Topper wrote: ↑Thu Dec 09, 2021 8:13 am
Did Green harp on every mistake and kill the collective confidence of the roster?
I don't know if he killed the confidence of the roster, but I think he did focus too much attention on error and not enough on the benefits have come from risk. Its why Green couldn't stomach players like Goldobin but was pleased with little thing players. Not saying Goldy would've blossomed into a good NHL player; just saying that doing things one does well twice as well helps a hockey club win as much as fixing the things a player does wrong. But to do things twice as well, you have to encourage risk taking and simply try to help developing players exercise discretion until their skill improves. When players play not to make mistakes, they don't play to exploit the other team. Having said that, Green appeared to give considerably more leash to EP and Miller. Something different is going on there. And I think that doesn't have to do with much that BB has said, and more to do with the fact that the players know that BB is taking stock of what he has and so they are all playing for jobs/ice time/roles.
Topper wrote: ↑Thu Dec 09, 2021 8:13 am
Hopefully it will be a long time before we see Podkolzin pyloning the PK again.
The kid won't learn how to do it unless he plays it. Having said that, BB is not playing anyone for development purposes yet. He's taking stock. And as for the PK, I think the problem was personnel first. I am pretty sure I commented to that effect. If you want new personnel on the PK, you have to get new players or use the players that weren't being used. And guess what? The PK looks better when better players are playing. Last night they gave up a 5 on 3 goal and were getting blasted on another 5 on 4 (Demko was brilliant), but they also had no less than 4 high quality shorthanded opportunities.
System *can* matter for the PK, but the fact is that take-away-time v. clog-passing-and-shooting-lanes approaches can be equally effective when executed well. Not every system is executable with the personnel being used.
Bottom line, though, I love that BB is trying out more skilled players. Last time we saw that was Torts, but Torts used skill players without all that much emphasis on the time-space & counter attack (he was into blocking shooting lanes as the priority). And so the Sedins blocked shots. Not exactly an optimal approach.
Topper wrote: ↑Thu Dec 09, 2021 8:13 am
Is this the best we've seen Meyers play?
Watching him last night I remembered that he was once the rookie of the year. He's had a few stinkers this year, but he's had as many outstanding games (like last night) as stinkers, and I think overall he's played a solid game. He's played like a top 4 NHL defenseman.
As limited as the Canucks D personnel is, they are playing in line with their talent level. Not exceeding it, but there is no player that is playing well below their capabilities (as was the case with Schmidt the first half of last year, for example). At least that's the case 5 on 5.