Coaching is a serious problem.

[OnTheRun]

First most of the explications are based on the forechecking part of the strategy. Sure they are agressive on the puck carrier. In their Dzone these "analysts" just mention they play man to man but don't justify it.
Just look at CAR games ans tell me how often the slot is open, how often a Dman leaves the front of the net without anybody replacing him ?
The thing is that CAR IS so efficient on the forecheck that they don't often need to be on the backcheck.

What analysts... You can just watch them play...

https://x.com/i/web/status/1776085799311733001

This is m2m, let's move on.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

If habs gets blasted by Minnesota and Buffalo before coming back to MTL , Wouldn't surprise me MSL takes the door.

This is not normal your team is not motivated at all to play the game. Barely any consequences for veterans. Always punish the players that are easy to scratch .

We know the team sucks but the way they are playing is completely out of touch for any NHL team.

There is no soul , even Suzuki who has been reliable in the last years has been invisible lately.

 

[JianYang]

Telling you, Lemaire would be my solution. Just clog the middle of the ice, make them hard to play against. And it's easy to learn and execute for the kids. And if guys like Dach who are lost and cannot score goals, they could at least play defense properly, take their men. Just freaking do it. Hughes pride himself to be bold and innovative well that would be freaking bold.

I don't think that's the way to go but what makes you think an 80 year old lemaire would want to coach here when a 40 year old lemaire already hated it here

 

[Draft]

First most of the explications are based on the forechecking part of the strategy. Sure they are agressive on the puck carrier. In their Dzone these "analysts" just mention they play man to man but don't justify it.
Just look at CAR games ans tell me how often the slot is open, how often a Dman leaves the front of the net without anybody replacing him ?
The thing is that CAR IS so efficient on the forecheck that they don't often need to be on the backcheck.

I don’t think it’s productive to debate this, it’s not complicated.

If you want a basic background on how defensive systems work and how to identify them, the first link will give you a solid foundation for it and specifically references the Hurricanes and their play in the defensive zone. I’m not sure why they’d have to justify it in detail when it’s obvious when watching them play.

 

[Rapala]

Are you aware that Maurice uses a very similar hybrid system to what MSL has implemented? Or that Brind’Amour relies heavily on man-on-man and has been criticized for it when it falls apart come playoffs?

And what makes you think he would with a team who are playing at the other end of the spectrum?
He wouldn't even attempt it that is the insanity.

 

[Draft]

And what makes you think he would with a team who are playing at the other end of the spectrum?
He wouldn't even attempt it that is the insanity.

We’re not the first team to take a step back transitioning to a new defensive strategy. If we were in a win-now situation it would be nonsense to continue with it. That isn’t the case and Habs have the time/flexibility to deal with the growing pains of adopting a hybrid system and developing new players within it.

 

[Rapala]

We’re not the first team to take a step back transitioning to a new defensive strategy. If we were in a win-now situation it would be nonsense to continue with it. That isn’t the case and Habs have the time/flexibility to deal with the growing pains of adopting a hybrid system and developing new players within it.

Last season it was pointed out by numerous posters and analysts that we do not have the horses to play man to man.
The problems were always about the cascade effect a blown coverage resulted in.
We had plenty of members claim well Florida plays man to man. I mentioned to them no they didn't their players handed off coverage.
If we can't play man to man what makes anyone think we can play a hybrid which is more complicated.?
This is a five man unit issue not simply a Dman issue the players are so messed up it's affecting every aspect of their play.
Every mistake results in multiple mistakes. The analytics aren't somehow lying to us we have become the worst defensive team in the league.

 

[Kimota]

Assuming you’re talking systems and not the actual coach right?

That would work in the short term. No doubt about it. But you’re stunting the skill development of younger players.

The system needs a change but I don’t think the trap is the way to go.

If you have talent, the trap should not be an issue. Talent will always find a way. And in that system most of our players would be more effective, at least.

 

[Kimota]

Lemaire is 79 years old.

I agree a more system-oriented coach could be useful for getting inexperienced players to play a professional game but the THINKING was that the new way of playing hockey is more fluid and MSL is on the very cutting-edge of that.

And they were obviously wrong.

 

[Draft]

Last season it was pointed out by numerous posters and analysts that we do not have the horses to play man to man.
The problems were always about the cascade effect a blown coverage resulted in.
We had plenty of members claim well Florida plays man to man. I mentioned to them no they didn't their players handed off coverage.
If we can't play man to man what makes anyone think we can play a hybrid which is more complicated.?
This is a five man unit issue not simply a Dman issue the players are so messed up it's affecting every aspect of their play.
Every mistake results in multiple mistakes. The analytics aren't somehow lying we have become the worst defensive team in the league.

I don’t disagree at all, they’re doing a terrible job of it and look like garbage. I think we’d see better immediate results for most players if the team went back to man on man or made a bigger change to zone (which would likely come with its own learning curve). There would still be gaps given how weak our defence and centers are, but zone might calm things down over time. That being said, I don’t think that’s the goal right now. If the team can implement a hybrid system by the end of the year, that’s a pretty huge development milestone for a young core. I’ve seen marginal improvements over the last couple games, it might improve quickly once key players become more comfortable.

