Has Gerard Gallant done his homework?

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Tob

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Sep 16, 2017
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So far we have almost an identical line up.

KZB -> KZLaf. Bread-Strome-Blackwell -> BS-Kakko. The 3rd and 4th line were completely reformulate with mostly new players so you couldn't have replicated the old combos even if you tried. Identical D pairings. The 3rd pairing options are all new arrivals so no carry over possible there either.

The 1st PP has remained identical despite a new head coach and a new PP coach. By virtue of the 1st PP staying the same, the 2nd PP is the same as well. Slight difference in PK personnel but mostly due to new personnel on the roster.

We know he's a hand off coach and easy going coach. We're a training camp and a game into the season and I question whether or not he's thought about the lineup the way a new incoming coach needs to. The whole point of hiring a new coach is to get a new perspective, fresh set of eyes to evaluate talent, and give everyone a fresh slate by way of meritocracy. Gallant mentioned the systems are mostly the same and it's more about buy in.

This may be a matter of coaching style but I find the lack of thought and attempt to optimize and evaluate his talent properly distressing. He had Miller-Trouba locked in as a pairing by the 2nd or 3rd preseason game, perhaps sooner if that's what he had committed to all along and only revealed that to the media when asked. That pairing is the topic of discussion of this season so far. Both Miller and Trouba have been poor individually and could very well benefit from a new partner or the commonly proposed replacement of Miller with Jones.

So that begs the question of how much evaluation and thinking has Gerard Gallant really done with this roster? Is there anything to indicate he has actually come in with an open mind and eyes for evaluation and proprietary strategic thinking a coach is supposed to bring or was he simply briefed on the players by Drury over the summer and came into camp with old ideas? Has he left the pairings and lines up to the players who will generally always default to comfort and familiarity?

Has the coaching staff and management come to a premature conclusion that the top 6F, top 4D and the PP work, so leave that alone and just focus on the bottom 6? Are we already stuck with a coach that has made up his mind on the lineup and is unwilling or unable to change it 1 game into his contract?
 
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I can’t stand our PP. it’s obvious the players are running it

it’s absurdly perimeter and predictable. We should be just as good as Washington who play a tight 1-3-1

imagine Ovi hanging out by the blue line. Stop this shit already
The Caps players run the PP. Thing is it’s much easier to run a PP when you have two bombs and a good mix of size, creativity and handedness.

The way I see it, to draw a parallel from soccer, you can win the World Cup through unparalleled synergy and discipline (like Die Manschaft) or you can do it with creativity and spontaneity (like Brazil and, to a lesser extent, France). The point is you need to either overwhelm or surprise your enemy. The same is true in warfare. We do neither — and don’t have the tools for either. We don’t have an identity — just a collection of players. Two are elite. One is very good. A few show promise. The rest are kinda there.
 
The Caps players run the PP. Thing is it’s much easier to run a PP when you have two bombs and a good mix of size, creativity and handedness.

The way I see it, to draw a parallel from soccer, you can win the World Cup through unparalleled synergy and discipline (like Die Manschaft) or you can do it with creativity and spontaneity (like Brazil and, to a lesser extent, France). The point is you need to either overwhelm or surprise your enemy. The same is true in warfare. We do neither — and don’t have the tools for either. We don’t have an identity — just a collection of players. Two are elite. One is very good. A few show promise. The rest are kinda there.
When you have a man advantage, and 3 of the 5 are waaaaay outside on the perimeter, you become easier to defend. I see what they’re trying to do but it didn’t work against good teams.
 
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When you have a man advantage, and 3 of the 5 are waaaaay outside on the perimeter, you become easier to defend. I see what they’re trying to do but it didn’t work against good teams.
Spot on. The Red Wings needed Holmstrom on the PP even when they had Robitaille, Fedorov, Hull, Lidstrom and Yzerman as PP options.
 
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It's a great point. Hate to even bring it into the conversation, but even the no decision on a captain. This guy needs to make his mark on this team, otherwise what is he doing?
Last time I saw 3A / 3A was in the dark ages of the Florida Panthers — I think before Olli Jokinen (of all people) was appointed captain.
 
So far we have almost an identical line up.

