My theory on what is happening here:
I am starting to believe that the systems being implemented by this coaching staff are just either so simplistic or they are non-existent, and are subsequently completely antithetical to how we should be playing, and that the younger and/or skilled players are just throwing up their hands in the air in frustration. You could see it in the body language of a lot of the players last game. The only people who I think actually buy in to these systems completely are Wheeler and Scheifele, as it levels the skill playing field for the former, and Scheif just follows whatever 'The Captain' says in some sort of blind show of respect and loyalty.
It is my belief that when Wheeler and Scheifele were out of the line-up that the top two lines were just doing what they wanted and flipping the bird to Maurice. I saw play from Svechnikov, Dubois and Connor that I have not seen from this team in Maurice's entire tenure: offensive zone entry with drop passes and/or deep zone penetration with passing to open space (either to the slot or the corners) - a logical strategy that maximizes one of our greatest skills: speed. Our forwards can then dictate the play as the defense will have to react to these decisions, and this is difficult to do (see: our defense) - thus tiring themselves out or moving themselves out of position trying to keep up or engage and creating high danger chances for us.
The Stastny Copp Ehlers line was less effective due to Stats having trouble keeping up with the two youngsters, so Copp and Ehlers were often on their own (with the exception of offensive zone faceoffs/set plays), and most teams just end up double-teaming Ehlers as let's be honest, he is the greater threat, however they were still somewhat effective. This line needs another speedster like Harkins or Scheifele (if he hasn't been ruined by Wheeler) in there as they can keep up. Ehlers has speed to burn, and needs another threat on that line to take the pressure off of him or his skill is wasted.
Wheeler should be with Stats and Lowry on the third line, that's all there is to it. We're going to get killed until it happens.
Harkins, Vesalainen and Toninato on the fourth. Nash has looked very average, and the only way I see him on the team is if Ves continues to struggle.
The defense needs to move to a zone system, as that is what everyone is used to, and it is the most energy efficient. I also think the Morrissey Schmidt experiment is done. Schmidt is too defensively irresponsible and needs to be paired with Demelo. Put Morrissey with Stanley or, *shudder*, Beaulieu. Or, you know, just don't play Beaulieu at all because he is a lazy player (routinely cheats positionally and gets burned for it).
The line combos are wrong, whatever drills they are using are wrong, and whatever systems are being used are wrong. We have the right players, but everything just feels as though it is being mismanaged. We have won this season in spite of sloppy, predictable play, and have usually been bailed out by Hellebuyck, or when the younger players bail us out by taking matters into their own hands (see Kyle Connor). People keep saying that Kyle Connor has shifted to an even higher gear this year - and to that I say, no, no he hasn't. That is what Kyle Connor has always been capable of, and we're starting to see it this year as I think he's sick and tired of being handcuffed by his role as a trigger man for Scheifele and Wheeler, when he's so much more of a dynamic player than that.
I don't mind when we lose if we play hard and are outplayed by the other team, however that just doesn't seem to happen. The most frustrating part of these past few years hasn't been the losses or quick exits from the playoffs, it's been knowing how much potential we have, and seeing it being squandered. We could be a really, really good team.
Call it hyperbole if you want, however I seriously believe that our team would do better with no coaching at this point.
