This is my feeling. You watch this team, granted it’s only been two games, but it feels so improperly constructed. Like 10 random puzzle pieces that are supposed to fit together. It reminds me of that MJ coached team in 2015 against the Rangers. Had some talent but the pieces weren’t right at all. They made a couple of tweaks in 2016 and well the rest is history.
I'd argue this team isn't that off constructed like that MJ team - Even that team was misusing Perron.
The usage is just horrific. We all have seen Guentzel-Malkin-Rust be magic and Zucker & Crosby show amazing chemistry, but this team wants to cater to that line and instead of making 2 lines good, they've made 2 lines poor.
The 4th line does its thing, the 3rd line is finally existent now, but the top 6, a simple tweak would be incredible. Not only that, Sullivan is choosing to play Rodrigues in the top 6, he took out Ceci to throw in Ruhwedel, so he's capable of taking someone out and making that change, but to marry Rodrigues to the top line and ruin that line while the 2nd line looks way out of sorts is just ridiculous. Zucker has looked good, why wouldn't you just roll Zucker-Crosby-Laffery (anyone but Rod) or even double shift Tanev there and then put Guentzel with Geno and Rust and see if they can jump start that a little?
The defense, Dumoulin has been awful since the Habs play in, actually since he came back from his injury he hasn't looked the same. I would have liked to see them shift things up too, so he swaps MM with MP and that's the only change he can make outside of Ceci for Ruhwedel?
Dan "Dipshit" Bylsma was more capable of changes. Both also loved to make example out of young players.