Quote:
Originally Posted by Igottago
Either these guys all got lazy and started drinking together or there is a deeper systemic issue with how the team is playing. I don't see how that's out of the realm of possibility.
|
Are those really the only two options? Players have ups and downs during the seaason. Elliott struggled for the first couple of games. Gaudreau looks like he's trying to win the Cup by himself every shift, nevermind that he missed all of training camp. Monahan looks a little out of sorts but he is coming off a lingering injury and missed all of training camp. Brodie is making uncharacteristic mistakes. Giordano looks like a shadow of himself. Could it be drinking or the system? Sure. But couldn't it also be guys adjusting to new systems, linemates, pressures, etc?
Quote:
|
The special teams are beyond a disastrous mess, that is all on the coaching.
|
So, if Gaudreau gets a pass on the PP and has an open net and flubs the puck, that's on the coaching? I'm not saying that's been the case all the time but the top guys are struggling and it's the top guys who are generally on the PP so it makes sense that the PP would struggle too.
I haven't been a fan of some of GG defense combos, but he's changed them relatively quickly after they haven't worked. It's not like he's waited 20 games to make changes. This is part of the process of a new coach learning the team and how it ticks.
The one thing I will criticize GG for is that I don't think training camp was particularly effective. It would have been nice to see the team take camp a little more seriously and a little less like a fun experiment. I think the team would be further ahead now if that was the case.