Does anybody wonder what these guys would do if they had a coach like Torterella demanding that they actually slam their bodies into other people and put them infront of pucks, and then savagely cursed them after the game if they failed to do so? I think Skinner and Eric would cry on each other's shoulders.
Which is kind of the problem. While Torts would definitely bring the accountability back to the players (something that Muller is attempting/has attempted to do), those type of ballbusting coaches get tuned out. Lavi here and Philly, Torts in Tampa and NY.
The hope was that, since Muller was in a very similar situation as Staal when he was a player, those two would connect and that connection would lead to a well managed team. Muller could criticize without being tuned out, since he'd have the captain on his side (and the team goes as Staal goes, for better or worse).
The problem is that most issues with this team over the past couple years probably hasn't been the coach on most nights. It's been the players' execution of the coach's gameplan and that falls on the leadership group, Eric and whoever wearing the As at the time.
The coach can get them prepared for games with practices and make adjustments in game, but in reality, once that puck hits the ice, it's a matter of execution.
Look no further than the Jersey game last year. Broduer's first game back from injury, Muller tells them to put everything in net since he's probably rusty. Sound advice that should have worked and led to an easy win (or at least, a competitive game). The problem was, the team put up 10 shots in the first 10 minutes, got frustrated that none went in, then put up only six in the remaining 50. That's a failure of execution. That's on the players.
