The Pettersson Problem

[-Buzzsaw-]

Let's talk about Elias Pettersson and what's ailing him.

 

After a slow start, it looked like he was recovering his game and putting up the points in November and early December... but now two games without a point and the usual suspects are out in full force b*tching again.

 

What's going on ?

 

Pettersson was clearly not 100% at the start of the season, sluggish, no speed... likely cause... probably still getting over that tendonitis in the knee.

 

About 10 games ago, he seemed to be over that, and has started to show more jump, more acceleration in his first couple steps.

 

He is still seems reluctant to take shots the way he did in the past.  Is this an injury ?  Or confidence ?  Nobody is saying.

 

He has been making excellent passes... had multi point games of the last stretch of 10 games before the the last two.  In tonight's Bruins game he set up Debrusk for a tip in front of the net which should have been a goal.  Several other times he made passes which should have given offensive opportunities but which were not converted.

 

Here's my analysis of the roots of Pettersson's problems:

 

#1:     He doesn't have a passing winger. 

Debrusk is a finisher and Netfront guy, he does a great job with deflections and picking up the garbage, but he can't pass to save his life.  Pettersson needs a speedy winger he can hit with passes and who can return the favour... Sherwood has shown an ability to take passes and shoot, but he rarely makes the pass back.  Personally I think Sasson could be the player who he can mesh with... Sasson has repeated shown he can make some great passes and he does have the speed.  One of the reasons Pettersson is not scoring is that he gets very few shot opportunities... because he doesn't have that guy who can find him when he's open.  The only player who finds Pettersson with passes right now is Hughes... and first he doesn't play with Pettersson much... and 2nd, his passes are a first pass from the D zone, not a final pass in the O-Zone that allow for a shot on goal.  The only time Hughes makes a final pass before a shot is when they are both on the Power Play.

 

#2     He's being asked by Tocchet to play a style of game which is not designed to his strengths. 

 

Pettersson is a Mitch Marner style player... a guy who passes and shoots... not a forechecker.  Marner is lucky enough to be paired with Auston Matthews.... Pettersson has never had that level of player as a linemate, but he has shown he is capable of really high level performance when he does have a good partner.  Every high scoring player in the game needs a very skilled partner... exceptions, Superstars like Lemieux, Crosby or McDavid... but Pettersson is not on that level.

 

Pettersson is not a big physical guy who can forecheck hard and grind it out in the corners.  He is a skilled passer who can also shoot the puck.  He works best in open ice.  He has tried to play Tocchet's game, he has increased his hits on opposing players, worked on taking hits and improved his forechecking game....  BUT the fact is, he's not built for that.  He has shown clearly he has his biggest successes when he is paired with other skilled players who can pass and take passes in open ice...  as when he was part of the Lotto line with Miller and Boeser and with Kuzmenko.

 

#3    He is not getting the shooting opportunities.

 

This is particularly the case in even strength play...  because he rarely has the opportunity to play with anyone who passes... He only played with Garland for two games, and when he played with Boeser, it was the Boeser post-concussion injury with the drop off in play.  When Pettersson does get an opportunity to shoot he sometimes seems to hesitate.  He has shown a preference to dish off... whereas previous years he showed a willingness to shoot from all kinds of angles and would shoot instantly.  Does he have an injury to his wrist or upper body >?  He also seems to be getting fewer shooting opportunities on the Tocchet Power Play than he had in previous years... the go to shooter on the PP now is Hughes... we see him take by far the bulk of the PP shots.  Why is this ?  Tocchet decision or Pettersson injury ?

 

#4    He has lost all his confidence and swagger.

 

For Pettersson's first years in the league, he would try just about anything.  He had such confidence he would often get away with things which seemed amazing.  Now he is playing a very conservative, very low risk game.  He seems to have lost all confidence in his ability to pull off any big plays.  This started happening with the arrival of Tocchet.

 

I don't know what is happening with Tocchet's relationship with Pettersson behind the scenes in the locker room, although I have seen some strange interactions on the bench during games which suggest to me Tocchet is not happy with Pettersson.  One thing that is VERY obvious... Tocchet puts enormous pressure on his players to play Tocchet's system, and when they don't... they usually go into the doghouse.  (or Hoghouse)  But Pettersson has shown he is a special type of player... one you can't just bench arbitrarily.  But there are other ways a coach can show his displeasure.

 

One thing I know... Pettersson is not Tocchet's style of player.  As a coach he has never endorsed an open style of game with creativity emphasized.  His style emphasizes up and down the wing with physical play,  hard forechecking, defensive responsibility and playing the positions.

 

I have never heard Tocchet in his post-game pressers give Pettersson the same level of positivity he gives Miller or Hughes or Boeser... even when Pettersson has a great game... this year or last year.

