At the risk of REPEATING HISTORY, I think a topic showing the improvements under Muller needed to be made.
First, the team changes:
23-18-12 since Muller took over - 58 points in 53 games. Not too impressive (an 89 point pace over the entire season), but if you believe there's an adjustment period to a new coach (say 10 games), he's gone 21-12-10 in the last 42 games, a 101-point pace.
Powerplay is clicking around 20% since Muller took over - When Maurice was fired, the powerplay was at 12%. It's now 16.5%. Now it's not been perfect and it still has some problems finishing despite great chances, but considering the only major change Muller made was the removal of Kaberle and the addition of Brent, it appears to be almost all his coaching.
2.79 goals for/2.69 goals against per game - Under Maurice, the Canes put up 2.4 goals per game and allowed 3.32. Under Muller, we're scoring slightly more, but allowing a lot less.
Individual accomplishments:
- The most obvious, of course, is the change of Eric Staal. In the 25 games under Maurice, he put up 11 points. In the 53 games under Muller, he's put up 58 points. Whatever message Muller passed along to Staal, it seems to have worked.
- Likewise, we've gotten a better idea of which of our many prospects (Samson, Boychuk, Bowman, Dalpe, Nash, Sangunetti) can possibly work out and which ones we should be looking to let go. A miracle what one can do when they get more than 4th line minutes.
- Players like Tlusty and Chad LaRose have also come into their own under Muller.
Powerplay is clicking around 20% since Muller took over - When Maurice was fired, the powerplay was at 12%. It's now 16.5%. Now it's not been perfect and it still has some problems finishing despite great chances, but considering the only major change Muller made was the removal of Kaberle and the addition of Brent, it appears to be almost all his coaching.
08-09 - the powerplay clicked at at 20.9% after Maurice took over. When Laviolette was fired, the powerplay was at 12.9%. It finished at 18.7%.
Despite the fact that I want to be pissed we're not picking higher, it's hard not to be happy with the signs of improvement the team has shown under Muller. I'm excited for him to have them over the summer and for a full season.
Despite the fact that I want to be pissed we're not picking higher, it's hard not to be happy with the signs of improvement the team has shown under Muller. I'm excited for him to have them over the summer and for a full season.
I'm actually okay with that. I doubt we were ever in the running for the top 4 guys, so just picking in or around the top 10 is fine with me. Getting a guy like Faksa or Frk is still nothing to sneeze at.
I think the key to everything will be how well he runs a training camp and gets the team ready to open next season. Under both Lavi and Mo we had trouble getting out of the gate in most seasons, which seems to hint at a systematic problem that may not be the coach, so if Muller can rectify that it will be huge.
He's making an ahl lineup look like it has offensive flow. A pp with Brent, Larose, and tlusty looked dangerous. Weve stopped playing mo's chip off the glass work outside all day style, and it makes all these guys look better. He's playing staal and sutter at the best times and they both have more confidence.
I'm not sure how he could've done much better. Now we need to see if it's something that can maintained all year and if jr will put some better talent on the roster to balance the team out.
I'm cautiously optimistic for next offseason. I think we've got two shots in FA to really become a better team, and they're named Parise and Suter. Other than that we have to hope for internal improvement.
Next year's X-factor, IMO, is Brandon Sutter. If the kid can come out, grab a 2nd line spot, and score around 25 goals with 50 points, we're a playoff team. If not, we're not. (This is assuming we don't get either FA, of course).
I'm actually okay with that. I doubt we were ever in the running for the top 4 guys, so just picking in or around the top 10 is fine with me. Getting a guy like Faksa or Frk is still nothing to sneeze at.
If we take Frk with our first rounder as it stands right now, I'll do a whole lot more than sneeze
A person just can't over-estimate what Muller has managed to accomplish, given what he's had to work with.
He wasn't able to step into a Ken Hitchcock situation. He took up the reigns with one legit 1st line star in Staal, a solid goalie with a revolving door of backups and injuries, a dependable Sutter and an erratic Skinner, and actually made a push for the playoffs after an absolute disaster of a start.
Despite not making it, I don't feel the same nihilism heading into this offseason that I did last year.
Over and above FA's and such not, I'll be genuinly curious to see which kids (ie Dadanov//Sangs//Dumoulin) make a push to actually crack the team next year.
Next year's "x factor" in my opinion is, does Staal continue his early-season habit of disappearing or does he have a very consistent, very good season?
He and Ward have been below-their-average this year. That can't happen for this team to compete for a playoff spot without sizable improvements in personnel.
Over and above FA's and such not, I'll be genuinly curious to see which kids (ie Dadanov//Sangs//Dumoulin) make a push to actually crack the team next year.
I do wonder if Dadonov will be gone after this year to the KHL. He is an RFA and his contract is up after this season
Agree 110%. I can't remember the last time I was this genuinly excited for an off season.
Quote:
Originally Posted by caniac315
Me too. I am expecting great things next season.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulProteus
Dare I say it, there's hope?
Sorry, but you guys are suckers. Especially when you consider that we've essentially set the expectation that we'll sign Parise. Anything short of signing Parise -- which, even with all the comments coming from 1400 Edwards Mill, is a longshot to the extreme -- will be a disappointment.
The odds are against Parise getting the July 1 unsigned. Even if he does, the odds are against us competing with the big markets financially. And even if we do, we've missed the playoffs seven of nine seasons, so it's a longshot that he'd choose to play here even if we're the best offer (which we probably won't be). There are 29 other teams that want Parise. I'd give us no better than a 1 in 5 shot at signing him. And that's looking at the situation through Canes-colored glasses.
