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Because we attack and don’t sit back, critics think we’re ignoring defense. Not true. It’s really about taking time and space away from everybody anywhere on the ice so they can’t make a play and creating a turnover. Pressure defense is what I call it. We apply pressure to create turnovers and then attack when we get the puck.

Once you adapt to the style, you’re able to attack and defend. I’ve always been confused by teams that try to do one or the other. You can do both. When you do both, they feed off each other. Attacking well helps defensively; defending well helps offensively.

— Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau in Confessions of a Hockey Lifer

In case you've missed them, Japers' Rink has been excerpting Boudreau's new book all week, and there's a ton of great stuff just within the four blurbs he's pulled out so far. Sounds like it'll be a great read.

Because I like reading about all of the game's minutia, stuff like the passage quoted above really appeals to me. I wish we had more coaches offering their thoughts on strategy and techniques (i.e. "triangle offence") as what's often written about in terms of their influence on the game is very simplistic and general. Many NHL bench bosses would likely be loath to get into specifics like this, but there's a reason they call Boudreau "Gabby."

This is one book that will need a sequel once his NHL exploits are finished. (As an aside, I've only interviewed the man once, but he's already one of my favourite people in hockey. I'll be buying the book.)