GDT: Canes @ Rangers 3/11 7PM...If A Canes Game Takes Place...

[Sens1Canes2]

We don't have a very good set of PP defensemen, but what was the excuse when it was Pitkanen, Corvo, McBain, Murphy, Bergeron, Sanguinetti? A group of nothing BUT offensive specialists had nearly the same results.

True. And it was close to the same under Mo. He *always* preached quick movement and quick decisions with the puck on the PP, and they'd do it for a game or two and then slow it down again. The PP was terribly inconsistent, because although Pitkanen is considered "offensive" he couldn't one-time anything and was really hesitant to think about shooting. Other teams knew this. Corvo had a great shot but too often wedged it high. The rest are called offensive because they suck at everything else related to defense.

The only time the PP looked good was with Babchuk (gulp). He fired at will and one-timed the crap out of everything.

 

[rocky7]

the TEA line was one of the most prolific units in the NHL when they were allowed to just play, to create, with defensive awareness built in to them. they played un-coached for the most part due to circumstances. the following season with the implementation of Muller's system, productivity crashed along with everyone else's on this team.

 

[VAcaniac]

I don't care what anyone says. We could have PK Subban and Sergei Gonchar on the points, and they still wouldn't score.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

the TEA line was one of the most prolific units in the NHL when they were allowed to just play, to create, with defensive awareness built in to them. they played un-coached for the most part due to circumstances. the following season with the implementation of Muller's system, productivity crashed along with everyone else's on this team.

Do you honestly believe Muller just started every game last season by saying "Ok, Eric's line. Go out and do what you do"?

 

[What the Faulk]

the TEA line was one of the most prolific units in the NHL when they were allowed to just play, to create, with defensive awareness built in to them. they played un-coached for the most part due to circumstances. the following season with the implementation of Muller's system, productivity crashed along with everyone else's on this team.

Yeah, I'm sure that's it and it has nothing to do with this

http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/rat...id=0&type=individual&sort=ishpct&sortdir=DESC

 

[rocky7]

of course not, it's probably not that simple, one extreme to the other. however, there is no doubt in my mind that Muller's system effectively neutered/sacrificed offense with the primary focus being on limiting goals against. while he denied that, it seemed pretty obvious to many from the start.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

I don't think any coach's system has the aim of not scoring goals. Something tells me anyone with that idea wouldn't make the NHL as a coach.

 

[DaveG]

I don't think any coach's system has the aim of not scoring goals. Something tells me anyone with that idea wouldn't make the NHL as a coach.

(kinda)

 

[rocky7]

I don't think any coach's system has the aim of not scoring goals. Something tells me anyone with that idea wouldn't make the NHL as a coach.

don't look at it in extremes or black and white. I didn't say it was the "aim" of his system. I think it was a by-product of it. I remember when people began to question him about it. Rutherford said at the time as well, something to the effect of, 'defense is great but we have to put it all together'. Muller may have believed that his system shouldn't affect offense but it did.

 

[What the Faulk]

Goals for are down .16 per game, which equates to 13 over 82 games. The powerplay wasn't great last year, but it was better than this, and explains about half of that. The other half is that shots per game are down .8 while shooting percentage has stayed the same.

On the other hand, goals against are down .5 per game, which equates to 41 over 82 games. Shots against are down 1.2 per games, and save percentage has gone up 0.7%

Total goal differential is 11 better this year.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

We don't have a very good set of PP defensemen, but what was the excuse when it was Pitkanen, Corvo, McBain, Murphy, Bergeron, Sanguinetti? A group of nothing BUT offensive specialists had nearly the same results.

But "offensive specialist" doesn't really mean PP QB. Other than maybe Bergeron (who wasn't here very long), none of those guys are really PP QBs or had even above average shots from the point (or didn't shoot enough), even though they are known as offensive defenseman.

His teammates rarely knew what Pitkanen would do. He'd come down and "circle the wagons" as John said, but IMO he wasn't an effective PP QB (other than that cross ice pass to Jokinen). He seemed to skate when you'd think he would pass and pass when you would think he should shoot. Corvo had a good shot that mainly missed the net, but fumbled the puck regularly on the blue line and wasn't a very good passer. McBain was the 4th or 5th option in terms of PP TOI and Sanguinetti was even less. Murphy is way too early to tell.

There's a reason why 3 straight coaches have consistently tried putting a forward on the point at various points.

I do feel that the PP should be better than it is with the players they have though and that the approach they are taking isn't working and is too predictable. On the flipside, the team is 22nd in the league 5v5, it's hard to argue that they'll be much better than below average on the PP.

 

[What the Faulk]

IMO, this team would be a playoff team with a healthy Pitkanen and if they had made the same moves (not that they would have).

Sekera // Pitkanen
Hainsey // Faulk
Liles // Bellemore
Harrison
Komisarek
Murphy

That's a playoff defense, even with the shallow depth at forward.

Given current personnel, I don't hate Harrison on the PP as much as I thought I might. He's not afraid to shoot, even if wildly and inaccurate and not much of a passer or a PP QB. That says more about the lack of other options than anything, though.

 

[Highest Boss]

A mediocre 17% powerplay is worth 10 more goals. I'm not sure that'd translate to 8+ points.

This is a stretch I'll grant you but by my count the canes have lost 6 1-goal games in regulation and they have lost 6 2-goal games with an empty netter. That's 12 games where a timely power play goal would have put them on the path toward at least a loser point.

 

[StormCast]

the TEA line was one of the most prolific units in the NHL when they were allowed to just play, to create, with defensive awareness built in to them. they played un-coached for the most part due to circumstances. the following season with the implementation of Muller's system, productivity crashed along with everyone else's on this team.

How then exactly would you define Muller's system?

 

[djboos22]

Great game. I cant even express how happy I was to see Ward get the win. Go Canes