Quote:
Originally Posted by PugnaciousIntern
Terrible sequence - not just turnover, but then not following his man to the net.
I'll admit I didn't watch Vegas intensely this season until this playoffs, but the individual players that I was more familiar with looked exactly like the players from the past seasons. I never watched their new breakthrough stars play before this year, but I wonder if they were truly unappreciated on their prior teams, or if they actually changed their play. Because individually, the guys I know were exactly what I was expecting, just playing the game to their strengths.
|
Generally speaking, "just playing the game to their strengths" is I think the only probable answer. Tons of player don't just suddenly become better.
That said, I think Vegas also showed that "how good" a player is is not a straightforward question with one definite answer. Some players are very effective and useful in one system and terrible in others, and most of "how good" depends on the situation. (Obviously considering that NHL players in general are all ridiculously skilled athletes.)
It's why I think coaching is pretty much everything these days. There's just so much parity between rosters now.