 

I personally believe Pettersson's fall off in confidence is a result of his relationship with Tocchet.  I don't believe Tocchet understands how to coach him.  Tocchet is frustrated and he lets Pettersson know, either verbally or with a look.

 

This lack of confidence is starting to affect all parts of Pettersson's game... not just offensively.

 

--

 

Ways out of this ?

 

1)  If Pettersson is still injured, then hopefully time heals the problem.

 

2)  Management finds a creative winger, and Tocchet plays him with Pettersson.  Maybe that player is already in the organization and his name is Sasson?  Tocchet allows a little more offensive creativity.

 

3)  Fire Tocchet

 

4)  Trade Pettersson  (of course, the Canucks would never get his value back if they trade him)

 

Hopefully it's 1) or 2).

[AlexanderM]

15 minutes ago, -Buzzsaw- said:

One thing I know... Pettersson is not Tocchet's style of player. 

This is accurate. Yet, Petey plays a 200ft game, he hits, he backchecks, and he wants to play a high end skill game. Still, he is not a player who will fight through anything and make the game bend to his will. If we miss the playoffs or if Petey has another stinker playoff, I would think the PA will be listening at the draft. His NTC kicks in the second year of the new contract, correct?

[Canucks164cup]

Kind of rich coming from you saying the usual suspects are out in full force bitching about Pettersson again, when you bitch about Tocchet every game.

[-Buzzsaw-]

4 minutes ago, Canucks164cup said:

Kind of rich coming from you saying the usual suspects are out in full force bitching about Pettersson again, when you bitch about Tocchet every game.

When posters bitch about Pettersson's play even when he gets 2-3 points, then you know they have an axe to grind.

[Canucks164cup]

Just now, -Buzzsaw- said:

When posters bitch about Pettersson's play even when he gets 2-3 points, then you know they have an axe to grind.

When posters bitch about Tocchet and being the Canucks highest winning percentage coach in Canucks history, then they make no sense at all.

[Canucks164cup]

And I'd take Marner over Pettersson any day.

 

 

 

Edited December 15, 2024 by Canucks164cup

[Elias Pettersson]

Tocchet played with Gretzky, Lemieux, Jagr and Coffey. How exactly is Petey not his type of player?  

[-Buzzsaw-]

Just now, Canucks164cup said:

When posters bitch about Tocchet and being the Canucks highest winning percentage coach in Canucks history, then they make no sense at all.

I happen to believe Tocchet's success as a coach had a lot to do with the improved D players he was provided with... and the assistant coaches who were hired to fix the mindset of players like Myers and give him some confidence.

 

I think Bruce would have done just as well with the improved D.

[Canucks164cup]

Just now, -Buzzsaw- said:

I happen to believe Tocchet's success as a coach had a lot to do with the improved D players he was provided with... and the assistant coaches who were hired to fix the mindset of players like Myers and give him some confidence.

 

I think Bruce would have done just as well with the improved D.

Like having Zadorov and Cole....

 

What about this year, his system has found ways to have Canucks win, without Demko, without Boeser, non producing Pettersson for a while, no Miller, no Hronek.

 

Bruce had no defensive structure, I loved Bruce, but it was clear they couldn't keep playing 5-6, 6-7 high scoring games under him, giving up that many goals every game under him was not going to work.

[-Buzzsaw-]

2 minutes ago, Elias Pettersson said:

Tocchet played with Gretzky, Lemieux, Jagr and Coffey. How exactly is Petey not his type of player?  

Pettersson is nothing like Lemieux, Jagr and Coffey... he cannot skate through an opposing team and doesn't have outstanding speed or physicality.

 

Pettersson is most similar to Gretzky... whether Tocchet actually played with Gretz is a question I can't answer... yeah they were on the same team.

 

Why do I know Pettersson is not Tocchet's type of player ?   Because Tocchet has said what type of player he likes... physical, finish their checks... play their position, etc.  That is not the style of play which got Pettersson his success.

 

In any case, you are trying to avoid dealing with my question... which is Tocchet's and Pettersson's relationship...  so why don't you quote me Tocchet saying very complimentary things about Pettersson.

 

Why don't YOU answer the questions I raised ?   Do you think Pettersson should be traded ???

[-Buzzsaw-]

15 minutes ago, Canucks164cup said:

And I'd take Marner over Pettersson any day.

 

 

 

Marner has never had over 100 points in a season despite playing with Auston Matthews, the NHL goalscoring leader for a large part of that time.

 

Marner has 8 seasons in the NHL and is in his prime, but has only slightly better points per game than Pettersson.  If you only compare Marner's first six seasons to Pettersson's first six seasons, then Pettersson is far ahead.

 

 

[LillStrimma]

54 minutes ago, -Buzzsaw- said:

Let's talk about Elias Pettersson and what's ailing him.

 

After a slow start, it looked like he was recovering his game and putting up the points in November and early December... but now two games without a point and the usual suspects are out in full force b*tching again.