KZB -> KZLaf. Bread-Strome-Blackwell -> BS-Kakko. The 3rd and 4th line were completely reformulate with mostly new players so you couldn't have replicated the old combos even if you tried. Identical D pairings. The 3rd pairing options are all new arrivals so no carry over possible there either.

The 1st PP has remained identical despite a new head coach and a new PP coach. By virtue of the 1st PP staying the same, the 2nd PP is the same as well. Slight difference in PK personnel but mostly due to new personnel on the roster.

We know he's a hand off coach and easy going coach. We're a training camp and a game into the season and I question whether or not he's thought about the lineup the way a new incoming coach needs to. The whole point of hiring a new coach is to get a new perspective, fresh set of eyes to evaluate talent, and give everyone a fresh slate by way of meritocracy. Gallant mentioned the systems are mostly the same and it's more about buy in.

This may be a matter of coaching style but I find the lack of thought and attempt to optimize and evaluate his talent properly distressing. He had Miller-Trouba locked in as a pairing by the 2nd or 3rd preseason game, perhaps sooner if that's what he had committed to all along and only revealed that to the media when asked. That pairing is the topic of discussion of this season so far. Both Miller and Trouba have been poor individually and could very well benefit from a new partner or the commonly proposed replacement of Miller with Jones.

So that begs the question of how much evaluation and thinking has Gerard Gallant really done with this roster? Is there anything to indicate he has actually come in with an open mind and eyes for evaluation and proprietary strategic thinking a coach is supposed to bring or was he simply briefed on the players by Drury over the summer and came into camp with old ideas? Has he left the pairings and lines up to the players who will generally always default to comfort and familiarity?

Has the coaching staff and management come to a premature conclusion that the top 6F, top 4D and the PP work, so leave that alone and just focus on the bottom 6? Are we already stuck with a coach that has made up his mind on the lineup and is unwilling or unable to change it 1 game into his contract?

This team only had few things last season that worked: Panarin-Strome, PP1, and at times Miller-Trouba were among those. I'm not at all surprised, distressed, or outraged that a new coach opted to first try out line combinations that have had success before. If he could get the old combos to work while fixing what didn't, then we'd be set. Now obviously I doubt this will happen so easily but there's an obvious logic to his actions so far. Gallant has only coached NYR for one game, he will have time to try out new things and find out what works.
 
So far we have almost an identical line up.

KZB -> KZLaf. Bread-Strome-Blackwell -> BS-Kakko. The 3rd and 4th line were completely reformulate with mostly new players so you couldn't have replicated the old combos even if you tried. Identical D pairings. The 3rd pairing options are all new arrivals so no carry over possible there either.

The 1st PP has remained identical despite a new head coach and a new PP coach. By virtue of the 1st PP staying the same, the 2nd PP is the same as well. Slight difference in PK personnel but mostly due to new personnel on the roster.

We know he's a hand off coach and easy going coach. We're a training camp and a game into the season and I question whether or not he's thought about the lineup the way a new incoming coach needs to. The whole point of hiring a new coach is to get a new perspective, fresh set of eyes to evaluate talent, and give everyone a fresh slate by way of meritocracy. Gallant mentioned the systems are mostly the same and it's more about buy in.

This may be a matter of coaching style but I find the lack of thought and attempt to optimize and evaluate his talent properly distressing. He had Miller-Trouba locked in as a pairing by the 2nd or 3rd preseason game, perhaps sooner if that's what he had committed to all along and only revealed that to the media when asked. That pairing is the topic of discussion of this season so far. Both Miller and Trouba have been poor individually and could very well benefit from a new partner or the commonly proposed replacement of Miller with Jones.

So that begs the question of how much evaluation and thinking has Gerard Gallant really done with this roster? Is there anything to indicate he has actually come in with an open mind and eyes for evaluation and proprietary strategic thinking a coach is supposed to bring or was he simply briefed on the players by Drury over the summer and came into camp with old ideas? Has he left the pairings and lines up to the players who will generally always default to comfort and familiarity?

