Shots Mailbag: On storylines, analytics, and NHL start times

Mailbag call for questions.

Don't overreact to NHL arbitration "valuations"

On Shohei Ohtani, Tottenham Hotspur, and re-finding fandom. Plus, mailbag answers.

The Stars, Jim Nill, and building a better sports performance department in Dallas

Quick thoughts on NHL prospect tournaments and best-on-best competition

Mailbag call for questions

The Carolina Hurricanes the benefits of the grand 3-goalie experiment

Trying to explain how NHL teams use analytics

Call for feedback from subscribers

Some quick thoughts on Alex DeBrincat to Detroit

Ben Bishop will likely never wear goalie pads again and he's OK with that

Carter Mazur, Marco Kasper and the Red Wings fixing their AHL affiliation

Thoughts on Red Wings development camp and the current state of the Yzerplan

Let's talk about brisket and Day 1 of NHL free agency

Some unofficial NHL Draft Grades

Mailbag: Kelly Forbes moves on, Hurricanes prospect crunch, and offseason offerings

I spent three days at a coaching school

Some thoughts on the NHL ditching pre-game speciality jerseys

Shap Shots mailbag, call for questions

Alex DeBrincat to the Dallas Stars or Detroit Red Wings?

It'll be free to watch the Vegas Golden Knights on TV next season. Here's how it happened and why it's important in the new RSN landscape

Reilly Smith getting the first Stanley Cup pass was perfectly fitting

How quickly are goals scored after zone entries in the Stanley Cup Final?

As the pendulum swings, goaltending is trying to become an art again

The Vegas success story is all about money

Shap Shots Mailbag: Stankoven in Dallas next season? And would the Stars be ok with an NHL team in Houston?

Shap Shots Mailbag, call for questions

Breaking down Stars-Golden Knights Game 6

Breaking down Stars-Golden Knights Game 5

Why Miro Heiskanen hops on the bike after each game

Breaking down Stars-Golden Knights Game 4

Inside the aftermath of Jamie Benn's cross-check and ejection from Game 3

Jamie Benn led the Stars to their demise

Breaking Down Stars-Golden Knights Game 2

Breaking Down Stars-Golden Knights Game 1

Breaking Down Stars-Kraken Game 7

Why does playoff hockey hit differently?

Breaking Down Stars-Kraken Game 5

Miro Heiskanen is a good hockey player. Analytics are a valuable tool. Both are true.

Breaking Down Stars-Kraken Game 4

Breaking Down Stars-Kraken Game 3

Breaking Down Stars-Kraken Game 2

Breaking Down Stars-Kraken Game 1

What to watch for in Stars-Kraken

Breaking Down Stars-Wild Game 6

Rick Bowness is at his best when crisis-management coaching, which may have always been the plan in Winnipeg

Breaking Down Stars-Wild Game 5

Shap Shots Mailbag: Who sets the start time anyways?

Film Study: Breaking down Sebastian Cossa's game from his first pro season

Breaking down Stars-Wild Game 4

How the Wild dominated the neutral zone in Game 3 victory

Call for Mailbag Questions

Wild had house money and potentially gambled it away with goalie decision

Rick Bowness on the long-term vision in Winnipeg, Nikolaj Ehlers, and outside criticism

That's what playoff hockey is all about, right?

Moritz Seider tweaked his game and became a better player, let's look at why

Stars stories and characters that make Round 1 worth watching

Introducing "EXPECTED BY WHOM?"

The Detroit Red Wings made a mistake letting Simon Edvinsson's contract slide

Discussing development of Thomas Harley and Nils Lundkvist with Stars GM Jim Nill

20/20: Joe Pavelski hits 1,000 point mark as Stars smash Red Wings

So I wrote another book

How Thomas Harley has won an NHL job in two games

An "International Free Agent" Jake Walman is waiting for the call from Canada or USA for worlds

The Chicago Wolves are considering going fully independent, how would that work?

Simon Edvinsson what's in the bag?

Should AHL teams run the same system as their NHL parent club?

Shap Shots Mailbag: Some new rule suggestions

Call for mailbag questions

Joe Veleno what's in the bag?

How should teams handle goalies in back-to-backs?

Anthony Duclair on custom skates, being his own agent, and owning his own path in the NHL

Career Quiz: Ville Husso on wins, other goalies, and what it would take for him to fight another goalie

Pro hockey's other team on the quest for an all-time record

On skate lacerations and the potential "Tyler Seguin rule"

How and why Alex Chiasson has found a net-front fit on the Red Wings power play

Shap Shots Mailbag: Trade acquisitions, Miro's energy, and a journalism discussion

For the fourth time in his career, Alex Chiasson turns PTO into full-time NHL contract

Mailbag call for questions

What happens if you sign with an NHL team after the trade deadline? Marty Turco knows

Understanding the Stars trade for Max Domi

Top goalie prospect Yaroslav Askarov on personality, bench pressing nets, and trying to grow the game

Shap Shots Mailbag: What's the plan with Thomas Harley?

Jake Walman gets the respect on his name with 3-year extension in Detroit

Mailbag call for questions

Understanding why the Stars traded away Denis Gurianov for Evgeni Dadonov

On Wyatt Johnston, perspective, and how the Stars didn't punish him for not finishing against the Wild

Steve Yzerman preached patience in Tampa, now he's trying to apply the same lesson in Detroit

“I will not use a first-round pick on a rental," Stars GM Jim Nill discusses upcoming trade deadline

Shap Shots Mailbag: Can you assign a player to another NHL team's AHL team?

Looking at each shift of Jakub Vrana's return to the NHL

The Red Wings and the win-win-win scenario of going for it

The Stars and the case to trade for Jakob Chychrun

Trying to make sense of the Dylan Larkin situation

Shap Shots mailbag call for questions

20/20: Stars fall to Bruins in OT

Why did that go in? Looking at all 7 goals from Red Wings-Canucks

Why did that go in? Looking at all five goals from Stars-Wild

Jake Walman always knew he'd be a top-pairing defender, now he's proving it as a pending UFA

6 Thoughts on Stars-Ducks

Scouts are scouting, it doesn't really mean anything

Q&A Liam McHugh on TNT, AppleTV, and journalism

Dallas Stars midseason grades

Detroit Red Wings midseason grades

On Michael Rasmussen and the importance of his hockey "study abroad" in Austria

Shap Shots Mailbag, Vol 6

Mailbag call for questions

5 thoughts Stars-Sabres

Why did that go in? Looking at all the goals from Stars-Coyotes and Wings-Flyers

The NHL should adopt the ECHL OT format

Why did that go in? Looking at all the goals from Wings-Knights and Stars-Kings

5 Thoughts on Sharks-Stars

On NHL Network, Stars top-six, and getting Colin Miller to All-Star weekend

6 thoughts on Red Wings-Maple Leafs

Jake Walman embracing top-pairing role with Moritz Seider

What do the Red Wings need to do to be considered a success this season?

Six thoughts on Stars-Islanders and Red Wings-Jets

Let's talk about Roope Hintz

Let's talk about the NHL All-Star Game

Four thoughts on Kings-Stars

What to do with Alex Nedeljkovic?

Getting excited about the Stars future with Stankoven and Bichsel

10 hockey thoughts on New Year's Eve