Post-Game Talk: Leave

[Oscar Lindberg]

Only watched the first two periods but this seems like a classic game that illustrates why Gallant doesn’t stick around very long.

Dude just cannot adjust and get out of his own way.

Also seen the stills of Drury floating around on the internet, he did not look happy.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Kreider has ONE power play point in his last 18 games.

Panarin has only THREE power play points in his last 20 games.

Zibanejad has just SIX PP points in his last 20 games.

Trocheck has just THREE PP points in his last 20 games.

Collectively, PP1 has scored just SEVEN power play goals in the last 20 games. At a quick count, they have had Fifty-Six full PP opportunities during that span. That means that, strictly speaking about the PP1 unit, they have been converting at a rate of only 12.5%, which puts them dead last in the league over the last 20 games (several % points below the next worst team).

The first power play unit has been broken for nearly a quarter of a season, and it has been dead entirely for a good 10 game stretch (only 2 PPG's in the last 10 games--only one in the last 9).

The fact that that can happen, and GG can just state outright that those guys are too good to be held accountable in any way is setting an absolutely toxic standard for the rest of the roster.

So you think 10-12 games is enough to make major changes when that same unit has been a top PP for a few years? PP units do have ups and downs. Coaches understand this and usually give proven players the benefit of the doubt.

Only watched the first two periods but this seems like a classic game that illustrates why Gallant doesn’t stick around very long.

Dude just cannot adjust and get out of his own way.

Also seen the stills of Drury floating around on the internet, he did not look happy.

I would bet big money that Drury was unhappy with the players on the ice who let Marner skate around them more than the coach.

 

[EdJovanovski]

-2
Damn Bedard the best Lafreniere

 

[PuckLuck3043]

15 pages of complaints because they got 1 point instead of 2 against a very good Toronto team on the road. This board never ceases to amaze me.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Sawchyn is the next Kravtsov
You heard it here first

 

[Unpredictable1]

I think I only saw one pic of Drury floating around and he didn't appear neither here nor there on being mad looking to me. Almost in a weird daze leaning against the wall...maybe thinkin of Big League Chew.

Is there a video or something?

 

[smoneil]

So what? What about the last 3 years? Sometimes coaches place more emphasis on that than the "what have you done for me lately" crowd like so many on this board.

You ride out a dry spell based on reputation for ~5 games or so. When it's gone on for 20+ games, and has gotten considerably worse over the last 10 games? You do something to address/fix it. That's part of the job description of being a coach. Any yutz can just collect a couple mil per year to look at what worked for the last 3 years and keep doing it over and over again regardless of results.

Bottom line, and I've been saying it for weeks now, is that this team has the players to roll out two distinct, more balanced power play units so that when one is dry the other can be leaned on. Right now, we have a power play unit and an afterthought unit. And that's not going to cut it, particularly with how poorly PP1 has been for an extended period of time.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

I think I only saw one pic of Drury floating around and he didn't appear neither here nor there on being mad looking to me. Almost in a weird daze leaning against the wall...maybe thinkin of Big League Chew.

Is there a video or something?

There was a video of him looking upset when they lost in OT as any GM would be when the players on the ice let a guy skate around them

 

[smoneil]

Not surprised. The Isles have lost 10 of their last 11. My "dead last" comment was in regard to the league average. As in, over the last 20 games, our PP1 unit is several percentage points below the worst PP's in the league. I'm sure you had a point in posting that, but it looks more like an attempt at deflection.

 

[EdJovanovski]

-2 & a penalty when trailing with a couple mins left
This guy worse than Laf

 

[smoneil]

I'm not seeing what you're seeing. PP1 gets chances and PP2 passes along the perimeter and maybe Trouba puts a harmless shot on net. Between Trouba and Mika I know who I want shooting on the PP.

There is an "option 3" where two new PP units are constructed so that they have a bit more balance to them (and they aren't ALL lefties or righties). Trouba shouldn't be on either of those hypothetical units.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Alot of that is true but Shesty hasn't been God like since late last regular season.

Not his fault tonight but the guy has been as mediocre by his standards as Panarin has been this year but gets away with it. People get on Panarin not because he's a bad player in vacuum but is not nearly as good as can be, why people don't see the same with Shesty I don't know.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

You ride out a dry spell based on reputation for ~5 games or so. When it's gone on for 20+ games, and has gotten considerably worse over the last 10 games? You do something to address/fix it. That's part of the job description of being a coach. Any yutz can just collect a couple mil per year to look at what worked for the last 3 years and keep doing it over and over again regardless of results.

Bottom line, and I've been saying it for weeks now, is that this team has to players to roll out two distinct, more balanced power play units so that when one is dry the other can be leaned on. Right now, we have a power play unit and an afterthought unit. And that's not going to cut it, particularly with how poorly PP1 has been for an extended period of time.

PP2 has actually been getting more time lately from what I see and for the most part they aren't very productive. I don't know about changing things up after 5-10 games when you have guys on PP1 that have played together for 3 years and have a proven track record of success. The only player I would consider changing is Trocheck.

 

[hackeyman]

15 pages of complaints because they got 1 point instead of 2 against a very good Toronto team on the road. This board never ceases to amaze me.

But when we beat Florida 6-2 the other night it was as dead as a doorknob.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

There is an "option 3" where two new PP units are constructed so that they have a bit more balance to them (and they aren't ALL lefties or righties). Trouba shouldn't be on either of those hypothetical units.

