Hugo Stiglitz wrote:mikey287 wrote:I can't answer that as I don't coach the team (fortunately or unfortunately)...also, I'm weary of my own ability to coach a power play...I tend to have power plays that are against the norm with wrinkles like the "end-line rover" that can be befuddling to some when explained on paper/whiteboard...I fear I overcoach some units and under-coach at other times...
So, I'm not sure if I'm the best power play strategist for a talented team such as this one...sometimes offensive players just need to be alloted a green light to create within a given set of guidelines. We have a fair mix of playmaking and players that are able to shoot, which is promising. Having everything crammed into one unit causes complications though...if they continue with a stacked one-unit system, they might be expected to play 90 seconds of a power play...how that affects even strength situations is yet to be determined, if it does happen...
I go back and forth with the PP issues of this team. Sometimes I feel it's the "too many cooks in the kitchen" scenario...it can make other players, i.e. Letang, gun-shy and feel they need to always get the puck to Sid or Gino instead of shooting when having the chance. If that's the case, it's more of the coach addressing the players that they need to take their chances when they're given.
Other times I feel some players are given positions on the PP because of who they are rather than using the player more suited for that area. My biggest gripe with the PP is when Bylsma gives Sid precedent over Malkin on the half-wall and places Malkin at the point. Malkin is clearly uncomfortable at the point and doesn't play strong there. The PP is much more potent when Malkin is on the half-wall over Sid, but...it's Sid's team, so Bylsma does what he does. It really baffles me. I think Sid needs to be down low; his strengths close around the net and along the boards behind the goalie are incredible and I think it does Sid a disservice to not use him there.
@Hugo: totally agree with Sid and Geno being misused positionally just for the sake of having them both out there. Letang needs to be a threat from the point, not what he is doing now.
@Mikey: With Staal gone, who is going to be the focal point of the 2nd PP unit (if there is one!)? Are Letang-Despres and Nisky-Martin likely 1/2 PP pairings?
IMO Sid n Geno need to be split, get Tangradi some time in front of the net (he must be better in that role than Kunitz) and get a PP strategy that does not involve Sid, Geno and Letang playing pass the hot potato.
