Quote:
Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper
Well I'd prefer to not have another start like 2016 where we went 5-10-1 because of a new coach. We almost missed the playoffs that season because of that poor start.
I also disagree with the notion that the players didn't grasp the season because after a horrid 5-10-1 start, the team went 40-23-3 afterwards to comfortably make the playoffs. Also not losing in regulation after 50+ games is also pretty damn impressive and appears pretty mentally tough to me.
This season they've underachieved and it may cost the coach his job. But obviously my concern would be mainly that the team takes a step back or we start off terribly again which could easily happen.
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The big question Treliving has to ask is why did they underachieve?
The goals for is almost identical to last year and the coach has been able to get career high type levels of production out of his top 5 or 6 players. GA 5v5 is slightly higher as is the shots against. Smith has had a 10 point increase in sv% over the tandem last year, but nearly identical GAA.
Goals against when down a man have taken a huge hit and are way up over last year. Partly due to a worse PK, and partly due to an increase in the number of times shorthanded.
GGs main fault has been his inability to get a consistent effort from this team. Get the first goal in 4 straight and end up losing them all. Give up the first goal in 3 straight and end up winning them all. Games of dominance, and periods of flatulence. His system has allowed the top tier players to succeed but the bottom tier to flounder, where I would have expected the opposite.
Placing the whole season of underachieving on the coaches head is a luxury of the fanbase, where I hope management looks a little deeper to see why the team can go 40-23-3 to end one season and stumble the next under the exact same regime.