 

What's going on ?

 

Pettersson was clearly not 100% at the start of the season, sluggish, no speed... likely cause... probably still getting over that tendonitis in the knee.

 

About 10 games ago, he seemed to be over that, and has started to show more jump, more acceleration in his first couple steps.

 

He is still seems reluctant to take shots the way he did in the past.  Is this an injury ?  Or confidence ?  Nobody is saying.

 

He has been making excellent passes... had multi point games of the last stretch of 10 games before the the last two.  In tonight's Bruins game he set up Debrusk for a tip in front of the net which should have been a goal.  Several other times he made passes which should have given offensive opportunities but which were not converted.

 

Here's my analysis of the roots of Pettersson's problems:

 

#1:     He doesn't have a passing winger. 

Debrusk is a finisher and Netfront guy, he does a great job with deflections and picking up the garbage, but he can't pass to save his life.  Pettersson needs a speedy winger he can hit with passes and who can return the favour... Sherwood has shown an ability to take passes and shoot, but he rarely makes the pass back.  Personally I think Sasson could be the player who he can mesh with... Sasson has repeated shown he can make some great passes and he does have the speed.  One of the reasons Pettersson is not scoring is that he gets very few shot opportunities... because he doesn't have that guy who can find him when he's open.  The only player who finds Pettersson with passes right now is Hughes... and first he doesn't play with Pettersson much... and 2nd, his passes are a first pass from the D zone, not a final pass in the O-Zone that allow for a shot on goal.  The only time Hughes makes a final pass before a shot is when they are both on the Power Play.

 

#2     He's being asked by Tocchet to play a style of game which is not designed to his strengths. 

 

Pettersson is a Mitch Marner style player... a guy who passes and shoots... not a forechecker.  Marner is lucky enough to be paired with Auston Matthews.... Pettersson has never had that level of player as a linemate, but he has shown he is capable of really high level performance when he does have a good partner.  Every high scoring player in the game needs a very skilled partner... exceptions, Superstars like Lemieux, Crosby or McDavid... but Pettersson is not on that level.

 

Pettersson is not a big physical guy who can forecheck hard and grind it out in the corners.  He is a skilled passer who can also shoot the puck.  He works best in open ice.  He has tried to play Tocchet's game, he has increased his hits on opposing players, worked on taking hits and improved his forechecking game....  BUT the fact is, he's not built for that.  He has shown clearly he has his biggest successes when he is paired with other skilled players who can pass and take passes in open ice...  as when he was part of the Lotto line with Miller and Boeser and with Kuzmenko.

 

#3    He is not getting the shooting opportunities.

 

This is particularly the case in even strength play...  because he rarely has the opportunity to play with anyone who passes... He only played with Garland for two games, and when he played with Boeser, it was the Boeser post-concussion injury with the drop off in play.  When Pettersson does get an opportunity to shoot he sometimes seems to hesitate.  He has shown a preference to dish off... whereas previous years he showed a willingness to shoot from all kinds of angles and would shoot instantly.  Does he have an injury to his wrist or upper body >?  He also seems to be getting fewer shooting opportunities on the Tocchet Power Play than he had in previous years... the go to shooter on the PP now is Hughes... we see him take by far the bulk of the PP shots.  Why is this ?  Tocchet decision or Pettersson injury ?

 

#4    He has lost all his confidence and swagger.

 

For Pettersson's first years in the league, he would try just about anything.  He had such confidence he would often get away with things which seemed amazing.  Now he is playing a very conservative, very low risk game.  He seems to have lost all confidence in his ability to pull off any big plays.  This started happening with the arrival of Tocchet.

 

I don't know what is happening with Tocchet's relationship with Pettersson behind the scenes in the locker room, although I have seen some strange interactions on the bench during games which suggest to me Tocchet is not happy with Pettersson.  One thing that is VERY obvious... Tocchet puts enormous pressure on his players to play Tocchet's system, and when they don't... they usually go into the doghouse.  (or Hoghouse)  But Pettersson has shown he is a special type of player... one you can't just bench arbitrarily.  But there are other ways a coach can show his displeasure.

 

One thing I know... Pettersson is not Tocchet's style of player.  As a coach he has never endorsed an open style of game with creativity emphasized.  His style emphasizes up and down the wing with physical play,  hard forechecking, defensive responsibility and playing the positions.

 

I have never heard Tocchet in his post-game pressers give Pettersson the same level of positivity he gives Miller or Hughes or Boeser... even when Pettersson has a great game... this year or last year.

 

I personally believe Pettersson's fall off in confidence is a result of his relationship with Tocchet.  I don't believe Tocchet understands how to coach him.  Tocchet is frustrated and he lets Pettersson know, either verbally or with a look.

 

This lack of confidence is starting to affect all parts of Pettersson's game... not just offensively.

