Quote:
Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper
I don't doubt that there's an emphasis from the coaches to get more shots on goal from the point, but there's a certain level of autonomy afforded to players especially when they're in the offensive zone.
Even if what you're saying is true, how would you explain Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk managing to put so many passes into the slot in Sutter's system? Or how about Lindholm and Toffoli who are on producing just fine. Actually, Toffoli is on pace to absolutely shatter his career high in points.
In my opinion, if Huberdeau wants to be more productive. He needs to add more dimensions to his game. From what I've seen, he has a hard time just shooting in general on top of creating his own shot. He needs to start winning more puck battles and more 50/50s to give him chances to make plays rather than turning the puck over and having to defend a counter attack. He needs to start holding on to pucks longer to open up more shooting lanes, being harder on the forecheck, tying up sticks, getting better body position on his opponents, utilizing an active stick to create more takeaways and forcing bad passes.
Ultimately, this isn't about the coach, it's about the individual player doing the simple fundamental things that can lead to more opportunities to produce offense. This is what Gaudreau and Tkachuk did on a regular basis last season as "skilled guys" to help feed their offensive game. It wasn't always just fancy plays and dangling that generated their goals and assists, it was their willingness to put in the work and do the foundational things of hockey that made them so effective on both ends of the ice, shift after shift and game after game last year.
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This is exactly it. I can't believe for a second that Sutter doesn't want Huberdeau to maintain possession if he can to open up space. The dump-and-chase thing is to err on the side of caution if there is a good chance you're going to lose possession. Every team does this, and while it is true that Sutter has a low risk threshold, he would gladly take the alternative. He is the guy who traded for Huselius of all people back in the day and gave tonnes of rope to Gaudreau. I highly doubt that he was screaming at Gaudreau after games for making zone entries while keeping possession, and then buzzing around in the offensive zone. Even now, you see players like Kadri, Magiapane, Dube, and Lindholm doing it. If they had the skill that Huberdeau supposedly has, it would probably increase the number of scoring chances by a significant amount.
Huberdeau showed in Florida he can be an individual force, but he isn't doing it here. That is 100% on him. A decrease is points was acceptable going into a more cautious system, but not to the amount we have seen. It's even less acceptable when he doesn't look like is trying all that hard consistently through 60.