Coaching is a serious problem.

[ReHabs]

Maybe I am crazy, but I find team defense has been much better since the Calgary game despite the W-L and GA column.

The goaltending has been brutal during this stretch.

Team defence was really bad against Buffalo from my eyes.

 

[morhilane]

Maybe I am crazy, but I find team defense has been much better since the Calgary game despite the W-L and GA column.

The goaltending has been brutal during this stretch.

I personally think the issue is mostly Matheson.

Matheson was on the ice for 20 of the 34 goals scored against the Habs in the last 7 games. Goalies should not only be bad when Matheson is on the ice and that's basically what is happening.

In the first 9 games, he was on the ice for 12 GAs in 33 games, so he got worst while the rest of the team is improving I might add.

 

[OldCraig71]

Team defence was really bad against Buffalo from my eyes.

It was bad but Buffalo had equally bad D and goaltending and we managed to be lucky scoring goals and even though it wasn't a work of art, it was a gutsy win.

 

[Yep]

MSL has his faults and I do not intend to debate or go against what has already been written in this thread. But if there is one thing he does well is that he talks with his players on a individual basis (and they appreciate it).

---
News article in Lapresse (French)
(Slaf) a aussi précisé qu’une bonne discussion d’avant-match avec Martin St-Louis l’avait remis sur le droit chemin. « Quand tu connais quelques mauvais matchs de suite, tu penses trop. Martin m’en a parlé, il m’a dit : ne pense à rien. Je dois penser à sa voix, dans ma tête, pour l’écouter. J’essayais de me concentrer sur les choses dont on a parlé. Ça fonctionne. »

C’est donc mieux d’avoir en tête la voix de l’entraîneur que la tienne ? lui demande-t-on.

« Oh, tu ne veux pas ma voix dans ta tête ! »

« Il est jeune, il y a de la lourdeur dans ce qu’on traverse individuellement et collectivement, a quant à lui mentionné St-Louis. J’essaie d’avoir des conversations avec les joueurs, de garder les choses en perspective. C’est seulement un match, mais je suis heureux pour Slaf. »
---

 

[ReHabs]

MSL has his faults and I do not intend to debate or go against what has already been written in this thread. But if there is one thing he does well is that he talks with his players on a individual basis (and they appreciate it).

---
News article in Lapresse (French)
(Slaf) a aussi précisé qu’une bonne discussion d’avant-match avec Martin St-Louis l’avait remis sur le droit chemin. « Quand tu connais quelques mauvais matchs de suite, tu penses trop. Martin m’en a parlé, il m’a dit : ne pense à rien. Je dois penser à sa voix, dans ma tête, pour l’écouter. J’essayais de me concentrer sur les choses dont on a parlé. Ça fonctionne. »

C’est donc mieux d’avoir en tête la voix de l’entraîneur que la tienne ? lui demande-t-on.

« Oh, tu ne veux pas ma voix dans ta tête ! »

« Il est jeune, il y a de la lourdeur dans ce qu’on traverse individuellement et collectivement, a quant à lui mentionné St-Louis. J’essaie d’avoir des conversations avec les joueurs, de garder les choses en perspective. C’est seulement un match, mais je suis heureux pour Slaf. »
---

Definitely a change of pace and a breath of fresh air but I'd like to see more accountability and serious hockey played. It's good the coach is relieving the star players of certain pressures but what do you want to see when the team doesn't play with focus or gives inconsistent efforts? More pats on the back? Maybe! I'm simply not used to seeing it... in Montreal we've always had hardass coaches.

I won't criticise MSL on the player management front, I'm certain he has the right idea and outlook. Even as a development coach, he seems good. His faith in his players to pick up the 'reads not systems' sorts tactics needs adjustment. A tighter game, SVP.

 

[Heffyhoof]

MSL has his faults and I do not intend to debate or go against what has already been written in this thread. But if there is one thing he does well is that he talks with his players on a individual basis (and they appreciate it).

---
News article in Lapresse (French)
(Slaf) a aussi précisé qu’une bonne discussion d’avant-match avec Martin St-Louis l’avait remis sur le droit chemin. « Quand tu connais quelques mauvais matchs de suite, tu penses trop. Martin m’en a parlé, il m’a dit : ne pense à rien. Je dois penser à sa voix, dans ma tête, pour l’écouter. J’essayais de me concentrer sur les choses dont on a parlé. Ça fonctionne. »

C’est donc mieux d’avoir en tête la voix de l’entraîneur que la tienne ? lui demande-t-on.

« Oh, tu ne veux pas ma voix dans ta tête ! »

« Il est jeune, il y a de la lourdeur dans ce qu’on traverse individuellement et collectivement, a quant à lui mentionné St-Louis. J’essaie d’avoir des conversations avec les joueurs, de garder les choses en perspective. C’est seulement un match, mais je suis heureux pour Slaf. »
---

If every player has Marty's voice in their head telling them what to do, I understand the on ice product.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I think most hockey analists says Primeau is burned at the nhl level. It's time to bring Dobes. Primeau have a very bad percentage, in any way we can interpret the stats. Primeau have to go back in ahl, it will be a better place for him. Maybe he can bounce back but I doubt it.

And Yes, MSL is kinda slow when he should decide to change his goalie.

Primeau is a potential age 27+ until he is matured as a starter or backup. Lindgren was like that. Most don’t make it and the ones that do, take years. Top 10
Goalies who shine early are rare! Let’s hope Fowler is one of them

 

[Yep]

Definitely a change of pace and a breath of fresh air but I'd like to see more accountability and serious hockey played. It's good the coach is relieving the star players of certain pressures but what do you want to see when the team doesn't play with focus or gives inconsistent efforts? More pats on the back? Maybe! I'm simply not used to seeing it... in Montreal we've always had hardass coaches.

I won't criticise MSL on the player management front, I'm certain he has the right idea and outlook. Even as a development coach, he seems good. His faith in his players to pick up the 'reads not systems' sorts tactics needs adjustment. A tighter game, SVP.

I agree with your post. Regarding the bolded part, you might be too young, but a long long time ago...

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

It was bad but Buffalo had equally bad D and goaltending and we managed to be lucky scoring goals and even though it wasn't a work of art, it was a gutsy win.

It wasn’t bad. We limited their chances and spent more time in their end. Our goaltending was pretty bad or we’d have walked away with that game.

 

[stubbadub]

The coaching isn't a serious problem - the team just isn't equipped with the right personnel. Dach plays scared, doesn't shoot, and doesn't attack the zone with any ferocity. Newhook is the same. Neither are showing that they're capable or dependable second line centremen this year. Newhook looked great last year, sure, but hasn't found a groove this year at all. It's a shame that Jake Evans is even an option for the third line, let alone the second centre spot. If the players showed an vigor, then they would be used differently, but when a coach doesn't trust their drive, then he has no choice but to play the first line too much, thus burning them out by halfway through the season, while hoping Laine can come in and make a difference anywhere, knowing full-well that you do NOT put someone of his ilk into an anemic environment or he'll go back to his old ways.

So no, it's not the coach. It's the makeup of the team. You can contour the make up, but when you're structurally ugly, there's only so much you can do to turn a 3 into a 6.