Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
All true.
Simple question: do you believe the coach makes a difference?
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I think it mostly makes a difference on the motivation level. Match-up and line construction as well.
I agree with Classic_Sniper though. The strategies and methods are old and well rehearsed. If the players can't apply them and don't know when to use them, I see that more of a personnel issue. A coach shouldn't have to tell players to skate fast to gain zone entry. It's not Ward telling them to not do that.
This team is SLOOOOOOW though. Some things just don't work with an overall slow team. It's easy to look at teams that have fast players and say "do that", but if they are unable or unwilling, that is an issue.
They are dangerous once they are in the offensive zone and maintaining pressure, but getting there is the issue. They are forced to dump it in more than optimal and lack the grittiness for effective retrieval down the line-up. Basically they are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
I also tend to agree with those who said that playing the same teams over and over has exposed the weaknesses. Things that worked before for certain players aren't anymore. The players are predictable and we have a few one-trick ponies. I think Ward is well aware of this, hence why he has blended lines so often, which is a normal strategy for a coach.