With Bunting here now the PP1 issue shouldn’t be personnel. It’s either the coaches f***ing up, the players not listening or probably both.
Being the sole reason we missed the playoffs, they better f***ing figure it out before the season starts.
That solves the net front, yeah, but not the left wall. Rakell regressed there, and I don't think he's a strong bet to play like year 1 there again.
Rust fluctuates between useful and shit there, so that's an unknown. Smith's a left shot and not particularly good on the PP anyway.
If we don't make a big acquisition, I would try Puustinen there. He can whistle it pretty good, and he likes to shoot.
It's very important because the puck is on the right side of our formation too much. Makes us predictable, and unable to stretch out the opposition box, and create openings.
What's needed is a Stamkos or rejuvenated Laine or something.
Apart from that, yeah there was certainly coaching issues with it. We need Karlsson to be way more aggressive with pushing into space. He was so timid at the first sign of pressure, fading back to the extreme perimeter and wasting time. Malkin's really old and shouldn't be playing the point anymore too.