Same with Neely. If they are considering letting him go, it would be better from a PR standpoint, and, considering his stature in Bruins history, to make the announcement as part of the post season "administrative shuffle" .
Management Claude Julien III - the final countdown?(ALL talk here)
- Thread starter Gee Wally
- Start date
- Status
Someone like John McDonough with the Blackhawks or locally Sam Kennedy with the Red Sox to run the business side of the team. Name me a team that does a worse job than the Bruins in marketing in any sport. There is so much the Bruins could do to promote the brand and they do absolutely nothing with it.
(Apologies - this is long winded.)
(This is about CJ as coach not Sweeny)
As I have said in the past I think Claude is a good coach. He brought structure to Boston when they needed structure. He has helped to teach many players that have come through the Boston system to play a well rounded game, teaching many the disciplines of defense.
Boston through the years has transitioned from a team that tries to out score or out muscle their opponent to a team built from the goalie outwards with a team emphases on defense, or at least players being responsible defensively. There is a general concusses that a team has to be able to play defense in the playoffs in order to win the Stanley Cup. Claude is a coach that believes in that philosophy and tries to instill that mentality into his players. That is fine. That is good. It is a solid philosophy and a foundation that every team needs.
Claude's teams through the years have always played a conservative systematic attack that relies more on the ability to capitalize on the opponents mistakes (forcing a turnover) and playing a third man high, defensemen pinching in along the boards, and a continuous cycle of the puck to the point for one timers or inlet passes. Often the Bruins dump the puck into the offensive zone peel off for a line change and hope to capitalize on the opponent making a mistake coming out of their zone by clogging up the neutral zone and slowing the pace of the game. In the past this has worked reasonably well as many of Claude's teams have been in the top 10 for goals scored. Unfortunately, that game plan does not seem to be working as efficiently this year.
It is possible the team simply does not have the depth through the line up to be as successful as in years past. But more likely problems stem from a combination of: 1) injuries and recovery times to key players disrupting the cohesive chemistry needed for the system to function properly, and 2) opponents analyzing and adjusting with counter measures to Boston's now familiar game plan, 3) a lack of secondary scoring depth on the wings.
What seems to be missing more so this year than in past successful years to Boston's offensive attack is: 1) a heavy forecheck, 2) carrying the puck in and setting up in the offensive zone, 3) crashing of the net for screens and rebounds, but most importantly, 4) a constant and sustained threat from the point. For some reason it seems that much of the offense this year is generated by perimeter play and one timers followed by pealing off into a defensive posture. This falling back into a defensive posture may be a result of trying to over compensate for defense lapses and shortcomings.
The biggest on ice short coming this team has is an overall lack of defensive talent. Chara is no longer able to dominate as defensively as he once did. Carlo is smooth skating, big, and loaded with potential that projects into a solid defensive defenseman. He is still learning the game at this level. For the most part the defense is slow of foot and constructed of defensive defensemen; outside of Krug, and C. Miller (and Morrow) when he plays, the team has no one who even resembles an offensive threat from the blue line. When I speak of offensive threat from the point I am referring to someone who can generate 40 - 50+ assists and cause the opponent fits with his puck movement. This is the same problem that has plagued the team the past two seasons. When the Bruins can fix this I believe much of what ails the Bruins anemic offense will be solved. Much hope at the moment resides in McAvoy developing into such a player, however such expectations by fans should be tempered so as he not be viewed as an immediate savior. McAvoy has all the tools and will most likely contribute right away, but full impact may still be years away. Barring a trade for an established defenseman that can alleviate some of this offensive need and compliment Krug, (and to a lesser extent C. Miller / Morrow) the Bruins / Claude will have to make do with those he has. Unfortunately Claude prefers seasoned supposedly more disciplined veterans to the inexperience and inconsistency of younger players. Claude's job is to win games now, not teach what he may consider the basics of defensive hockey; this isn't a developmental league.
I say all this because Claude's system generates much of it's offense through a cycle of the puck to the point. Give him pointmen who actually know what to do with the puck once they get it and who are also defensively responsible and I believe we wouldn't even be talking about "should they fire Claude".
