Weak.
- MattStrat

I lack the urgency to post hot takes.

Its on the players mainly. They just dont exhibit much urgency when the standings situation isn't dire. It was like this last year except last year I really do think exhaustion was a factor on top of it.
- MattStrat

It’s not a coaches job to necessarily inspire or anything like that, but when you look at one of the biggest issues this year being effort, coasting, not playing with urgency or whatever you want to call it, I don’t think it falls on the coach unless the coach continues to say we played well, but we can be better.

We clearly have no idea what happens in that locker room with Sullivan, but if that’s any indicator he seems to diminish any sense of urgency.

It just seems he’d rather call out a few players rather than the whole team.

I lack the urgency to post hot takes.
- Feds91Stammer

I thought you wrote hot cakes. Now Im hungry, thanks.

It’s not a coaches job to necessarily inspire or anything like that, when you look at one of the biggest issues this year being effort, coasting, not playing with urgency or whatever you want to call it, I don’t think it falls on the coach unless the coach continues to say we played well, but we can better.

We clearly have no idea what happens in that locker room with Sullivan, but if that’s any indicator he seems to diminish any sense of urgency.

It just seems he’d rather call out a few players rather than the whole team.
- Rinosaur

5v5 ranks

when tied

CF% 8th
SCF% 7th
HDCF% 13th

Score is within 1 goal either way

CF% 10th
SCF% 7th
HDCF% 11th

Am I alone here thinking Sullivan may be the biggest problem?
- Rinosaur

Hes not helping as much as he did in the past years. But I think JR has (frank)ed him quite a few times in the last 14 months.

5v5 ranks

when tied

CF% 8th
SCF% 7th
HDCF% 13th

Score is within 1 goal either way

CF% 10th
SCF% 7th
HDCF% 11th
- Feds91Stammer

This is one of those times I don’t believe advanced stats tell the whole story.

It doesn’t capture players making lazy plays. It doesn’t capture some players not putting in real effort.

Even Geno called them out for sitting back. I wish Sullivan would.

Hes not helping as much as he did in the past years. But I think JR has (frank)ed him quite a few times in the last 14 months.
- Guile

This roster definitely has issues and needs some tweaks, but this is a better team than how they’ve played.

5v5 ranks

when tied

CF% 8th
SCF% 7th
HDCF% 13th

Score is within 1 goal either way

CF% 10th
SCF% 7th
HDCF% 11th
- Feds91Stammer

They’re just an average team. Not really a contender. Not really constructed that way either. Too much money tied to the bottom of the roster. Sheahan, Brass, Oleksiak, JJ are all making too much money to not produce. Add in wasted money on Cullen, trading away talent like Sprong for another (!) bottom pairing defenseman when you already have lime 8 on the roster; Simon, Horny, and Schultz being hurt and the team is just poorly constructed.

The forwards (well good ones) want to play a fast, transitional, possession game... the defense is not constructed to play that way so you have a forward group designed for one system and a defensemen group designed for another system and it ends up being an unbridgeable gap in systems.

This is one of those times I don’t believe advanced stats tell the whole story.

It doesn’t capture players making lazy plays. It doesn’t capture some players not putting in real effort.

Even Geno called them out for sitting back. I wish Sullivan would.
- Rinosaur

These are just a couple of basic metrics. Of course they don't tell the whole story but they also show the team is performing well in situations where the game is on the line.

Lazy plays happen but conflating the ones you remember (confirmation bias) as an end all be all issue is probably wildly inaccurate.

Maybe Mr. Wilson can look at recent stats, vs season ones. The Ducks started off horrendous (despite a 5-1-1 record). However, they've won 6 in a row on the road, and I believe 11 of 13 overall. Last night they played without Fowler and Rakell (don't count Perry since he's been out all season). Their possession #'s still aren't great, but I don't think they're as lousy a team as your blogger implies.

