Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
But you think changing coaches makes those passes connect?
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I think when players play instinctively, passes connect.
Players play instinctively when they are confident.
Confident that they and their linemates are where they expect them to be within the system.
Confident that the outlet person will drive the play forward.
Confident that they can make turnover on a potentially risky play and not cost their team the entire game.
Confident that they can thread the needle on a seam pass instead of shooting from the strong side.
Confident that they are truly making a play, not just preventing the opponent from making a play.
Confident that they're not letting the team down by doing what their instincts tell them to do rather than chipping the puck out to a safe spot and going off for a line change.
In other words - having fun out there.
They rarely did that under Gulutzan or Ward. They did that for Hartley and for a period of time under Peters, but following the all star break this changed. Clearly there is one style of play which two of the four coaches completely failed to harness, and the third abandoned for reasons unknown.
I'm not talking wins and losses.