Has the coaching staff and management come to a premature conclusion that the top 6F, top 4D and the PP work, so leave that alone and just focus on the bottom 6? Are we already stuck with a coach that has made up his mind on the lineup and is unwilling or unable to change it 1 game into his contract?
same-same-but-different-gif-5.gif
 
It's a great point. Hate to even bring it into the conversation, but even the no decision on a captain. This guy needs to make his mark on this team, otherwise what is he doing?

that’s on the players IMO.

If there is no defined Captain then don’t just anoint one.
 
This team only had few things last season that worked: Panarin-Strome, PP1, and at times Miller-Trouba were among those. I'm not at all surprised, distressed, or outraged that a new coach opted to first try out line combinations that have had success before. If he could get the old combos to work while fixing what didn't, then we'd be set. Now obviously I doubt this will happen so easily but there's an obvious logic to his actions so far. Gallant has only coached NYR for one game, he will have time to try out new things and find out what works.
That’s partly what preseason is for. I get that the sample size is limited, but if there were any glaring weaknesses with the incumbent lineups, they should have been fixed by now. I suppose, in his defense, we have changed our playing styles and a substantial part of our roster — without addressing our most glaring weakness: quality of defense. Martin’s system masked our defensive ineptitude last year; Gallant’s system will surely expose it.

I like Gallant — or at least how his previous teams have played — but I have to admit last night’s display shocked me.
 
I’m convinced this guy has never watched Kravtsov & Gauthier game tape. Poor soul probably thinks Gauthier is going to score on one of those rushes to the net lol
 
Quinn lost the room and needed to be replaced. That doesn’t mean Quinn was wrong with every lineup decision.

With respect to Gallant, it’s fair to give him more than one regular season game. Hell, it’s fair to give him more than one entire season. New players, new organization, new city. That said, the first half of last night was a LOT better than anything I had seen from the Rangers all of last season. They lost their juice after going down 2-0, but that’s an emotional issue that can be resolved. Looking forward to seeing how this season plays out.
 
I can’t stand our PP. it’s obvious the players are running it

it’s absurdly perimeter and predictable. We should be just as good as Washington who play a tight 1-3-1

imagine Ovi hanging out by the blue line. Stop this shit already

If we ran the Pp with caps personnel they would just slowly pass the puck from bumper to boards with no movement and Ovi would be on the right side.
 
So far we have almost an identical line up.

KZB -> KZLaf. Bread-Strome-Blackwell -> BS-Kakko. The 3rd and 4th line were completely reformulate with mostly new players so you couldn't have replicated the old combos even if you tried. Identical D pairings. The 3rd pairing options are all new arrivals so no carry over possible there either.

The 1st PP has remained identical despite a new head coach and a new PP coach. By virtue of the 1st PP staying the same, the 2nd PP is the same as well. Slight difference in PK personnel but mostly due to new personnel on the roster.

We know he's a hand off coach and easy going coach. We're a training camp and a game into the season and I question whether or not he's thought about the lineup the way a new incoming coach needs to. The whole point of hiring a new coach is to get a new perspective, fresh set of eyes to evaluate talent, and give everyone a fresh slate by way of meritocracy. Gallant mentioned the systems are mostly the same and it's more about buy in.

This may be a matter of coaching style but I find the lack of thought and attempt to optimize and evaluate his talent properly distressing. He had Miller-Trouba locked in as a pairing by the 2nd or 3rd preseason game, perhaps sooner if that's what he had committed to all along and only revealed that to the media when asked. That pairing is the topic of discussion of this season so far. Both Miller and Trouba have been poor individually and could very well benefit from a new partner or the commonly proposed replacement of Miller with Jones.

So that begs the question of how much evaluation and thinking has Gerard Gallant really done with this roster? Is there anything to indicate he has actually come in with an open mind and eyes for evaluation and proprietary strategic thinking a coach is supposed to bring or was he simply briefed on the players by Drury over the summer and came into camp with old ideas? Has he left the pairings and lines up to the players who will generally always default to comfort and familiarity?

Has the coaching staff and management come to a premature conclusion that the top 6F, top 4D and the PP work, so leave that alone and just focus on the bottom 6? Are we already stuck with a coach that has made up his mind on the lineup and is unwilling or unable to change it 1 game into his contract?

