Anyone else questioning Tmac's handling of Demers and Braun?
I'm the first guy to preach defensive responsibility. But all-around play is the key. The coaching staff has two players with very respectable offensive ability. Would it not behoove them to let Demers/Braun/maybe Irwin's offensive games round out as well?
From my perspective, TMac has put more of an emphasis on the defensive side. Both players get powerplay time, but they are clearly playing tentatively offensively. Rewards by Tmac almost exclusively seem to depend on defensive prowess. I've noticed that when either player makes a mistake in the defensive zone (and this goes for Irwin as well), TMac continues to give him playing time; he's not so harsh with the discipline. I actually like the way he handles it. But when either makes a mistake in the offensive zone that leads to trouble the other way, it seems like TMac cracks the whip immediately.
Everyone. Especially against a speedy team like the Hawks, it's inexcusable to dress Murray instead of Demers. Not to mention Demers' career numbers vs. the Hawks are pretty good.
I don't think McLellan is putting an emphasis on the defensive side, more-so the veteran side. This season, Braun, Demers, and Irwin have been better than Murray. McLellan just dresses Murray because he's a "veteran".
Seriously, is McLellan the only coach in the league that continues to dress struggling players? Under coaches like Trotz, if you don't play well for a number of games, you sit in the press box and you think about how to improve your game. Under McLellan, if you're a veteran and you don't play well, you continue to play so you could "play out of your slump". Demers and Braun were better than White last year, but he dressed White. Demers has been far better than Murray this year, but he dresses Murray. Galiardi and Wingels have been more effective than Burish, yet he dresses Burish.