[GranteedEV]

Of course you always need to improve the roster. That goes without saying. But when we're talking about this core, we're talking about a team that has been

2014-15 - 6th in goal scoring, 1st in penalty differential
2015-16 - 10th in goal scoring, 5th in penalty differential
2016-17 - 10th in PP%, 12th in PK%
2017-18 - 8th in PK%, 4th in FF% (score adjusted)
2018-19 - 3rd in goal scoring, 9th in goals against despite subpar goaltending, 6th in in FF% (score adjusted), 2nd in penalty differential

These are all things THIS core group has accomplished with different assortments of supporting casts.

Where are we in those categories this year?

20th in goal scoring
24th in goals against
20th in penalty differential
17th in FF% (score adjusted)
12th in PP%
11th in PK%

It's not as simple as "this team quits on coaches". It's not as simple as "this team lacks a GAF". The reality is that this team has done under other coaches things like maintain a positive penalty differential, score goals, dominate puck possession. The team's shown it's able to do those things. The other stuff, for instance finally getting the powerplay reliably into the top 10, is where you might need to look at core changes. Even then, it's not like the PP is what's killing us this year.

This team has established that under a good coach they should

- be a top 5 team in penalty differential
- be a top ten goal scoring team.

That's what they've done in all three complete years under Hartley/Peters. You can leave some leeway for goal scoring considering how random it can be at times, but it's still a testament to the talent level.

They've also established that they're able to:

- be a top ten possession team
- be a competent penalty killing team

Which are things that they showed in the past handful of years

They're not an elite roster but they should at least be able to do things they've shown they're able to do. Puck possession and penalty differentials are two of those things that a coach can instill.

Right now the same core is doing literally nothing that has made them successful outside of special teams. But the special teams success is a sign that the mix isn't all so awful either. The tactics and adjustments just aren't getting the players to maximize their potential.