 

[JianYang]

Last season it was pointed out by numerous posters and analysts that we do not have the horses to play man to man.
The problems were always about the cascade effect a blown coverage resulted in.
We had plenty of members claim well Florida plays man to man. I mentioned to them no they didn't their players handed off coverage.
If we can't play man to man what makes anyone think we can play a hybrid which is more complicated.?
This is a five man unit issue not simply a Dman issue the players are so messed up it's affecting every aspect of their play.
Every mistake results in multiple mistakes. The analytics aren't somehow lying to us we have become the worst defensive team in the league.

I see opposing teams come up the ice on a rush and it amazes me how much the defense backs off and gives them all the time and space to enter the zone.

It's not to say I'm blaming the defense solely but it's an indicator of how tentative and unsure the Habs are right now.

 

[OnTheRun]

And they were obviously wrong.

Not really, it's kind of the first time we follows the league trends instead of being behind. Ironically following the trends (drop pass, hybrid dzone, etc) has the tendency to send HFHabs into a rage.

 

[70Stang]

Maybe an experienced coach as an assistant may bridge the gap? Another fresh set of eyes and someone who can question MSL decisions etc. Not sure who is available but I sure hope if they go this route they hire the best person for the job and French should not be a requirement. Maybe send a cab or Uber to pick up stumpy for his 2nd go in Mtl.

 

[Tyson]

Maybe an experienced coach as an assistant may bridge the gap? Another fresh set of eyes and someone who can question MSL decisions etc. Not sure who is available but I sure hope if they go this route they hire the best person for the job and French should not be a requirement. Maybe send a cab or Uber to pick up stumpy for his 2nd go in Mtl.

Bring Muller back!

 

[ryan callahan]

If habs gets blasted by Minnesota and Buffalo before coming back to MTL , Wouldn't surprise me MSL takes the door.

This is not normal your team is not motivated at all to play the game. Barely any consequences for veterans. Always punish the players that are easy to scratch .

We know the team sucks but the way they are playing is completely out of touch for any NHL team.

There is no soul , even Suzuki who has been reliable in the last years has been invisible lately.

Lmao if MSL benches any of the vets he gets lynched by the media. Literally every coach benches the easy target. MSL is no different. He's not gonna staple Dach or Newhook to the 4th despite them deserving it.

 

[Vachon23]

Maybe an experienced coach as an assistant may bridge the gap? Another fresh set of eyes and someone who can question MSL decisions etc. Not sure who is available but I sure hope if they go this route they hire the best person for the job and French should not be a requirement. Maybe send a cab or Uber to pick up stumpy for his 2nd go in Mtl.

Jay Woodcroft could be a good candidate

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Jay Woodcroft could be a good candidate

He was the guy who had the hybrid system in Edmonton that didn’t work. I’m not against him but I don’t think mgmt would go that way.

 

[Kimota]

Not really, it's kind of the first time we follows the league trends instead of being behind. Ironically following the trends (drop pass, hybrid dzone, etc) has the tendency to send HFHabs into a rage.

I meant they were wrong on thinking that MSL was on the cutting edge of anything.

Also the drop pass is lame, it's not innovative, they do it cause they cannot enter a zone properly.

Bring Muller back!

And give us weak special teams? It would be better having vet coaches who were successful.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

The entire problem could be the defense MSL is trying to install. As Brian Wilde says players are used to playing man on man or maybe zone but MSL wants them to play Hybrid where you change between zone and man depending on where the puck is. They are messing that up and when a player is beaten the player who is supposed to back him up is not there.

 

[OnTheRun]

I meant they were wrong on thinking that MSL was on the cutting edge of anything.

Also the drop pass is lame, it's not innovative, they do it cause they cannot enter a zone properly.

Hockey is a pretty conservative sport so the cutting edge is kinda dull.

The drop pass is the perfect example of this. This is currently the most used PP breakout in the NHL by far. The Habs started using it before most fans realized it was a thing and some still don't. As far as hockey goes, this is "cutting edge".

 

[Mrb1p]

I come in here and see more and more people realizing/accepting it and I'm liking it.

Next you'll start to question Hughes/Gorton if you haven't already.

I've been questioning them since their hiring. To me Gortons failures with the rangers left a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[Mrb1p]

The system doesn't work, it doesn't necessarily mean the coach sucks. We could throw the system out and see if that works.

Totally get why they're trying this but it's clear that it doesn't work.

That's backwards. Every system "works", it's the application that does not.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

That's backwards. Every system "works", it's the application that does not.

Tekl that to Edmonton. They swapped systems and went on a tear.

 

[Mrb1p]

Tekl that to Edmonton. They swapped systems and went on a tear.

Personnel can be a huge part of that. Both coaching and player wise.

 

[Hannibal]

We might have a new add to the coaching staff soon. Not a MSL add, not a Hughes add.

A Gorton add.

I guess we’ll see