There are 2 positions in sports that can tell all of the numbers guys to go to hell, a pitcher in baseball and a goalie in hockey. If either one of those is on the underlying numbers don't matter.
- duxcup07

I don't think you "anti-numbers" people really understand much about anything, especially concerning...well numbers, when you say things like this.

I don't think you "anti-numbers" people really understand much about anything, especially concerning...well numbers, when you say things like this.
- Blackstrom2

wow that is a bad one

Maybe Mr. Wilson can look at recent stats, vs season ones. The Ducks started off horrendous (despite a 5-1-1 record). However, they've won 6 in a row on the road, and I believe 11 of 13 overall. Last night they played without Fowler and Rakell (don't count Perry since he's been out all season). Their possession #'s still aren't great, but I don't think they're as lousy a team as your blogger implies.
- quackup

Legitimate yes or no question.

Are you comfortable with your team bleeding shot attempts and high danger chances against to the opposition on a nightly basis?

Seriously, it gets tiring to have to try to explain why they are throwing up a straw man. They all need to go to their local community college and sit in during a STATS 101 or 200 class.

This roster definitely has issues and needs some tweaks, but this is a better team than how they’ve played.
- Rinosaur

Yes, but those changes JR made over the last season and change has hindered what Sully had as our identity for the cup runs. Youth and speed... we've gotten older and replaced players with slower versions. JR has not given Sully the tools to work with for how he succeeded in the prior years in my opinion.

These are just a couple of basic metrics. Of course they don't tell the whole story but they also show the team is performing well in situations where the game is on the line.

Lazy plays happen but conflating the ones you remember (confirmation bias) as an end all be all issue is probably wildly inaccurate.
- Feds91Stammer

I don't think the effort is the "end all be all" issue. That's only part of my issue with Sullivan. His roster decisions and line decisions are also up there for me.

Yes, but those changes JR made over the last season and change has hindered what Sully had as our identity for the cup runs. Youth and speed... we've gotten older and replaced players with slower versions. JR has not given Sully the tools to work with for how he succeeded in the prior years in my opinion.
- Guile

I don't disagree. This team has definitely lost its identity. My only point is while I don't view this current team as a true contender, I believe they're a better team than they've played.

That title. Wow.

Also, where’s your weak links this year, guys? Haven’t caught near enough Pena games to make the call.

Yes, but those changes JR made over the last season and change has hindered what Sully had as our identity for the cup runs. Youth and speed... we've gotten older and replaced players with slower versions. JR has not given Sully the tools to work with for how he succeeded in the prior years in my opinion.
- Guile

Well our second cup run had no identity. It was throw it off the boards and pray our forwards for there.

First one, I just think JR forgot what the team played like because this team has NO resembelence to that team.

That title. Wow.

Also, where’s your weak links this year, guys? Haven’t caught near enough Pena games to make the call.
- RafiDRW

Bottom 4 defensemen. Anyone not named Letang and Dumoulin.

Bottom 4 defensemen. Anyone not named Letang and Dumoulin.
- j.boyd919

JJ been that horrid?

That title. Wow.

Also, where’s your weak links this year, guys? Haven’t caught near enough Pena games to make the call.
- RafiDRW

Johnson... who ever gets partnered with Johnson...

And Maatta still not Maatta...

Well our second cup run had no identity. It was throw it off the boards and pray our forwards for there.

First one, I just think JR forgot what the team played like because this team has NO resembelence to that team.
- j.boyd919

I really knew JR lost his view on the team when he signed Hunwick to replace Daley and traded for Reaves. That was a sign of not recognizing their identity anymore.

Johnson... who ever gets partnered with Johnson...

And Maatta still not Maatta...
- Guile

It’ll never Maata that Maata is bad.

I would keep Letang, Dumo, Pettersson and Schultz and re-vamp the defense.

I'd also still hold on to Riikola and Ruhwedel as depth. I think Riikola resembles the TYPE of dman that fit the teams identity in 15/16, but clearly still needs more experience.