I think the biggest issue is that people don't know what MSL is telling his players or his actual objectives. Especially the last two seasons when the focus was on development.
Even if the team is playing like shit with low efforts and poor execution collectively, I personally think individidually some of them are still improving.
And the low effort seems to be tied to MSL trying to manage, and have the players manage, their energy over 60 minutes/82 games. The way he explained it, it seems like the team isn't suposed to play the same way all the time. That's going to cause confusion/synch issues.
There is also confusion in the dzone because they are implementing a new system and it's very hard to know if the players are doing what the coaches are telling them there...
Structure and strict systems are easy to implement and a much quicker way to raise the performance floor of a group... But the ceiling is limited by that same rigidity.
Fluid, read & react play is far more difficult to excel at, but when achieved, leads to a much higher performance ceiling... Especially if the group has a high degree of individual talent.
Slaf, Suzuki, CC, Dach, Laine, Newhook.
6 first round talents, 3 of which were top 3 in their respective drafts.
Plus Demidov & Hage
Guhle, Hutson, Barron, RB, Mailloux, Engstrom, Konyushkov... 4 first round talents and 3 that may well prove to have been first round caliber talents from their respective draft classes....
Hughes is quite clearly focused on assembling high skill/talent individuals, the likes of which could absolutely excel in that type of play.
What we're witnessing is the painful and necessary dip that has to be traversed in order to allow that huge ceiling to be realized.
Hiring a coach like a Claude Julien absolutely could come in a instill a far more structured and rigid style of play that would quickly reduce the mistakes & perceived "lack of structure" the armchair brigade is clamoring for... Fortunately, our leadership group sees the bigger picture and has the patience & determination to stick to the hard path of getting there.
Best part. MSL seems to be doing a great job of keeping the team's spirit and confidence high despite the fan/media reactivity. Hopefully that is still true by the end of this season