However, with that said there are still valid things about Claude's coaching style, in game decisions, and adaptability that raise questions. The big question is two parts: 1) is Claude the problem that currently ails the team? 2) Is Claude the best person to be coaching the team going forward with the direction management wants to take the team?
Personally, I think the current situation is a double edged sword. I believe Claude's system and the players adhering to it result in their ability to be competitive, keep games close; thus giving them the potential to win games even when they maybe shouldn't. I also think it is Claude's strict adherence to the systematic approach that causes the players to come out so "flat" at times with seemingly uninspired play. Yes, the team needs structure and defensive responsibility, but it also needs to allow players to be creative offensively and exploit their individual offensive talents. Claude's system at times can be restrictive and monotonous. I believe players need to have fun to excel. Nothing deflates a team more than to constantly play the prevent defense waiting to counter attack based on an opponent's mistake only to fall behind a goal or two. I think some of the players who have been here a number of years have had the "system" ingrained into their DNA; that they have come to rely on the system more than their individual ability and therefore often play unemotional, uninspired hockey. So they often come out "flat" going through the motions and when the system lets them down they don't know how to respond. Claude is a good coach, who came to the Bruins at a good time. He inherited an up and coming talented team and gave them structure. However, I have mixed feelings and it may be time to move on. But not this year. Any coach coming in this year will face the same immediate problem of an inadequate depth of offensive presence from the point combined with a majority of slow footed defensive defensemen.
My dilemma is that Claude has previously taken an up and coming team and lead them to a championship, and before I would let him go, I would have to seriously consider that he may be able to do the same with the next wave of up and coming players. In truth this year has never been about a championship, unless the bruins were to get incredibly lucky.
Further, personally, IF I felt Claude needed to go, I would tell Claude his job is safe for the remainder of the year. That unless the team makes the playoffs and experiences some sort of success therein he should not expect to return next year as coach.
I would then conduct a search for a new coach that could encompass the best aspects of Claude's defensive system and integrate an up-tempo offensive system that relies on a heavy forecheck / puck pursuit that forces the opponent to move the puck before they are ready - thus creating mistakes. Of course this means the Bruins would have to be skating forcing the play offensively, not passively waiting for the play to come to them. I would expect the power play to be designed based upon 4 or 5 different set play formations and constantly moving; no standing still on the half wall with a constant cycle to the point for a one timer. Keep the opponent guessing. Always movement - it is so hard to cover a moving player. (of course JMO)
I would continue to build through the draft, establish which prospects are keepers and which ones are expendable for use in trade. I would also address the needs of the defense by acquiring someone established who can compliment Krug (C. Miller/Morrow) and allow McAvoy the time he needs. Upfront I would find another established 'true' RW and see which of the kids are ready to make the jump. From there I would then determine who should be retained from the 'place holders.'
I got a feeling that management hopes that Claude could finish out this year in some positive way. That should they even make the playoffs and even manage to win a couple of rounds that there are some that may not really want Claude to coach again next year; implying that there are some who want Claude to continue to coach. At this point Claude will have one year left on his current contract. The decision may be determined by how well the team plays out the remained of the year, to a lesser extent player usage, in game decisions, prospects readiness, and if management can upgrade the blue line.
If they decide to let Claude go then what they should do in a great PR move ownership/management should offer Claude another position elsewhere in the organization. Then regardless of whether he accepts it or not tell him he won't be coaching the team anymore that they got a new guy coming in. That way they aren't really firing him. If Claude accepts the position they can say he agreed to a promotion; if he says no, they can save face and say he turned it down and decided to leave the organization.
(This is about CJ as coach not Sweeny)
As I have said in the past I think Claude is a good coach. He brought structure to Boston when they needed structure. He has helped to teach many players that have come through the Boston system to play a well rounded game, teaching many the disciplines of defense.
Boston through the years has transitioned from a team that tries to out score or out muscle their opponent to a team built from the goalie outwards with a team emphases on defense, or at least players being responsible defensively. There is a general concusses that a team has to be able to play defense in the playoffs in order to win the Stanley Cup. Claude is a coach that believes in that philosophy and tries to instill that mentality into his players. That is fine. That is good. It is a solid philosophy and a foundation that every team needs.
