sensodyne17
Registered User
- Feb 7, 2025
- 61
- 132
I think you can [insert legend] as a HC and comments would be similar. Don't get me wrong though, Tocchet has certainly plied his trade.
Speaking of shots, at what point is the system or gameplanning to blame? DeBrusk is new but his shot rate this season is at a career low. Boeser is near career lows. Garland is at a career low. Suter is at a career low. Sherwood's shot rate was higher last season. Heinan's shot rate hasn't been this low since his time in Anaheim and his shot rate is higher since he got to Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Chytil's shot rate is higher than his shot rate in NY.
We're all frustrated from the over-passing, reluctance to shoot, low % pass plays, dump and chase, not making plays etc.... including Tocchet. How many times has he complained to the media about these things? You can attribute the shot rate drop-off due to a various things. Having your 1C and best playmaker stink the whole year and go on leave of absence for a month and then ultimately is traded for some middling pieces is certainly going to hurt your offense. Having your other 1C completely lose his game and play like a shell of himself is also certainly going to hurt your offense. Losing your top two puck moving dman for extended period of times and/or playing hurt is certainly going to hurt your offense.
Last year was an anomaly in the sense everything went right and there were no material injuries. This year has been an absolute gongshow. Is this a system thing or has the team has completely imploded and we have to make due of what we can? I'm leaning on the accumulation of all the unlucky things that have happened over the course of the season that has completely sucked the life out the team.
Despite this... Tocch has us in a playoff spot. Firing him or letting him go just reeks of desperation and recency bias. The fact is this core does not deserve anymore coaches. Tocch has showed us his systems can succeed by taking what many thought to be a mid team, to a Game 7 Semi-Finals against Edmonton.
By all accounts, I've never heard anyone say anything bad about Tocchet and players seem to love to play for him. He's also a Stanley Cup champion and well respected given his achievements on the ice. He's sensible, stands up for his players, and embodies everything you want in a coach when it comes to leadership and accountability.
Yes, does he juggle his lines too much? Perhaps. Does his powerplay units make no sense sometimes? Perhaps. But generally, Tocchet is absolutely the right person for the job and there are few better. He's completely fixed the PK units, the overall structure, and has us competitive in every game against almost any opponent (other than a few bad apples). It's not pretty to the eyes but the players seem to be playing with synergy and know exactly what roles/spots they need to be in. The easy way to not over-think this is, the Canucks have probably the worst luck out of any team in the league when it comes to unfortunate events (injuries, drama, etc.) and are still in a playoff spot. Tocchet is not even in the top 20 list of problems right now.