Memos after a 2-2 Record


Sergei Gonchar: It's October. It's hockey season. While I know your reputation as a traditional slow starter, I just thought I'd send a memo.

Ryan Whitney: Your split stats from last season were interesting. Despite my summertime speculation, I hope you, too, aren't going to get smacked with the label of "slow starter." Anyhow, anytime solid positional play, tape-to-tape breakout passes, and power play assists, want to happen would work out quite well for this fan and your team.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Seriously? You want to play run-and-gun with the Pittsburgh Penguins? You want to give the Pittsburgh Penguins fifty shots? I'd venture to say the Rangers and Senators, alone of Eastern Conference teams, should consider running-and-gunning with the Penguins. Seriously, if you're trying to win games, though, I'd suggest opting against shootouts with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Maxime Talbot: Dude, I love you. While you're on pace for an insane amount of goals right now, if that scoring touch you had in junior materializes at the NHL level, let's just say that Maxime Talbot suddenly having a scoring touch makes an already potent offense much more potent.

Defensemen: Despite the NHL's obstruction crackdown, checking is still allowed, and so is body contact. While I realize a couple of you have had success as "finesse" and "offensive" d-men, applying some physical contact to prevent forwards from crowding the crease in front of your goaltender would be appreciated. Any day now would be fine.

Marc Andre Fleury: I know playing behind the Pens' defense (if it can be called defense) is frustrating. You've seen scoring chance after scoring chance rather than just shots that aren't high percentage scoring chances. Anyhow, this is just a reminder that you did win 40 games last season playing behind pretty much this same group. Just thought I would remind you of that.




A Special Memo for the Coaches:

The Power Play

Issue 1: Personnel.

Quick question: What do Jordan Staal, Gary Roberts, and Petr Sykora have in common?
Quick answer: They're not being used on the 1st team power play unit.
Quick answer 2: Each player would take up WAY MORE SPACE in front of the net than does Mark Recchi. If you are hoping for a puck deflection against a legitimate number 1 NHL goalie, you have a greater chance to get that if you can screen the goaltender. Common sense, coaches.

Issue 2: Strategy.
Quick question: Name the All-Star level players (offensive skill speaking) on your team's power play unit.
Quick answer: Well, we could have five potential All-Stars on our team's 1st team power play unit.
Quick question: How about allowing skilled and creative players to use their skill and creativity on the power play in such a way that opposing teams are dominated through sheer skill?

Seriously, if what it takes is the coaches turning the players loose and saying, "You figure this out" (and don't knock it, it's been known to work with some pretty talented players in the past, including the team's current owner), then do that. But there is no excuse for a team with the level of personnel the Penguins have to have such a putrid, uncreative power play. Fix it, and if you, the coaches, don't know how to fix it, ask your players for input. I have this inkling their skill level should let them intuit certain things that could result in actually converting power play opportunities into goals (and no, not shorthanded goals against, which, by the way, you have already given up far too high a number of those particular goals).


Issue 2: A Reminder for you, too, about last year

You want the team to know that last year was last year. They're not the only ones who need to know that. Here's the thing. Teams are gunning for you. That means they will match lines, Mr. Therrien, and you need to respond when they do match lines. (This is not just preparation for the playoffs; this is in order to ensure your team can still make the playoffs.)

This also means something else that the Ottawa playoff loss revealed an issue with: adjustments, or, more specifically, the lack thereof. Frankly speaking, despite wanting to blame a loss or two on the Penguins not playing a complete game or believing their hype too much, the harsh truth of the matter is that the teams weren't prepared, as necessary, for those games--and preparation doesn't merely fall upon the players. When a team with the offensive talent Pittsburgh boasts doesn't win, there is a problem--and it's not a problem with personnel that clearly has shown the ability to put the puck in the net. You have to know what to do with your personnel--meaning putting your players in a position to succeed, giving line combinations a chance to gel, and actually matching defensive pairings with the appropriate lines and yes, at times, even matching lines--because other teams are gunning for you, and you had dang well better respond if you want to continue to coach such a talented team.

Issue 3: Who'd you start on HNIC?

Um, seriously, if your number 1 goalie is your number 1 goalie, he plays every game, especially when you're playing a game every three or four days. Your number 1 goalie managed to win 40 games playing behind a defense that was pretty average (if not, at least if statistics are to be believed, below average) last season. Until the time comes for your number 1 goaltender to rest or (hopefully not this season) heal from an injury, he plays every game. There's a reason your number 1 goalie is your number 1 goalie: he's the guy who currently gives you the best chance to win your games. And I do believe that your team's won-loss record last year was one of the reasons you were nominated for the Jack Adams at the end of last season.

A Memo to the General Manager

Re: Shut-Down Defense

While I definitely understood your limitations when it came to budgeting (you overpay monetarily for Chris Pronger and very few other defensemen), you have to know that your team isn't equipped for success against certain teams (let alone playoff success, because you have to beat those certain teams just to make the playoffs) with your defensive pairings as porous as they currently are? You still need a shut-down defenseman, and your need for him is being revealed pretty starkly. At some point, you might want to exchange one type of defenseman for the kind of defenseman your team sorely lacks. I don't know when that "at some point" will present itself to be, but this is just a warning to you: be on the lookout. Please. Pretty, pretty please.

(Also, no one ever would have expected Paul Coffey to play shut down defense. It wasn't his game. Expecting an offensive defenseman, albeit one nowhere near Coffey's elite level, to play shut down defense is called not putting a player in a position to succeed. And if that's what you're expecting, well, you're setting yourself up for disappointment--and problems.)

P.S. It was only one game, but seriously--I'm still not comfortable with your back-up goaltender. I'm hoping he and you prove me wrong. If you don't, well, you might have some work to do in terms of finding another additional player (along with the shut down defenseman who's needed).


To Everyone

RE: Thank you

Complain as I might about various issues, some urgent (playing better defense), some not (certain players will definitely score this season), last night's game against the Maple Leafs reminded me just how much fun it is to watch all of you do your thing. You're still the best show in hockey, and you're my team, and when you win games playing your way, well, you're just so much fun to watch.

So keep the offensive fireworks coming, continue with the show, and as you keep playing your game, I'll look forward to you learning how to buckle down on defense as well.

Again, thanks for the wonderful entertainment and the best show on ice.


Random

RE: My Eyes Deceive Me?

Stealing from Sports Illustrated, this week's sign the Apocalypse is upon us: The New Jersey Devils won a 6-5 game. The New Jersey Devils. Can we expect another 6-5 game this Wednesday? (I can only dream.)