Claude's teams through the years have always played a conservative systematic attack that relies more on the ability to capitalize on the opponents mistakes (forcing a turnover) and playing a third man high, defensemen pinching in along the boards, and a continuous cycle of the puck to the point for one timers or inlet passes. Often the Bruins dump the puck into the offensive zone peel off for a line change and hope to capitalize on the opponent making a mistake coming out of their zone by clogging up the neutral zone and slowing the pace of the game. In the past this has worked reasonably well as many of Claude's teams have been in the top 10 for goals scored. Unfortunately, that game plan does not seem to be working as efficiently this year.
It is possible the team simply does not have the depth through the line up to be as successful as in years past. But more likely problems stem from a combination of: 1) injuries and recovery times to key players disrupting the cohesive chemistry needed for the system to function properly, and 2) opponents analyzing and adjusting with counter measures to Boston's now familiar game plan, 3) a lack of secondary scoring depth on the wings.
What seems to be missing more so this year than in past successful years to Boston's offensive attack is: 1) a heavy forecheck, 2) carrying the puck in and setting up in the offensive zone, 3) crashing of the net for screens and rebounds, but most importantly, 4) a constant and sustained threat from the point. For some reason it seems that much of the offense this year is generated by perimeter play and one timers followed by pealing off into a defensive posture. This falling back into a defensive posture may be a result of trying to over compensate for defense lapses and shortcomings.
The biggest on ice short coming this team has is an overall lack of defensive talent. Chara is no longer able to dominate as defensively as he once did. Carlo is smooth skating, big, and loaded with potential that projects into a solid defensive defenseman. He is still learning the game at this level. For the most part the defense is slow of foot and constructed of defensive defensemen; outside of Krug, and C. Miller (and Morrow) when he plays, the team has no one who even resembles an offensive threat from the blue line. When I speak of offensive threat from the point I am referring to someone who can generate 40 - 50+ assists and cause the opponent fits with his puck movement. This is the same problem that has plagued the team the past two seasons. When the Bruins can fix this I believe much of what ails the Bruins anemic offense will be solved. Much hope at the moment resides in McAvoy developing into such a player, however such expectations by fans should be tempered so as he not be viewed as an immediate savior. McAvoy has all the tools and will most likely contribute right away, but full impact may still be years away. Barring a trade for an established defenseman that can alleviate some of this offensive need and compliment Krug, (and to a lesser extent C. Miller / Morrow) the Bruins / Claude will have to make do with those he has. Unfortunately Claude prefers seasoned supposedly more disciplined veterans to the inexperience and inconsistency of younger players. Claude's job is to win games now, not teach what he may consider the basics of defensive hockey; this isn't a developmental league.
I say all this because Claude's system generates much of it's offense through a cycle of the puck to the point. Give him pointmen who actually know what to do with the puck once they get it and who are also defensively responsible and I believe we wouldn't even be talking about "should they fire Claude".
However, with that said there are still valid things about Claude's coaching style, in game decisions, and adaptability that raise questions. The big question is two parts: 1) is Claude the problem that currently ails the team? 2) Is Claude the best person to be coaching the team going forward with the direction management wants to take the team?
Personally, I think the current situation is a double edged sword. I believe Claude's system and the players adhering to it result in their ability to be competitive, keep games close; thus giving them the potential to win games even when they maybe shouldn't. I also think it is Claude's strict adherence to the systematic approach that causes the players to come out so "flat" at times with seemingly uninspired play. Yes, the team needs structure and defensive responsibility, but it also needs to allow players to be creative offensively and exploit their individual offensive talents. Claude's system at times can be restrictive and monotonous. I believe players need to have fun to excel. Nothing deflates a team more than to constantly play the prevent defense waiting to counter attack based on an opponent's mistake only to fall behind a goal or two. I think some of the players who have been here a number of years have had the "system" ingrained into their DNA; that they have come to rely on the system more than their individual ability and therefore often play unemotional, uninspired hockey. So they often come out "flat" going through the motions and when the system lets them down they don't know how to respond. Claude is a good coach, who came to the Bruins at a good time. He inherited an up and coming talented team and gave them structure. However, I have mixed feelings and it may be time to move on. But not this year. Any coach coming in this year will face the same immediate problem of an inadequate depth of offensive presence from the point combined with a majority of slow footed defensive defensemen.
