Flames have been in free fall since losing Tkachuk and Gaudreau. I would be much more inclined to judge Savard by his time in St Louis where the pp was better than Toronto in spite of the lack of pure finishers. I don't see him as an obvious upgrade but this year didn't work so what's the downside? Any change is a chance right?
I think most people are missing the point when it comes to the Leafs powerplay. Over the last several years it has consistently been one of the best in the league (three seasons ago it was in fact the best in the league). But it dies every year in the playoffs, despite having the exact same set-up as the regular season. I suspect the problem is not the power play coach - it's that the same players who struggle to produce offense at 5 on 5 in the playoffs also struggle to produce offense on the power play. In other words, it's the players, not the coach.
Take a step back and think about what you are saying. Some of the best hockey players in the world (Matthews, Marner and Nylander) were not able to adjust their play when time and space was taken away from them? How is that a coaching issue, when the same thing happens at 5 on 5? Did anyone notice that the bottom doesn't drop out of Tampa's power play when the playoffs start? Is it because of their assistant coaches, or is because Kucherov, Hedman, Point and Stamkos can perform even when time and space is reduced? It just seems pie in the sky to me to think that this is a coaching issue.
Coaching is all about telling players who to pass to and when, same as who to cover on breakouts. There is a lot of whiteboard time teaching them to follow schemes rather than instincts. No coach says "just go dangle". The one who anticipates and chokes the breakouts or exploits the coverage habits of the opposition is going to do well.
Marc Savard probably running PP2, while Boucher staying on to continue running PP1...
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No e of the assistants should be retained, but Can Ryan might avoid the axe…….
Yup, Alberta us a wonderful place if you avoid Calgary and Edmonton. Westerners hate the east, but those two sewers are as left as Toronto is that’s for damn sure…….
I don't think we miss the point. We have eyes that work. We want change. We want improvements. We hope a coach can change things. As far as the other stuff we know what to expect: the core is under contract and remains here. Since they can't trade themselves for the fans, we can only hope someone will coach a better way.
