maybe, maybe not. often the best of players can't understand how to shape other player's lesser abilities into success. i don't think there's anyone on this current team that could come close to replicating zubov's play on the point. maybe ribs, but who else has that style/ skill set?
The way I see it, when Zubov was playing he was pretty much always the best offensive player on the ice for his team. He was able to craft the PP to suit the skill sets of four other, lesser players than he during his playing days. It's not crazy to think he could help this team out. His words hold enough weight that maybe he could even get the rest of the coaching staff to ice the best #1 PP unit. Rolling forward lines when this team has as little firepower as it does is just dumb.
At some point Niewy has to do something about the PP. Whether its bringing in a PP specialist, removing Gulutzan from managing it in favor of another coach, or doing like LA did and having Modano be a special assistant. We'd easily be in the playoffs with even an average PP.
Same problems for a long time lack of movement, majority of time the puck is cleared after one shot. Seems as the last time the powerplay was good was when Dahlen coached the powerplay. Obviously it doesn't help having the black hole out there.
It was pretty good last year, or at least passable. We finished 14th on the PP over the year. If we had that this year we'd be easily in the top 6 of the West.
For record's sake, last year we were 14th on the PP, 23rd in on the PK. This year so far we're 26th in the league on the PP, and... 23rd on the PK. All that even scoring depth only goes so far when your special teams are in the bottom 3rd of the league.
It's past the point where Joe needs to have a come-to-Jesus meeting with Gulutzan about putting his best players on the ice during PPs. Namely Benn and Eriksson.
Reminiscent of Jackson having to tell Tippett to play Richards on the point. You want to give your coach latitude, but sometimes the manager has to make the executive decisions.
Gulutzan has far too much faith in Riberio, who is noticeably streaky. Sometimes he's money with all that open ice, other times he's a detriment. Gulutzan should be able to notice games that Riberio is "on" at this point.
They were doing good for a while keepign Souray off it, utilizing Daley-Larsen and Robidas-Goose. Then they put him back on for the 4-3 and it completely telegraphs what they're trying to do. Every play went to Souray in the end. They did good putting Benn out there, but then left off Loui/Ryder who are all better options than Ribs. I don't get it.
Though didn't R&R mention that Willie had taken over the PP now?
Same should be said of any D-man. This play came with Gulutzan from the AHL (where it wasn't that great either, pretty sure the Texas PP sucked too). Larsen was best at it, he scored a playoff goal or two with this strategy. Its Gulutzan's baby, but it just doesn't work in the NHL level. It's stupid and retarded. I think we've had it do something only once this entire season. They abandoned it for most of the year, but for some reason its back now.
I hope Joe realizes that the coaching staff needs a different PP guy next season. Trying letting Willie run it, or get a new assistant who can. I don't get why GMs let coaches with horrible PP track records keep running it.
Same should be said of any D-man. This play came with Gulutzan from the AHL (where it wasn't that great either, pretty sure the Texas PP sucked too). Larsen was best at it, he scored a playoff goal or two with this strategy. Its Gulutzan's baby, but it just doesn't work in the NHL level. It's stupid and retarded. I think we've had it do something only once this entire season. They abandoned it for most of the year, but for some reason its back now.
I hope Joe realizes that the coaching staff needs a different PP guy next season. Trying letting Willie run it, or get a new assistant who can. I don't get why GMs let coaches with horrible PP track records keep running it.
That dumbass goose to the slot think is probably about 50% of why our powerplay doesn't work and 33% of why goose doesn't have more points.... The ribs running the PP from the half boards experiment obviously isn't working... Give goose a shot running it from the damn point
This probably won't be a popular suggestion since many people dislike the umbrella... but I think it might make sense in the Stars' current situation.
We have a fundamental lack of defensemen who can contribute with the man-advantage. Souray can't get his shot through, Robidas makes mind-numbingly bad decisions and can't get his shot through, Daley's ceiling is as a 2nd unit guy and can't hit the net with his shot, and Larsen isn't trusted by the staff yet. So that leaves Goligoski who isn't playing well.