My dilemma is that Claude has previously taken an up and coming team and lead them to a championship, and before I would let him go, I would have to seriously consider that he may be able to do the same with the next wave of up and coming players. In truth this year has never been about a championship, unless the bruins were to get incredibly lucky.
Further, personally, IF I felt Claude needed to go, I would tell Claude his job is safe for the remainder of the year. That unless the team makes the playoffs and experiences some sort of success therein he should not expect to return next year as coach.
I would then conduct a search for a new coach that could encompass the best aspects of Claude's defensive system and integrate an up-tempo offensive system that relies on a heavy forecheck / puck pursuit that forces the opponent to move the puck before they are ready - thus creating mistakes. Of course this means the Bruins would have to be skating forcing the play offensively, not passively waiting for the play to come to them. I would expect the power play to be designed based upon 4 or 5 different set play formations and constantly moving; no standing still on the half wall with a constant cycle to the point for a one timer. Keep the opponent guessing. Always movement - it is so hard to cover a moving player. (of course JMO)
I would continue to build through the draft, establish which prospects are keepers and which ones are expendable for use in trade. I would also address the needs of the defense by acquiring someone established who can compliment Krug (C. Miller/Morrow) and allow McAvoy the time he needs. Upfront I would find another established 'true' RW and see which of the kids are ready to make the jump. From there I would then determine who should be retained from the 'place holders.'
I got a feeling that management hopes that Claude could finish out this year in some positive way. That should they even make the playoffs and even manage to win a couple of rounds that there are some that may not really want Claude to coach again next year; implying that there are some who want Claude to continue to coach. At this point Claude will have one year left on his current contract. The decision may be determined by how well the team plays out the remained of the year, to a lesser extent player usage, in game decisions, prospects readiness, and if management can upgrade the blue line.
If they decide to let Claude go then what they should do in a great PR move ownership/management should offer Claude another position elsewhere in the organization. Then regardless of whether he accepts it or not tell him he won't be coaching the team anymore that they got a new guy coming in. That way they aren't really firing him. If Claude accepts the position they can say he agreed to a promotion; if he says no, they can save face and say he turned it down and decided to leave the organization.
Lady Rhian
The Only Good Indian
LouJersey
Registered User
Mr. Make-Believe
The happy genius of my household
LouJersey
Registered User
CharasLazyWrister
Registered User
Going along with what Mike said a few pages back, I totally agree.
The fact that ownership/the FO isn't showing their faces is shameful. I, for one, would like to see Julien's time end. I think it's time. But much of this team honestly seems to be run by amateurs/idiots/former players who don't really know what the **** they're doing. I'm not sure I really see anyone that is honestly evaluating the team.
We have a bunch of salesmen telling us the team is capable of a "deep playoff run" when every fan who has been watching the past three seasons, and has an IQ above 70, can see that is not the case. I think Claude is as big of a denier about the state of this team (along with the way he coaches it) as anyone, but I'm disappointed in this entire organization. I feel, as a fan, that I'm being spoken to as if I'm a moron.
The standards are getting lower by the day. About the be the third year of no playoffs and we're now down to Chara saying things like "I think this team is capable of putting together a 'series of wins'". Things need to change very desperately. It's getting worse by the day. This needs to be addressed by people beyond just the team and the coach, and that's not happening.
There isn't a single person I can point to in this organization, outside of a few players, that I trust to get anything productive done. It's just starting to feel like a facade of some sort.
The fact that ownership/the FO isn't showing their faces is shameful. I, for one, would like to see Julien's time end. I think it's time. But much of this team honestly seems to be run by amateurs/idiots/former players who don't really know what the **** they're doing. I'm not sure I really see anyone that is honestly evaluating the team.
