Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar has a simple explanation for why his team cannot copy the Edmonton Oilers’ power play.
“Because we don’t have Connor McDavid,” Bednar told reporters when asked why Colorado cannot simply do what Edmonton does.
The reporter pointed out that Nathan MacKinnon is arguably the closest player to Connor McDavid. Bednar, however, rejected the comparison.
“It’s not the same,” Bednar said.
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He then challenged the NHL reporter to examine both stars more closely.
“Do you watch Connor McDavid play? Watch Nate MacKinnon play? Tell me what the similarities are and I’ll tell you what the differences are,” Bednar said.
“There’s more differences than there are similarities.”
Bednar also pointed to another major difference between the two teams. Edmonton has Leon Draisaitl, while Colorado no longer has Mikko Rantanen.
Avalanche must build around their own strengths
Bednar believes teams can borrow concepts from successful power plays. However, copying another team’s structure does not guarantee similar results.
“You can take concepts. You can take things,” Bednar said.
He used Dallas as another example of a team with difficult power-play concepts. Bednar specifically highlighted the Stars’ movement away from the puck.
“If you’re stuck in your position, like Nate said, and four guys are moving and one guy’s standing there, it’s not going to work,” Bednar explained.
That movement creates passing lanes and forces penalty killers to constantly adjust. Colorado needs to execute those concepts according to its own personnel.
Bednar’s comments also highlight why elite power plays depend on more than individual talent. McDavid and Draisaitl allow Edmonton to build around skills that other teams simply do not possess.
“If they only execute 60% of what the other guy does, it’s not the same,” Bednar said.
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Colorado can study Edmonton and Dallas for ideas. But its power play ultimately needs to reflect MacKinnon’s skill set and the rest of the Avalanche roster.
“You have to do it all right all the time in order to score,” Bednar said.
