I am still struggling in trying to convince myself that Maurice is anything other than an average NHL coach with a lot of experience. He has what, about a 0.513 coaching record, only being over 0.500 due to loser points. There is Jets team success this year so he deserves the coach's share of the credit. But when we look at the old saying, 'show me a good goalie and I will show you a good coach'' I think it applies to our success this year.
I did this calculation for fun and posted in another thread, but I think it belongs here. Just looking at Helle's shots faced, and doing a goals against calculation of Helle's 0.925 sv% vs a Pavelec like 0.906 sv% - we would have 34 more goals against.
Looking at goals differential and standings, we would drop from a +45 to a +11 goals differential. That would put is on the bubble and in a fight for the final wild card spot with Dallas (+15 diff) and Colorado (+17 diff).
Trust me, I struggle with this. All of the discussion around our depth and that we have the best top 9 in the NHL, and how great the free agent signings were, and how draft and/or develop has blossomed this year (Copp, Tanev, Roslo, KC), how another year of experience for Laine/Ehlers has improved their games, etc etc.
Then I look back to where we would be as a team if we still had a 0.906 guy like Pav instead of an allstar like Helle. And we would be on the bubble or on the outside of the playoffs. Just like other years.
I am having a hard time squaring this circle. How much of our success is really coaching or any/all of these other factors?
Serious question. It's hard for me to see how the lion's share of our success this year is not specifically attributable to Helle. Am I wrong? Help me understand.