I don't know anyone but Trochek is candidate to leave PP1. Kreider has been disappointing there that year but still historically a dominant PP player. Maybe you can convince me Trochek should be off the PP for Chytil or Kakko or someone but beyond that our PP1 personnel is just better than PP2 personnel.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

But when we beat Florida 6-2 the other night it was as dead as a doorknob.

It always is because the whiners can't do what they do best.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

But when we beat Florida 6-2 the other night it was as dead as a doorknob.

Halfway through that Florida game with a lead you'd think the team was losing 5-0. Anyway, I can't really talk as I'm notoriously negative too and this loss was one of the worst all season, but yeah pretty much every game now this is the worst team of all time. They do lack a killer instinct. They've lost far more winnable games than vice versa.

 

[smoneil]

So you think 10-12 games is enough to make major changes when that same unit has been a top PP for a few years? PP units do have ups and downs. Coaches understand this and usually give proven players the benefit of the doubt.

You quote a post where I broke down a 20 game stretch of ineptitude, and then ask a question about 10-12 games? Coaches (and I say this as someone who has coached quite a bit) understand things like benefit of the doubt. They also understand things like trends, diminishing returns, creating viable options within the roster to turn to when something isn't working from game to game, and recognizing that they have more (and more ready) talent on the roster than they did three years ago, etc etc etc.

A 12.5% for a full quarter of a season is not "ups and downs." It's broken down entirely, and it's been trending downwards rather than the other way around. And even before it broke down entirely, the PP this season has not looked nearly as effective as it did last season.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I will say, I like the new NHL a lot more than the old NHL but it doesn't help that 1 goal lead in the 3rd is no longer even close to a safe lead. Losing these third period leads is so demoralizing.

 

[Slaydagnar]

That has to be the worst OT we’ve seen from this team all season. They were all completely flabbergasted that someone on the other team actually was taking the puck and just gonna go to the net and try and score. They surely expected him to just skate in circles doubling back and passing endlessly and doing nothing.

When Kreider missed that slam dunk to make it 3-1 you knew it would come back to bite us. Rough game from him. Missed that gimme and then gets out muscled by Lilegren on the tying goal. Brutal stuff from him, he’s surely playing hurt but come on.

Kid line and Mika are the only forwards doing anything.

Last 10 mins was just AV era turtling. That was not fun at all.

I like Trocheck but I swear he is the most unskilled and hockey dumb center who’s actually good that I’ve ever seen.

Trochek hits but overall defensively he has been a black hole his whole career. Watched him here in Florida for years. Has a big heart but lacks hockey iq

 

[Machinehead]

15 pages of complaints because they got 1 point instead of 2 against a very good Toronto team on the road. This board never ceases to amaze me.

To be fair, it's not 15 entire pages of complaining. @will1066 and I were funny a couple of times.

 

[huerter]

I don't know anyone but Trochek is candidate to leave PP1. Kreider has been disappointing there that year but still historically a dominant PP player. Maybe you can convince me Trochek should be off the PP for Chytil or Kakko or someone but beyond that our PP1 personnel is just better than PP2 personnel.

If they can convince you of that then geometry is just a myth.

 

[CLW]

Did anyone else see Goody sit on the bench in tears after the loss? Obviously this game meant a lot to him and other Canadian players and coaches.

I don't think Gallant being flippant about getting a point is going down too well, it's clear Gallant is deflecting. The Rangers choked in the 3rd period.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

We got half a win today. People forget that. Gallant got half a win today.

Gee whiz. When Gerard gets home can you tell him not to bench his best line next time.

 

[smoneil]

PP2 has actually been getting more time lately from what I see and for the most part they aren't very productive. I don't know about changing things up after 5-10 games when you have guys on PP1 that have played together for 3 years and have a proven track record of success. The only player I would consider changing is Trocheck.

I haven't been able to watch every game (blackout here and there), but I haven't seen PP2 getting more time. They got a full minute once a bunch of games back, and scored on it, but they have generally getting their 20 to 25 seconds per PP. They did get the first 30 seconds of a PP a couple of games ago, which was unusual, but the actual time they get doesn't seem to have changed.

And I'm also not advocating for swapping the two units. PP2 is a bit flawed in construction, and Trouba has no business being on either PP unit. That's part of my issue. PP2 is an afterthought in its usage and its construction. I want the team to put together two viable PP units out of Panarin, Chytil, Kreider, Trocheck, Kakko, Lafreniere, Zibanejad, Fox, and maybe Miller (Fox is the only player I'd want out there for the full stretch). Kravtsov is another maybe. If one unit is hot, give them 1:30. If they go on a cold stretch, run the other unit. Putting all the perceived eggs into one basket with no backup plan is a recipe for disaster. If one of these 20 game cold stretches happened in the post-season? With no other plan in place but "keep trying because it worked three years ago"? We'd be out in round one.

And I would really appreciate it if you would stop trying to artificially minimize the issue. My earlier post clearly showed a 20 game stretch where PP1 has been dismal, which includes a 10 game stretch (that they are currently on) where PP1 has been incompetent. You've now framed my argument as being about a "10-12 game" stretch of poor play (in an earlier post) and now as a "5-10 game" stretch of poor play. My post wasn't ambiguous. This is a 20 game (and counting) run of horrid play from PP1. Be honest about that at least.