We have a bunch of salesmen telling us the team is capable of a "deep playoff run" when every fan who has been watching the past three seasons, and has an IQ above 70, can see that is not the case. I think Claude is as big of a denier about the state of this team (along with the way he coaches it) as anyone, but I'm disappointed in this entire organization. I feel, as a fan, that I'm being spoken to as if I'm a moron.
The standards are getting lower by the day. About the be the third year of no playoffs and we're now down to Chara saying things like "I think this team is capable of putting together a 'series of wins'". Things need to change very desperately. It's getting worse by the day. This needs to be addressed by people beyond just the team and the coach, and that's not happening.
There isn't a single person I can point to in this organization, outside of a few players, that I trust to get anything productive done. It's just starting to feel like a facade of some sort.
Pierre McGuire said this week he knows of 5 teams that will fire their coach if Julien becomes available.
CharasLazyWrister
Registered User
Well done.
Mirrors my feelings ALMOST 100%.
From a totally unsympathetic side, I'd be interested to see how and what this team would do (I doubt they'd look better immediately) with a new coach in the middle of the season. Just kind of wonder if there'd be a noticeable difference in how they approached the game so suddenly.
I completely concur with the "waiting for the other team to make mistakes" comment and also about the team coming out flat. One of my concerns with Claude's system, for a good while, has been how it teaches player to trust the system and not their instincts. That's a really bad place to be in. If you aren't trusting your instincts and talent as a professional hockey player, you're in a bad place. Almost every team is going to have a leg up on you.
DominicT
Registered User
So, tonight, I got hold of the NHL media availability policy and rules.
Always knew what the players availability had to be but over morning coffee, we'll see what it says about coaches and management.
Always knew what the players availability had to be but over morning coffee, we'll see what it says about coaches and management.
Number8
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- Oct 31, 2007
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You might want to watch the tape of the end of that game a little closer!
If you think he purposely replaced Carlo with McQuaid I think you need a reality check.
By the way, for a guy who insists on vets, he sure has a lot of youngsters playing a ton of minutes.....
Oh yeah, one of those youngsters (FV) was one the ice and caused the giveaway that turned the play back into our zone. Not calling out FV, by the way. Just calling BS on idea that Claude's obsession with vets caused that goal. Total BS.
missingchicklet
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- Jan 24, 2010
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I'm not sure he'd take any offer from the Islanders. He gets paid whether he finishes the year out or not. The Islanders would be a risky move for Claude -- not a whole lot of upside in taking over that mess of a team, and if he didn't work a miracle it could only risk hurting his stock albeit likely not by much. Claude will have actual good teams coming after him if he is fired and I'm sure he knows it. I think he will end up coaching for a contender next season if the Bs let him go and he waits until the season ends. And as Fenway points out, it wouldn't be too shocking if Claude was picked up by Montreal. Wouldn't that make the rivalry more interesting!
Number8
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Absolutely.
By the way, if it's really true that ownership has said that if Claude is fired then Neely or Sweeney should coach that is insane. I'm not sure either has coached anything -- am I wrong?
If they've said that then it suggests ownership wants Claude to stay and if so, they should publicly say so.
If that's not true, then fire Claude and make Cassidy interim coach -- a guy who has actually coached on a professional level. Enough with Sweeney or Neely taking the reigns nonsense.
We can all agree or disagree on Claude. However, I hope we can all agree that management as a whole is a circus.
Who is in charge? Honest question..... not a rhetorical question.
What I fear/suspect is that even top brass doesn't know the answer --- which is comical and simply mind boggling. Sad, but comical none the less.
Number8
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With Price, Weber, and their ancillary goal scoring ability he'd make them a strong contender to win it all.
My guess is Boston management wants to fire him but is petrified that he'll immediately be picked up by a strong team and instantly produce excellent results while Boston continues with its ridiculous rebuild but win now strategy. Making them look even more foolish than they appear now.
Of course if that's not the strategy they have, they might want to tell the players and fans exactly what their strategy is.
