Quote:
Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder
That's what I think it is:
Our top guys have been stellar with this coaching staff, but they were also stellar under the last coaching staff,
Our young guys and underachieving guys haven't been good under this coaching staff. Would be great to change it up and see what happens with a new approach.
Getting Bennett in positions with players he has shown incredible chemistry with in limited playing time (tkachuk or gaudreau) and letting brodie drive play from the back end like he could under Hartley might be just the kick in the butt these guys need
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Like every season, players rise and players fall. We've seen career highs this season and yet drops in production from others. For example, Stajan put up 23 points last season, significantly more so than his previous year under Hartley. But this season, playing the exact same role, he has 6 points. Is that on coaching, or is that on the player? Almost assuredly, it's on the player. Wouldn't make sense that it's on the coach.
I believe in any situation, it's up to the player to seize opportunities and out play the competition in front of them. Has Bennett shown anything in the last 2 seasons that he deserves to play on the 1st line or a shutdown role against the opposition's top lines? No, not to me. That RW spot was open and Ferland won the position fair and square with his strong play and chemistry. Until Bennett shows he can drive play and out duel the opposition's 3rd lines, I don't see any reason to play him any higher.
In my opinion, management has focused too much on edge and truculence and not enough on speed and skill. That's why we're not where we think we should be.