FonRiesen
Registered User
I know what you're saying, though he has 3 other options than Laine: one is ineffective (we don't have Buff) and Schief & KC struggle to get open because they don't move enough either, and are constantly covered whenever they're a threat. There were a few attempts to add movement, but it's like they never practiced the PP (I've heard people say that it's not necessary - can't remember if that was Mau or a poster).Part of the issue is Wheeler has only one place to go with his pass.
I'm not arguing that the PP isn't pretty bad and that coaching is a part of it, but it's a little tiresome of this attitude that Laine is doing absolutely nothing wrong and it's only the incompetence of the coaching staff that he hasn't hit 50 goals yet. He has some things in his game that he needs to improve upon himself to do that, and part of that is not standing still on the power play.
It really doesn't help that Wheeler has lost a small step, and we don't have Buff to be Buff. Oh, and our best player at gaining the zone doesn't play on PP1 - they should really be designing a PP around Ehlers' movement IMO (at least try it - can't be worse that what we have).