Montreal has slowed down a little and I don't think Habs fans would be upset if Michel Therrien was replaced by Claude and that absolutely has to be included in the Bruins evaluation of the long term fallout.
missingchicklet
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- Jan 24, 2010
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If they are worried what CJ does with another team if they fire him then they are off the charts confused and incompetent. If they are that worried that he will do so well with another team then maybe that's a sign they need to keep him if he's so good. A novel idea would be to fire the person presiding over this circus, augment the roster, get their heads out of the sand, strap on a pair of grapefruits, and run this show like a proper organization. The sad fact of the matter is that you may actually be right and the front office has no clue what to do.
Number8
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IMO that's exactly what is paralyzingly Bruins management right now.
Trade Seguin (I think it was right to do, but return was embarrassingly bad) and he lights up the scoring. Bruins look bad for giving up a stud for peanuts.
Cut Claude loose and he turns another team into a Champion. Would make Boston look ridiculous once again.
Number8
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We should end this thread with this statement.
It is without question exactly what this team must do.
I love Cam Neely as a player and as a person (the Neely Foundation is EXCELLENT) but he needs to go and Boston needs real, professional leadership.
The endless parade of ex "prototypical Bruins" running the show needs to end.
Love them for what they did on and off the ice, but get professionals to run the show.
PlayMakers
Registered User
Good post JAD.
I'd like to offer some counterpoints and thoughts...
Agreed.
Agreed.
I don't agree with this. Julien's early teams were all about puck possession. The heavy cycle game. The whole D to D to D set up they used was designed to control the puck and the flow of the game. They weren't a dump and change team like Dave Lewis' Bruins. And they weren't a team that relied heavily on the neutral zone trap. They didn't get the puck up ice quickly, everything was done as a 5man unit, under control, with possession.
That is NOT their game plan this year. That was not even their game plan last year. They no longer keep 5 guys in the Dzone and leave all together. They constantly fly the wings out of the zone and their breakout passes (often indirect passes), look like dump-outs but that's only because the TV only shows the Dzone and not the patterns being skated in the neutral zone. They are stretch plays. They work on them constantly. Even after practice, when guys have time to work on individual skills, they take it on themselves to practice the timing of picking up those passes and they practice picking up pucks offs the walls.
They also don't rely on the cycle the way they used to. I remember seeing someone say that they do a few weeks back, so I counted the number of times they ran a cycle in the game against the Panthers that night. It was 3. The first cycle wasn't even attempted until the second half of the second period. 2 of the 3 cycles were attempted by Krejci, and the other one was attempted by Hayes. They just don't play that way anymore.
They're a team that is now trying to get the puck up ice quickly. They're a team that's trying to attack with speed and stretch passes. They're a team that's trying to be more dynamic in the offensive zone, activating the defense so they can be a team that attacks from all angles and is harder to contain. It's worked in that they generate a ton of shots but it's also failed in terms of then capitalizing on those chances.
Fwiw, I don't buy the line that the shots they take are all perimeter either. I watched that Hawks game the other night. They had a breakaway, several 2on1's, Backes at the top of the crease, Schaller at the top of the crease, Spooner in close off the post. Krug in the high slot. Czarnik at the side of the net... And that was just the first period. How many breakaways did Chicago have? None. How many odd man rushes? One, in the last minute. So it's confusing and it's frustrating, but it's not make-believe. They did out chance that beast of a team. They did take more shots from quality areas than than the Hawks.
I agree with 1 & 2 more than #3. If teams really had the Bruins systems figured out, they wouldn't get so badly outshot. No coach writes up a game plan that says, "We'll give up 6 odd man rushes and a dozen shots inside the house, we'll let them have the puck for most of the game and somewhere in all that we'll get our chances and bury them. After all, it's not like Rask is a great goalie."
