Leo's board play, general defense, and even faceoffs are better. I'm not going to dispute that. But all of that can be developed with time a lot easier than offensive production/dominance. Leo has been better since the 4 Nations as playing for his country seems to have reset him mentally.
But my concern continues to be that all in focus on defense is neglecting the offensive upside of our youth core on a team that is struggling to score even at an average rate and in an NHL that is much higher scoring than in the last era. I'm all for working on our youth core's overall games so long as offensive development isn't being neglected. If we want to be contenders, we need at least one elite superstar forward and preferably at least one offensively potent top pair defenseman. LaCombe seems like he's on track to be that guy.
I hate referencing my local fandom because I know the VGK are pretty well hated around here but Jack Eichel is a perfect example of what I've been talking about. Eichel was the elite offensive forward Vegas needed to win a cup. His playmaking drove the majority of Vegas' offense en route to a cup.
When he arrived in Vegas, no one would call him a defensive liability but no one would call him a defensive stalwart either. Bruce Cassidy worked very hard with Eichel to foster his defensive play and I would argue that Eichel was Vegas' best defensive forward on that run on a team with Mark Stone and William Karlsson, while putting up league leading point totals. Eichel was 26 at the time and his defensive aptitude has carried over since then. His offensive talent was already there and developed. His defense was fostered later.
Is it more important that we develop Leo's defense now and end up with a solid second line defensive specialist center or should we be trying to maximize our chances that Leo becomes an elite first line superstar 1c and worry about the defense later? Is it more important to develop Cutter's defense now and end up with a goal scoring middle six two way guy or is it better to optimize our chances to end up with a top line complimentary sniper on the wing and worry about his all around game later?
I'm all for instilling better habits but our own coach said publicly that he's not focusing on offense because our kids' natural offensive talent will come out on its own organically. That to me, is the last straw of last straws. Unless his mentality and development approach changes, as far as I'm concerned, we are not developing our youth core properly. Especially considering the team's defense, on the whole, hasn't improved all that much in spite of the heavy emphasis on defensive improvement. In today's NHL, defensive strength derives from the strength of a 5 man system rather than individual defensive aptitude. Cro can work on individual defensive strengths all he wants, it won't count for shit if the 5 man defensive structure doesn't work.
I get the point you’re making, but really we don’t know what the best path forward is. You mention Eichel. Who was known for his offense only at Buffalo and couldn’t win there either. So left the offense only aspect turns you into Buffalo ? Is that a good benchmark for us to want to replicate.
I understand the need to develop and fence and defense. But let me ask you a question, would Steph Curry be a 25% shooter from 3 if his second year coach had him focus on the weight room + defensive responsibility ?
And my point is kinda tongue in cheek, but the argument you seem to be making is, Cronin and co are ONLY practicing defense and not just emphasizing + weight room as the keys to sustained long term success.
The HC may be focused on defense first philosophy as a cultural buy in point. But does that mean the player development coach isn’t working on net front tip drills / rebound drills / etc.
But like I said before, we can have conversations or situations and aspects people need to improve in their game. And we can blame Cronin for the lack of offensive explosion we’d like out of our young core.
But it seems Verbeek and co’s vision on how to properly develop players doesn’t align with yours. So you are in for a miserable time until progress happens (if it does at all).
Like I don’t want Cronin around for the next 20 years, but I haven’t lost any sleep over him being our coach. I’ve spelt out multiple times what I think our plan is (using Verbeek / Cronin / McIlvane interviews) …. Best case scenario everyone who took a step back this year takes a huge jump in their third year …. Z and McT also take jumps + PP and PK all clicking and we never look back. Do I think that happens ? No.
We let Cronin run it back, we probably have some injury bad luck / start off slow / go on a losing streak and fire him. This is the most likely option for how this ends.
Just everything Verbeek has said, seems he is okay with what Cronin is doing, which means it aligns with Verbeek’s plan. Which is better (IMHO) than aligning with your plan, because you can’t make any decisions that effect the team. If you were running the show, and had some sort of track record of being apart of successful franchises, and you fired Cronin, I would be like, well good, doesn’t seem like he was doing his job as a developmental coach, otherwise he wouldn’t have been fired.
And truly I’m not advocating for focus on defense this is the only way to develop players as they mature physically. It just seems like obviously the path we are on, and I don’t think 20 year old Leo Carlsson’s offensive potential is being ruined, much like Steph curry wouldn’t magically turn into a 25% 3pt shooter if his coaches preaches weight room and defense over offense his first couple years. Or if we want a close comp to hockey, would David Beckham suck at set pcs and free kicks because one of his first coaches tried to get him to play more defensively sound ? Would all his creativity be destroyed beyond repair ? I just don’t see it.
