If coaches have no impact then why have them let alone pay them crazy sums of money. I get it, their actual impact is likely overstated a bit but some on here seem to think they make very little difference. Yes it is the players who ultimately play on the ice but much like a conductor conducting a symphony the coach needs assemble the pieces he has together and provide direction and guidance. He needs to make sure the parts are working optimally together.
In the end I think the team is feeling the pressure of the expectations and is wilting under them which is leading to them over thinking things and trying to take short cuts. On the flip side Maurice has done very little to get things on track. He's doubled down on his bad habits and has proceeded to ride our vets too hard despite poor results.
If we flame out early next year will be telling. Is it a team that had to suffer a hard lesson to really take the next step or is the roster not quite as good as expected. This applies to Maurice as Well, does he learn and grow or does he continue to coach the same way with the same biases.
As far as a potential coach, I have been beating the Sheldon Keefe drum for a while now. He's a real good young and up and coming progressive coach with a terrific track record. He also coaches a very up tempo offensive system which fits the roster.
Now you're really reaching. Yeah I'm sure Carlyle was right there on the ice guiding Selanne's goals into the net like the magic man he is.
