My statement is within the context of playing for and winning a cup , which means being able to beat the same opponent 4 times within 2 weeks..
So you thought this was a cup contending roster this year? Wow...
They are exactly where they should be. A fringe playoff team when the right guys are hot.
Not according to both this board and the concensus from media pundits heading into the season.
We are quite further ahead than most predicted... I was one of the few posters here that saw this level as realistic, and even then, I didn't think we'd hold this high if we ran into major injuries to key players.
Sure our coach has us playing over are head during the regular season, but if where looking at the big picture, which is sustainable winning against the best teams in the league, to me, he is not the coach for that.
Right... Because he'll get less out of an improved roster lol
Possible, just not very likely.
Our system is too easy to beat and easy to expose against great prepared teams. The roster IMO wont change any of that.
Couldn't disagree more.
Smart players will be told by smart coaches to cycle us and force everyone on the ice to be out of position. There no uniformity in the D zone.
Again, could not disagree more.
Playoffs is about simplifying the game, so I think its reasonable to attack the efficacy of the coaching, when this system is the direct reason we wont be a cup contending team no matter who we ice.
Right... Quick question, how many cups have you won or been a part of?
I can see him having a Bruce Boudreau, or Sheldon Keefe career as a coach. Great playing random teams at random times of the year, terrible when pre scouted terrible in the playoffs.
This is perhaps the worst take you've offered. The comparisons are so off base as to wonder if you've ever actually listened to either Keefe or Boudreau discuss hockey...
Does this make him a bad coach? No, but it does mean we will get outcoached.
Last night was a prime example
Go look at all the goals scored.
You mean last night when the Habs lost to the hottest team in the league that has beat the Caps, Avs & Kings 2x during their current league best run since Feb ... The same Blues team that has scored 5+ goals in 1/4 of their games in hat stretch.
Its one thing to acknowledge context matters, it's another to actually apply it. While personal & emotional preference is what it is (beauty is in the eye of the beholder) your argument is largely incoherent with the ways coaching affects team and sport performance.
Objectively, the Habs have improved in key metrics (points, GF, GA, special teams efficiency), and this despite minimal roster turnover and offseason/in season player acquisition.
We also have one of the youngest rosters in the league (2nd to Buffalo but I believe that includes Price).
Qualitatively, the available information suggests that the roster is very much bought in and aligned with the coaching staff (despite the rebuild process and associated losing).
Coaching is quite clearly a strength for our organization right now. Assuming the tactical and game management decisions will remain static as the roster improves and as the organization pivots out of rebuild focus is.... A very poor assumption.
How well MSL & co. will adapt to being a top roster with high performance pressure and greater scrutiny & preparation from opposing teams, remains to be seen. But there is zero reason to assume the worst, and it's pretty foolish to hold up individual poor game outcomes (while ignoring the full context) as some kind of evidence of coaching inadequacy.
