Injuries
Goaltending
Coaching
In whichever order you like.
This in a nutshell.
Injuries
Goaltending
Coaching
In whichever order you like.
Yep, Maurice's TC absence is just another excuse. The Jets looked better before he got back, then started looking crappy again when he returned. His permanent absence is what the team needs as far as coaching goes.
How was Maurice able to coach such an effective 5v5 system in 2014/15? Did he get dumber? It's a bit of a mystery.
I don't think anyone believes he got dumber, is that an actual question? For some reason the message hasn't gotton through to this team though. Whether it's the players inability to execute it or the coaching staffs inability to teach it, both lay at Maurice's feet.
This team plays systematically different than the 14-15 team, mainly in their own end. I don't know why but I don't see it getting better unless he changes it.
I think there are a number of reasons why he hasn't been able to be as effective as 2014/15, but many seem to be reluctant to consider anything other than his incompetence. I think that's simplistic.
I think that's maybe painting way too many people with the same brush. There have been lots of reasoned points made for why he hasn't had this team playing better than just simple incompetence.
Shall we just say instead there are lots of reasons why he hasn't been as effective as 14-15 but many people can't consider anything but a variety of excuses?
Neither is fair.
I've seen lots of teams maintain their structure despite losing players to injury, including the 14-15 Jets. Sure, some top end skill is lost but not really how they approach their game. This team didn't look good out of the gate and it never consistently did, even after they got healthy and the scheduled lightened.
Injuries
Goaltending
Coaching
In whichever order you like.
I've consistently questioned Maurice's coaching, going back to 2014/15. I think he has strengths and weaknesses and I'm not sure he's the right coach for this roster. But I also recognize that he's had a lot of headwinds this season, including injuries, poor goaltending, and uneven performance by veteran defensemen. I think it's not strictly about a change in systems or competence this year.
Jets had as many as 9 1st and 2nd year players on the roster early on. Vets tend to be better with sticking to a system.
Usually, not exclusively. Maurice isn't the first coach to play with a young roster. Besides it's been pointed out many times, it didn't get a whole lot better when the team returned to health and had most, if not all of it's vets back.
the thing about Maurice's pedigree?
other than winning the cup with Carolina (and having on-fire goaltending), he's a 0.500 coach.
can't say the same about Babcock
I think things have gotten better since Buff elected to simplify his game. It hasn't been that surprising to me that we have been better since than as he's playing his best hockey of the season and can singlehandedly carry a pairing as he showed during our playoff year. It gives the coaches two real strong pairings. We need this Buff at the start of the season.
Is Babcock that much more effective than Maurice?
Injuries
Goaltending
Coaching
In whichever order you like.
I wouldn't want to point this out on the main board, but at the end of the year will these 2 teams be that much different.
Both could realistically end up 9th in their Conference.
Toronto has Buffalo (in Buffalo), Washington, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Columbus to end off the season. I don't like their chances in any of those games. Washington and Pittsburgh are no brainers, the game against Tampa will be huge. Playing the Jackets in the last game of the season, when nobody wants a loss heading into playoffs.
From where I sit if the Leafs don't beat Buffalo there's a pretty good chance they don't make the playoffs at all.
If that happens we have all the excuses listed in this thread for where we are, but they're in the same place and had a very lucky year on the injury front.
I think things have gotten better since Buff elected to simplify his game. It hasn't been that surprising to me that we have been better since than as he's playing his best hockey of the season and can singlehandedly carry a pairing as he showed during our playoff year. It gives the coaches two real strong pairings. We need this Buff at the start of the season.
Personally I think it has more to do with Buff not feeling the need to put the team on his back every shift, being out of the playoff race and all. I think his defensive statistics this year will be a blip, more random luck than anything compared to his previous years. I don't see a big difference in the way he plays honestly.
Injuries, schedule, goaltending, yes, these are all issues, but the big problem is that this group is a bunch of losers. All year long with the excuses, and now the narrative is "woe is me" we need to to work so hard to compete even though the games are meaningless.....waaaaa