Ummm, this is also why teachers don't give a final exam on the second day of school. Sometimes, it is laughable to think that people don't understand that you don't just put someone in the lineup and <POOF!> good things happen.
As someone has said, Tippett actually runs a more complicated scheme than people realize. So for now, let's find out who is making the right plays within that system. Find out whose motor is adjusted to the rigors of the NHL or AHL. If we are getting too far ahead of ourselves and getting confused on assignments and what to do, then we step back and simplify the process. May take 10 games, may take 25 games. Could never happen for players that have all the tools in the toolbox, but don't understand the mental aspects of the game well enough. May be a two steps forward, three steps back process for some players as they learn.
Even though there is probably no "playbook" like an NFL team gives to its players, does anyone here think that an NFL team is taught and coached every play in the playbook, starting with the first game? That doesn't happen, and it is the same way with the NHL. Tippett is bringing them along, maybe teaching more than he has in the past. He has probably not introduced every point of his system - maybe 55-70%. Maybe not even that much. If the team executes properly on the 55-70% of the system that they know, then a lot of games will look like the one last night. We may win, may lose, but we will be pretty competitive throughout.
Have patience.
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