Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
Coaching can make a difference. On rare occasions. But your opinion this should be a top team? That’s a stretch. I agree with Jiri. This team has an elite goalie, a good D and a suspect forward group.
Their top forwards have skills that, if they are defended badly, can result in lots of nice goals. But those same forwards have flaws and are easily predictable, and that makes them not that difficult to defend. Johnny is small and not that fast, and teams have learned they can play him tight. Monahan is slow and doesn’t dangle, so teams know he can be controlled if he doesn’t get a pass. Tkachuk is even slower than Monahan and needs to be within a foot or two of the goal because he doesn’t really have a great shot.
Other teams that they need to beat have more well rounded top end forwards. Matthews does it all. Scheifele does it all. McDavid is predictable but he manages to beat guys that know what he’s going to do just with pure physical ability, like Jordan dunking.
A better coach can win a couple more games with these guys, and maybe even make a difference over a season. Long term is where I have my doubts.
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Yes, we likely disagree.
I think the team is capable of something closer to the results they got in the first 3/4 season of 2 years ago than the .500 bone dry ineffective hockey that we are seeing now.