Gallant had a rough first game. Playing Georgiev & Tinordi over Igor & Lundkvist was the flat wrong decision. I would be very disappointed if Nils isn't in the next game because his skill on D was sorely missed getting the puck up ice and on PP2 where Trouba was caught between wanting to be the QB & not getting the puck through.

I will give GG the benefit of the doubt on the forward lines & D pairs being the same, just because i'm sure he wants to see what he's got in them before he makes sweeping changes. If they have 2 more more duds this week and nothing changes, then i think its time for harsher criticism.
 
If we ran the Pp with caps personnel they would just slowly pass the puck from bumper to boards with no movement and Ovi would be on the right side.
Still don’t get RH Strome on the right side. That should be KK on PP1 and Laf on PP2. The threat of the one-timer carries value. And FFS: would someone move their effing feet?!
8B206162-C965-46C8-9804-832BED58B9FF.jpeg
 
Quinn lost the room and needed to be replaced. That doesn’t mean Quinn was wrong with every lineup decision.

With respect to Gallant, it’s fair to give him more than one regular season game. Hell, it’s fair to give him more than one entire season. New players, new organization, new city. That said, the first half of last night was a LOT better than anything I had seen from the Rangers all of last season. They lost their juice after going down 2-0, but that’s an emotional issue that can be resolved. Looking forward to seeing how this season plays out.

It's the definition of insanity, we were literally doing the same thing that cost us time and time again. Soft east west game is what our top lines want to play. The first 20ish was north south.

The thing is, you invite bad habits go remains by keeping the same exact lineup and setups.

Everyone knew Kreider on the right would fail.
It was time Miller and Trouba got split.
Strome on PP1 without a lefty on that sideboard it to easy to keep everything funneled, which the caps did the same thing to the 4 lefty unit.
Panarin and kaako have zero chemistry
When the going gets tough they go back to soft individual plays and stop supporting each other, just 5 random guys skating on the ice.

Everyone blamed the Warden (Quinn), because the inmates were running the asylum. Here we are again with questionable lineup decisions, stubbornness either by players and or the coach.

Yes it's game 1. But he never experimented in preseason. He lied when he didn't play the full lineup the last 2 pre season games so he could see these combos don't work. This was preventable.

I have high hopes for Gallant, but between the misdirection and roster decisions,maybe we are seeing with our own eyes why he can't keep a job for more than 3 seasons.
 
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The Caps players run the PP. Thing is it’s much easier to run a PP when you have two bombs and a good mix of size, creativity and handedness.

The way I see it, to draw a parallel from soccer, you can win the World Cup through unparalleled synergy and discipline (like Die Manschaft) or you can do it with creativity and spontaneity (like Brazil and, to a lesser extent, France). The point is you need to either overwhelm or surprise your enemy. The same is true in warfare. We do neither — and don’t have the tools for either. We don’t have an identity — just a collection of players. Two are elite. One is very good. A few show promise. The rest are kinda there.
You don't need a team full of elite players to be successful. Look at the Islanders.

It's a team game. I don't know if Gallant is going to do a good job, but I hope he does implement some changes. Last night was not an acceptable performance. They only got 1 shot in the second period. It's just not good enough.
 
I think it's worth remembering that many people thought we were good enough to be a playoff team last year. And we would have been, if not for the unique scheduling.

So while on the surface, we are changed from last season...there have been no huge fundamental changes in philosophy here. I don't think Drury ever gave an indication that he felt we were on the wrong track. He simply executed the owners wishes to get a little tougher to play against (with lower line acquisitions). And he chose to replace one players coach with another.

Changes will happen, but they'll happen at Gallant's pace.
 
I laughed when he pulled out his notepad when Blais took his first penalty... i guess it's better than losing KK on the bench but come on why are you taking notes, watch the f***ing game.

too early to really judge but that was off putting
 
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this thread is embarrassing

do you remember how ugly the beginning of AV's tenure was? they'll figure it out. it takes time.

I can’t stand our PP. it’s obvious the players are running it

it’s absurdly perimeter and predictable. We should be just as good as Washington who play a tight 1-3-1

imagine Ovi hanging out by the blue line. Stop this shit already
We've had a top 5 PP in the league since December 2019
 

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