Part of his problem is he tends to get a little jumpy near the boards when he's trying to hold the zone. He's at his best when he's got some open ice to work with and better shooting angles. How would he respond if he was the unquestioned tip of the spear, as Razor would say? Put him in a situation where he can't defer to anyone or act tentative. He needs to feel complete ownership of the PP -- he's got to the be the director out there and fully embrace that role.
Then there's the problem of Benn getting 30 useless seconds of PP mop-up time with such offensive luminaries as Ott and Burish. Get him on the damn first unit. It's Game 77 or whatever. Abandon the bankrupt lines approach. Load it up with our talent and keep them out there as long as they can go.
I'd also move Ribs around. He tends to get too comfortable on the half-wall and ends up killing more time than he generates chances. Put him further down low where he can potentially find Goligoski at the point back through the seams for a one-timer (they have a good feel for where each other will be) or alternatively to Ryder on the other angle. Loui's got the front of the net and he can drift in and out. Keep Benn fairly high (but not at a point) so he can potentially get back and help out defensively if need be.
That is a very well though out plan. My only question would be why not switch Ryder and Benn. A right shot on the left side and a left shot on the right side gives you more of the net to shoot at. The downside is obviously holding in pucks at the point on your backhand is more difficult.
On the 2nd PP, would you replace Goli w/Souray, Ryder w/Larsen, Benn w/Reilly Smith, Eriksson w/Morrow, and Ribeiro w/Ott.
I'm not saying those are the 5 best available, but those seem to be the 5 I could seem them using. They said Reilly Smith came straight to the NHL to help them right now, that isn't accomplished on the 4th line with no PP time. I like the idea of easing him in (all though 5 minutes is a bit slower than I imagined), but eventually they'll be using him in a bigger role.
This probably won't be a popular suggestion since many people dislike the umbrella... but I think it might make sense in the Stars' current situation.
We have a fundamental lack of defensemen who can contribute with the man-advantage. Souray can't get his shot through, Robidas makes mind-numbingly bad decisions and can't get his shot through, Daley's ceiling is as a 2nd unit guy and can't hit the net with his shot, and Larsen isn't trusted by the staff yet. So that leaves Goligoski who isn't playing well.
Part of his problem is he tends to get a little jumpy near the boards when he's trying to hold the zone. He's at his best when he's got some open ice to work with and better shooting angles. How would he respond if he was the unquestioned tip of the spear, as Razor would say? Put him in a situation where he can't defer to anyone or act tentative. He needs to feel complete ownership of the PP -- he's got to the be the director out there and fully embrace that role.
Then there's the problem of Benn getting 30 useless seconds of PP mop-up time with such offensive luminaries as Ott and Burish. Get him on the damn first unit. It's Game 77 or whatever. Abandon the bankrupt lines approach. Load it up with our talent and keep them out there as long as they can go.
I'd also move Ribs around. He tends to get too comfortable on the half-wall and ends up killing more time than he generates chances. Put him further down low where he can potentially find Goligoski at the point back through the seams for a one-timer (they have a good feel for where each other will be) or alternatively to Ryder on the other angle. Loui's got the front of the net and he can drift in and out. Keep Benn fairly high (but not at a point) so he can potentially get back and help out defensively if need be.
That's what I was kind of thinking of in the illustration. Goose is solid enough defensively to be okay, and Benn's got enough speed to catch up in case anything gets past.
Benn and Ryder (the two best shots) are in great shooting positions and can still be mobile, and Goligoski could get one-timers off if Benn and Ryder end up being covered. All three are very accurate, so there's not much of a problem there.
Don't need to worry about Eriksson much. As for Ribeiro, I think it would need to be stressed that he can't run it, especially not from there. If he doesn't have a pass, just toss it up to Benn and let those three run it. That's a much safer and stronger option.
What you said is exactly what I was thinking of, just a lot more detailed (and better). I also wouldn't be opposed to leaving Benn out there for the full 2 minutes, or at least as long as he can for this season (not through playoffs yet, though), and then incorporate Smith (or whoever else) into next season.
