Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperMatt18
I am a bit curious how much Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk were playing the system last year vs just kind of going a bit rogue.
The rest of team last year outside of the top line looked like and produced pretty much identical stats to the way the team is playing this year.
The top line last year was the exception to the system and I do wonder how much might have been those guys going "Screw it - contract year". It really does seem like Tkachuk didn't think much of Sutter, his comments about Maurice being "the best coach I've ever played for" were pretty much a tell. Gaudreau hasn't really ever said much about Sutter.
Last year without the top line on the ice at 5v5:
Corsi For: 54.8% xGF%:53.1% GF%: 49.2% Shooting %: 6.33% SV%: .921
This year without Huberdeau:
Corsi For: 56.4% xGF: 54.1% GF%: 51.2% Shooting %: 7.93% SV%: .897
Really it's the top line that somehow bucked the trend of what Sutter's system is doing. Everyone else is high corsi, high shots, no finish, and biggest problem is this year no goaltending either.
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A Sutter team with a line gone rogue for an entire season?
That's not one I'm buying.
Look Matthew Tkachuk appears to be the real deal ... Gaudreau getting points on a bad Jackets team. The Flames lost two special players and now don't have the skill or chemistry to get it done.
Huberdeau is a great complimentary player that hasn't found a player to compliment.
I don't buy the lazy argument ... I see a player that cares so much he's screwing himself into the ice. He needs a mental reset, and hopefully an offseason without a trade gets him confident and right for next season.