> I don’t know if that suggests extremely poor leadership from coaching, as Kekelainen indicated was coming from Larsen, if the player-leadership isn’t connecting with the young players or whether they added too many players who don’t really care.
I think we have a few too many divas and we haven’t had a strong enough coach to look at one of them and tell them to “cut the shit”
We also needed a coach that is experienced and respected enough that there won’t be a media firestorm every time he makes a decision. If Vincent benches KJ we get 700 reporters clutching their pearls and causing a bunch of negative noise but if Evason does it they might shrug and say “well maybe he needs it”
What an in depth look. You have done miles more research than I have and thanks for your well written conclusions and speculations on what we might see out of Dean Evason new “structure”. Hats off to you bud.
Just wanted to say I appreciate the time you put into this. I don’t think there is a team in all of pro-sports that wouldn’t benefit from a “work boots” approach as you say and any players that think that regardless of talent should be shipped out. Without having this in depth look at the system, I was always appreciative of the way Minnesota pressured, and how they were able to be known as a hard team to play against (like Torts teams) but also we’re still able to constantly allow a dynamic player like Kaprizov to run wild and create offense. I feel like Evanson had a pretty hamstrung roster over-achieving and being one of the tougher teams to play against for a couple years there.
Super excited to see a team that puts emphasis on getting the forwards the puck in transition to carry the puck in on a zone entry rather than dump and chase. I also think the forward group we have has the potential to excel in the offensive part of this system. It’ll be interesting to see how all our blue liners outside of Z and Severson do in this. I hope Evanson can get the forward group to buy into the back checking/forechecking of this system.
I’m just excited to have a coach that 1. Has a fucking pulse and can be fiery/passionate. 2. Has an actual competent system that you can breakdown and consistently see the thought behind. Last year was a little bit better although I still had no idea what the actual system was, and the Larsen system appeared to be “just let them break wide open down the middle of the ice uncontested for a high danger chance”. Worst hockey I’ve ever seen.
I was pulling for McClellan, but honestly the more I’ve taken a step back and looked, the more I think Evanson may have actually been the better candidate. And I’m extremely thankful we didn’t end up with Woodcroft.
Really happy with the direction of things over the last couple months, still have incredibly low expectations for this season but it feels like for the first time in a while there are real competent moves aiming for an exciting true north.
Really amazing job! I really enjoyed reading that.
4 comments
> I don’t know if that suggests extremely poor leadership from coaching, as Kekelainen indicated was coming from Larsen, if the player-leadership isn’t connecting with the young players or whether they added too many players who don’t really care.
I think we have a few too many divas and we haven’t had a strong enough coach to look at one of them and tell them to “cut the shit”
We also needed a coach that is experienced and respected enough that there won’t be a media firestorm every time he makes a decision. If Vincent benches KJ we get 700 reporters clutching their pearls and causing a bunch of negative noise but if Evason does it they might shrug and say “well maybe he needs it”
What an in depth look. You have done miles more research than I have and thanks for your well written conclusions and speculations on what we might see out of Dean Evason new “structure”. Hats off to you bud.
Just wanted to say I appreciate the time you put into this. I don’t think there is a team in all of pro-sports that wouldn’t benefit from a “work boots” approach as you say and any players that think that regardless of talent should be shipped out. Without having this in depth look at the system, I was always appreciative of the way Minnesota pressured, and how they were able to be known as a hard team to play against (like Torts teams) but also we’re still able to constantly allow a dynamic player like Kaprizov to run wild and create offense. I feel like Evanson had a pretty hamstrung roster over-achieving and being one of the tougher teams to play against for a couple years there.
Super excited to see a team that puts emphasis on getting the forwards the puck in transition to carry the puck in on a zone entry rather than dump and chase. I also think the forward group we have has the potential to excel in the offensive part of this system. It’ll be interesting to see how all our blue liners outside of Z and Severson do in this. I hope Evanson can get the forward group to buy into the back checking/forechecking of this system.
I’m just excited to have a coach that 1. Has a fucking pulse and can be fiery/passionate. 2. Has an actual competent system that you can breakdown and consistently see the thought behind. Last year was a little bit better although I still had no idea what the actual system was, and the Larsen system appeared to be “just let them break wide open down the middle of the ice uncontested for a high danger chance”. Worst hockey I’ve ever seen.
I was pulling for McClellan, but honestly the more I’ve taken a step back and looked, the more I think Evanson may have actually been the better candidate. And I’m extremely thankful we didn’t end up with Woodcroft.
Really happy with the direction of things over the last couple months, still have incredibly low expectations for this season but it feels like for the first time in a while there are real competent moves aiming for an exciting true north.
Really amazing job! I really enjoyed reading that.
(Can I pay you to run my fantasy team next year?)