maacoshark
Registered User
- Jul 22, 2017
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Looks like we are all sports psychologists here.Which he has done to the point of suspension previously. Over-engagement to the point of lack of discipline has been pretty costly under Trotz. Frustration due to max effort not paying off as immediately as they'd like has been another problem. Trying to do too much and getting on the wrong side of the puck have been other signs of that lack of balance. They need to be wary of the balance of intensity, structure/discipline, urgency and patience. Maybe a different cast, some younger and improving, changes things. We'll see but I don't tend to think just doing what they've done the past few seasons is enough. They need buy-in and confidence but also the mental toughness, openness and commitment to not just think they've figured it all out due to regular season outcomes.
Trotz needs to crack the whip and get on them that the only way killer instinct is forged is to be unsparing and accountable beyond end results. Or else it's likely to be too one-dimensional...just keep them to the outside, stay disciplined and see if they stray. And they have. A big part of it is focusing more and more on the dirty areas at both ends. Making it more of a priority to be an increasingly interior attacking team will be important if secondary scoring isn't to dry up again. That way they're not just focused on letting their skill come to the forefront thanks to defensive structure and feel/engagement but applying it at times in a manner more likely to translate in the playoffs. It's a fine line between straying from what comes natural and expanding their game but they need to better cash in on their confidence to develop an increasingly scrappy style while retaining what already do well naturally. I'm not sure Trotz has that level of vision or that the style of the personnel is ideally suited to just do it themselves. Top Line Tom may offer some much-needed grease but I'm still not sure about the rest. It's a decent strength in Vrana's game and arguably what separates him from Burakovsky IMO in being a better scoring-line fit for the top six. And, of course, a similar scrappiness needs to become part of the games of Bowey and Djoos. I don't expect much from Djoos in that area but stick/body position is a key part of doing it in a more finesse manner.
I guess I'm mainly not sure they're grooving the right things mentally. The track record suggests not but maybe that's too extreme. They've been close but they need to avoid getting too complacent. Complacency within their typical buy-in has been the main underlying issue IMO. Better luck could help but focusing on becoming increasingly intelligent and situationally adept is the sort of groundedness they need. That way their applied effort has more depth.