I almost got run off these boards for my negativity last summer and I'll say it again right now. I see *no* reason to feel any differently about next season. Yeah, I'm glad Muller is around and I'm eternally grateful that Paul Maurice will never coach the Canes again. But we haven't played a truly meaningful game under Muller, and until we do, I'm sorry to say the jury is still out.
JR and PK are saying all the right things, but they're also trying to get renewals on season tickets and some corporate commitments for next season. The proof *on the ice* is coming this summer and this fall. There's no way around that, and nothing they say or do this spring changes anything.
I'm reserving any judgement until 20 games into next year. The team has made noticeable strides under Muller (which many have already commented on so I won't regurgitate), but they pretty much were out of the hunt and could let it all hang out in every game so to speak. Easier to play loose in that environment. They also faced an inordinate amount of back-up goalies as the season progressed as teams thought the Canes were a good opportunity to rest their #1.
For the last 3 years, I've seen Leafs fans make comments about how well they played "after the Phaneuf trade" or "after Reimer came in" or "the 2nd half of the season", etc.. only to falter again the following season because they didn't address glaring needs on the team. Unless this team adds some talent in the top 6 AND unless Muller get's Staal to play this way out of the gate, I don't see them being much more than a bubble team at best. I think those who are hoping for Parise are setting themselves up for a big disappointment. I think JR's version of top 6 talent is going to be Whitney or Penner.
Sorry, but you guys are suckers. Especially when you consider that we've essentially set the expectation that we'll sign Parise. Anything short of signing Parise -- which, even with all the comments coming from 1400 Edwards Mill, is a longshot to the extreme -- will be a disappointment.
I almost got run off these boards for my negativity last summer and I'll say it again right now. I see *no* reason to feel any differently about next season. Yeah, I'm glad Muller is around and I'm eternally grateful that Paul Maurice will never coach the Canes again. But we haven't played a truly meaningful game under Muller, and until we do, I'm sorry to say the jury is still out.
JR and PK are saying all the right things, but they're also trying to get renewals on season tickets and some corporate commitments for next season. The proof *on the ice* is coming this summer and this fall. There's no way around that, and nothing they say or do this spring changes anything.
I, for one, am completely shocked--SHOCKED!, I tell you--by this post. It seems so out of character for you
I, for one, am completely shocked--SHOCKED!, I tell you--by this post. It seems so out of character for you
I would normally jump on the "kill totalkev" bandwagon, but he has a good point. I can't remember the last time that the Canes were huge players in the FA market, and all of the sudden people are talking about Parise and Suter like they're *likely* to sign here.
It's like my buddy StormCast likes to say, things get repeated over and over and over, and all of the sudden they're assumed to be true.
It'd be great, don't get me wrong. But I'd rather have low expectations and be pleasantly surprised, rather than be bitterly disappointed come July 1.
I actually do believe that the Canes are genuine about trying to sign a big name like Parise, but I agree with totalkev in that them wanting it doesn't mean it's going to happen. There are not many reasons for a big name free agent to see here as a top destination.
For what it's worth, it is possible to increase the talent on this team without signing Parise. It's not a do or die situation for this franchise and signing Parise
Seriously, I see Kev's point but I'd counter that even if we don't get parise, I'm more confident in this team under Muller then I would be under anyone else. Do I think we're lock for the playoffs next year? No but we don't what we'll happen in the offseason. Look at it this way, going into this season, I wasn't very confident and the team played like ****. This year, I have hope at this very moment.
Seriously, I see Kev's point but I'd counter that even if we don't get parise, I'm more confident in this team under Muller then I would be under anyone else. Do I think we're lock for the playoffs next year? No but we don't what we'll happen in the offseason. Look at it this way, going into this season, I wasn't very confident and the team played like ****. This year, I have hope at this very moment.
We'll see what happens.
This. I purposely deleted the Parise part because I don't disagree with that. But the rest? Seeing no reason to feel any extra optimism about next year? That's just par for the course.
Sorry, but you guys are suckers. Especially when you consider that we've essentially set the expectation that we'll sign Parise. Anything short of signing Parise -- which, even with all the comments coming from 1400 Edwards Mill, is a longshot to the extreme -- will be a disappointment.
The odds are against Parise getting the July 1 unsigned. Even if he does, the odds are against us competing with the big markets financially. And even if we do, we've missed the playoffs seven of nine seasons, so it's a longshot that he'd choose to play here even if we're the best offer (which we probably won't be). There are 29 other teams that want Parise. I'd give us no better than a 1 in 5 shot at signing him. And that's looking at the situation through Canes-colored glasses.
I almost got run off these boards for my negativity last summer and I'll say it again right now. I see *no* reason to feel any differently about next season. Yeah, I'm glad Muller is around and I'm eternally grateful that Paul Maurice will never coach the Canes again. But we haven't played a truly meaningful game under Muller, and until we do, I'm sorry to say the jury is still out.
JR and PK are saying all the right things, but they're also trying to get renewals on season tickets and some corporate commitments for next season. The proof *on the ice* is coming this summer and this fall. There's no way around that, and nothing they say or do this spring changes anything.
"Hope" and "Parise's a lock, dude," are two entirely different things.
I think taking JR at something at or near his word to actually compete for a FA isn't as sucker as you'd like to think.
We might. Or we won't. But with the Staal/Sutter/Ward/Skinner group we DO have, and the coach we have, I don't think there's anything wrong with having some hope for making the playoffs next year.
I know, it doesn't fit in the "WE R SO BAD," peg hole, but we are hardly at the end of the world.
It'd be one thing if it was simply JR coming out with his typical BS about signing a winger for Staal. He's done it in the past to no effect.
When Bob and the TSN crew come out and say they expect Carolina to be players for those two players, that's something different all together. That's what I'm basing my hope on.
