Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
Brent Sutter's coaching ability was completely vindicated in hindsight, and I believe GG will be too. Sutter had a putrid roster
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Wrong. Sutter broke players and made them into shadows of their best selves.
Sutter had Jay Bouwmeester in his prime, a 12-15 goal, 40+ point top pair defenseman, who he turned into a 4-5 goal, 30-ish point defenseman.
Sutter had Olli Jokinen not too far removed from his prime. A 35+ goal, 40-ish assist forward, who he turned into a 20 goal, 37 assist forward.
Sutter had Mark Giordano in what would/should have been his prime, a guy who under Hartley was on average a 16G/37A/53P player...and had him as averaging as a 10G/26A/36P player. Gulutzan has Giordano averaging 12G/26A. Hmm. Which Giordano helps this team win games? The one who's part of a putrid roster? Or the one who's considered as a Norris contender combining his elite two-way play with offensive skill and instinct? I get that Giordano has slowed down but the issue extends far beyond that - the system has neutered Giordano and everyone else.
Offense isn't everything, and yes Hartley's systems had some glaring issues defensively, but that doesn't mean we needed to go back to Brent Sutter. There are some damn good teams who balance offensive play and defensive play, and this team has the talent to do it. You need Giordano to be a 50 point defenseman because that makes everyone better - it makes Bennett better, it makes Gaudreau better, it makes Hamilton better, it makes Troy friggin Brouwer better.
What Gulutzan is doing to Bennett is what Sutter did to Backlund, and what previous coaches did to Savard and St. Louis. What he's doing to Gaudreau seems to resemble what Sutter did to Jokinen, too.