Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
Regarding 'coaching for stats', I don't think any coach - at least any coach that achieves the NHL level - is ever going to overtly do that.
However, what I think can happen, is a team gets too focused on some things and as a result, other parts of their game lapse or fall into a rut. Because the Flames were focused on playing the way Gulutzan wanted, and because their possession stats looked okay, the coaching staff assumed things were on track and they were just experiencing bad luck. And that was a failure on their part. No one in the organization recognized the lack of Royal Road activity and thus no adjustments were made, and thus the frustration simply mounted.
As for missing the net, I think that is a confidence thing. When it's going well, you just let it happen, and it keeps going well. When it isn't going well, you tend to shoot for the corners more - you tend to aim - and things just go downhill. The harder you try, the worse it gets. But every season is a new season.
It will be interesting to see if the same problems and frustrations continue, or if they get off to a good start offensively.
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I think that's pretty much it.
He had a 50/50 game view, where if you're not losing then you'll eventually win. Don't get outplayed and good things will happen.
Thing is ... he's probably right more often than not. But the team through bad luck or lack of confidence ended up having a season for the ages when it comes to missing the net and that largely undid him.
However given the changes I think the cross seam stuff must have been just as much personnel as coaching.
The good news is they changed both, so we may never no the answer, but at least it's being attacked on two fronts.