Starting to believe this is just who we are under Gulutzan.
Last year we were:
- Below average at 5v5 (-10 goal differential)
- Above average on the PP (~14th in shot rates and goal rates)
- Above average on the PK (~10th in shot rates and goal rates)
- Average overall in regulation (32-33 record)
- Dominant in OT/SO (13-4)
This year we are:
- Average at 5v5 (+0 goal differential)
- Above average on the PP (~12 in shot rates and goal rates)
- Brutal on the PK (~25th in shot rates and goal rates)
- Below average overall in regulation (8-12 record)
- Dominant in OT/SO (6-1)
The overall performance isn't all that different from last year: a very mediocre team at 5v5 that relies on good special teams and having the best 3v3 player on the planet to eke out a passable record.
There's no way this roster should be this mediocre. I'm not sold on Tippett, since his teams have been very consistently low-event teams, which supports the trap criticism, but at least he might be able to get the 2nd pair to play some reasonable defense. I'd rather try Sutter again given the choice.