1) I agree that they're not a heavy team up front. 2) I think the idea that they don't carry it in is wrong, and would suggest you count the number of carry-ins vs dump-ins next game. I counted in the Panthers game and the numbers were heavily in favor of carry-ins. The idea that they don't set up as much in the offensive zone, I think comes back to the fact that they don't cycle as much. Krejci in particular is a guy who likes to set up and cycle but that's not the young man's game. Young guys are much less "set it up" and much more fly around. The plays they're trying to run are all high motion plays like scissors, high rotations, D-dives and give/go's... Marchand and Pasta are great at them. Spooner and Czarnik are also really effective together. But there is also a clash of cultures/styles/habits at work here. 3) I agree they need to crash and get to the net more. I think that's why we've seen guys like Schaller and Nash in the middle-6. They're not getting those net-front elements from the Spooners and Czarniks so they're looking for it anywhere they can find it, but as we've found out, those guys can't finish. I think the hope is that they'll cause problems regardless. Set screens and battle for position... I think that's why they like a Landeskog more than a Duchene. Lando has the frame and mentality to do those things but also the ability to finish. 4) I agree with #4 as well. There's Krug and... ? Chara is stuck in cement. McQuaid too. They help defenisvely and they're big parts of their top10 penalty kill but they're roadblocks for what they're trying to do in the offensive zone. Colin Miller was starting to show some confidence and looked to be turning the corner right before he got hurt, so there's hope there. And Carlo has that young man's mentality to step into seams and activate. That's how he's scored his goals this year. McAvoy has it too, but he's not going to help the here and now.
Agreed on most counts.
Adding a second Krug-type would do wonders for this offense. I think Colin Miller was starting to show signs of blossoming into a real NHL offense-man before he got hurt. McAvoy is obviously the hope down the line, and to a lesser extent Grzlyk and Lauzon. Chara and McQuaid are like anchors to this offense, but at the same time they're major factors to a top10 PK.
I agree that there are valid complaints with Claude, but I think most complaints are off the mark. IMO, this team has adapted. Lots of things folks point to as in-game decisions are straight-up misunderstandings. Like last night when folks said he sat Carlo for McQuaid when really it was just 8 seconds of crossover on a line change.
1) Personally, I don't believe he's the problem. The players don't believe he's the problem and want him to stay as their coach. Anyone who knows anything about hockey, in hockey, thinks he's A) a tremendous coach and B) doing the best he can with a mish-mashed, rebuild on the fly lineup.
2) I think that's a more valid question. I can understand folks just wanting a different voice and a fresh direction. Again, for me personally, I see the major changes he's made to his systems, and I think the shots for/against are an indicator that the "systems" work. A coach can only do so much and what he's done is put in a system that generates shots for and denies shots against better than any team in the league. The lack of finish, IMHO, is on the players. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. I also think the systems we're seeing now are only going to look better as the team gets more mobile on the back end and faster up front with a finisher like Senyshyn.
I don't agree with these statements at all. Again, I don't think this is a team that spends the game sitting back hoping to counterattack. I don't see Pasta playing rigid. Or Marchand. Or when Spooner has a good game and Claude says he has all the ice time in the world for Ryan if he's going to play like that. Krug is a rover. Krejci doesn't strictly adhere to system patterns either, he's constantly turning away from pressure and against the flow of the play to create space.
I do think they come out flat too often and that is a legitimate complaint of Claude and the leaders/players in the room. But I don't think they come out flat because they're thinking, darn system only helped us generate 40 shots last game. This is going to be boring.
I actually think there are only 2 players who suffer from this and they stand out (to me) because they're the ones doing things differently than the rest of the team. As I've stated repeatedly, the system has changed. But Krejci and Chara in particular still fall back into some of the old plays and patterns. Chara still goes D to D, even though all the forwards have blown the zone. And Krejci is still trying to cycle and/or find someone to "set things up" with.
Agreed.
This is exactly what they've been trying to do. It's not perfect and not everyone is good at it, but this is what I see them trying to accomplish. This is what the Marchand-Pastrnak combo is. This is how their PP has been playing recently (and seeing more success) because of it. But it doesn't come naturally to everyone on the team... Which speaks to a team in transition, both in terms of style and personnel.
Agreed.
This bit is interesting. My take is that Sweeney likes Julien and Neely/Jacobs want what they want and they want it NOW! Like an infant having a tantrum. I think we're seeing Neely and Sweeney's first power struggle, or at least their first real disagreement. That partially explains why they're not out front in the media. They're not good at it, and they're not on the same page so rather than expose the disfunction they're staying out of sight.
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