I just don't get it. I thought last year was the "learning year" as Maurice said and now these guys would come in and know their lanes, routes, etc. So what's going on? Why isn't more in sync when it comes to systems, PK, 5on5, etc. Was 82 games last year not enough? What about the training camp, 8 pre-season and 6 regular season games to date?
The org. apparently flipped the switch to a younger core after the 2014-15 playoff year, so here is a list of players that have been on this roster dating back to 2015-16 to today. 2 full years. 82-164+ games, practices, systems, PK/special teams work, 5on5, consistency, chemistry, etc.
Wheeler (170 games), Little (122 games), Scheifele (156 games), Perreault (141 games), Ehlers (160 games), Laine (79 games), Lowry (160 games), Copp (147 games), Armia (104 games), Dano (64 games), Petan (85 games), Tanev (60 games).
Byfuglien (165 games), Trouba (147 games), Enstrom (138 games), Morrissey (89 games), Myers (90 games), Chiarot (129 games).
Do the math, because something isn't right here. Unless these players are just stupid and cannot pick up on the systems being asked of them? If that is the case we are in deep trouble because Chevy and co. drafted, developed and implemented 3/4 of this very roster. Sorry, but when the bulk of your roster cannot play efficiently 5on5, the PK, lack chemistry and consistency, we're led to believe they are young, smart and promising players, and they've been together under the same coach for this amount of games, that's incredibly concerning.
And the real kicker for me is, is this isn't even close to the same roster Maurice inherited in 2013-14 for those 35 games. The players on the roster for Noel's firing include just six: Little, Wheeler, Scheifele (rookie yr), Byfuglien, Enstrom, Trouba (rookie yr). So I don't buy the argument of "this team has already gotten 1 coach fired (Noel), they shouldn't get another"... No, this isn't remotely close to that team that got Noel sacked. And the only players on the roster today that were present for the successful 2014-15 playoff year: Forwards x 5 - Wheeler, Little, Scheifele, Perreault, Lowry. Defense x 4 - Byfuglien, Trouba, Enstrom, Myers.
The fact of the matter for me is we have relied heavily on this very group now for 2 full years since management took it in a new/different direction, this is the third, why are they still looking lost out there? where's the chemistry? consistency? Where is the systems to run an efficient 5on5 play? Where is the systems to run an efficient PK?
We've had roster turnover. We've had a major injection of youth. We've had 2 full seasons with the bulk of the same roster after the playoff year and direction change. We went to a team led by Ladd - Little - Wheeler + Enstrom - Byfuglien to a team now boasting elite young talent in Ehlers - Scheifele - Laine + Morrissey - Trouba. We've had two full seasons worth of training camps, pre-seasons, practices, etc. We've changed asst. coaches.
