I think it has tons more to do with the fact the defence can't get the puck out of their own zone. That first pass was made last year, up the side, second pass and we were in the other teams zone and motoring towards their net. This year, it's defence gets the puck, looks up the ice...see's all the forwards past the red line, passes back to defense partner, or makes a errant long pass which rarely connects. When the puck is passed to the other defenceman, that gives tons of time for the other teams forecheckers to get up on the D and they rush the puck, give it away.