 

--

 

Ways out of this ?

 

1)  If Pettersson is still injured, then hopefully time heals the problem.

 

2)  Management finds a creative winger, and Tocchet plays him with Pettersson.  Maybe that player is already in the organization and his name is Sasson?  Tocchet allows a little more offensive creativity.

 

3)  Fire Tocchet

 

4)  Trade Pettersson  (of course, the Canucks would never get his value back if they trade him)

 

Hopefully it's 1) or 2).

Sadly, if Petey was traded to Florida and play on the same line as Tkachuk they would produce a ridiculous amount of points. I believe that line is better than Deaisatl and McDavid because Petey is more creative than them and Tkachuk is great creating havoc.

Similar to if Hughes, Miller, Petey and Hughes would if the could play together as a team. And Hughes... Stop shoot the puck.

 

I often talk psychology and the rift between Miller and Petey makes it hard to make our top players play like a real team that sacrifices themselves for each other.

Player takes sides when it's a conflict and it's quite obvious how par example Hughes thinks.

 

We can talk about the wolf pack discussion around what is the alpha male.

First people believed it was the one that was first of the pack leading the flock. 
Here we have Miller with his outspoken attitude and believes he is the best.

Now it is the wolf a bit down securing that the weakest can follow.

Wich player has that role on the team? 

 

 

 

[Canucks164cup]

16 minutes ago, -Buzzsaw- said:

Marner has never had over 100 points in a season despite playing with Auston Matthews, the NHL goalscoring leader for a large part of that time.

 

Marner has 8 seasons in the NHL and is in his prime, but has only slightly better points per game than Pettersson.  If you only compare Marner's first six seasons to Pettersson's first six seasons, then Pettersson is far ahead.

 

 

 

LOL these were Marner's stats playing the year on JT's wing

82GP 26G 68A 94Pts

 

Far ahead you say..... 

So here's their points in the first 6 seasons you're wrong.

 

Pettersson 407 GP 412 Points

Marner 427 GP 455 Points.

Edited December 15, 2024 by Canucks164cup

[German Canuck]

Hronek out and only one top 4 D men on the roster but we need another discussion because of Pettersson?

He is ok / good in the last weeks but can shoot more.

 

Thats all and stop this stupid topics please.

 

Thats bullshit

Edited December 15, 2024 by German Canuck

[-Buzzsaw-]

12 minutes ago, Canucks164cup said:

 

LOL these were Marner's stats plying the year on JT's wing

82GP 26G 68A 94Pts

And so ?   John Tavares is also a extremely high level player... first overall draft pick, 1109 pts and 456 goals in his career so far.

 

And that season he played with Marner Tavares had 47 goals.

 

Marner has been lucky to play with really high level players.

 

Or are you suggesting  Debrusk and Kiefer Sherwood are on the same level as Tavares and Matthews ?

 

And oh yeah...  Marner had 67 points and 67 points the next two seasons.

 

 

 

 

Edited December 15, 2024 by -Buzzsaw-

[Canucks164cup]

6 minutes ago, -Buzzsaw- said:

And so ?   John Tavares is also a extremely high level player... first overall draft pick, 1109 pts and 456 goals in his career so far.

 

And that season he played with Marner Tavares had 47 goals.

 

Marner has been lucky to play with really high level players.

 

Or are you suggesting  Debrusk and Kiefer Sherwood are on the same level as Tavares and Matthews ?

 

And oh yeah...  Marner had 67 points and 67 points the next two seasons.

 

 

 

 

 

So Pettersson wasn't lucky to play on the lotto line with high skilled players either which started in 2019. Boeser and Miller aren't high skilled players.... 

 

Marner is a better player than Pettersson plain and simple, they might play a similar style and yes Marner is more of a set up guy, but Marner has shown way more strength to drive the net and score goals than Pettersson can, and Marner's speed is much stronger and better than Pettersson's. 

 

Pettersson is making $11.6M and him and his agent believed that's what he's worth, he should be able to make players around him a lot better as well, being that valuable how come he can't? Why does he need a superstar beside him to be that much better?

[-Buzzsaw-]

11 minutes ago, Canucks164cup said:

 

So Pettersson wasn't lucky to play on the lotto line with high skilled players either which started in 2019. Boeser and Miller aren't high skilled players.... 

 

Marner is a better player than Pettersson plain and simple, they might play a similar style and yes Marner is more of a set up guy, but Marner has shown way more strength to drive the net and score goals than Pettersson can, and Marner's speed is much stronger and better than Pettersson's. 

 

Pettersson is making $11.6M and him and his agent believed that's what he's worth, he should be able to make players around him a lot better as well, being that valuable how come he can't? Why does he need a superstar beside him to be that much better?

Why is Marner paired with Matthews for the last couple seasons ?  Why was Marner paired with Tavares for multiple seasons ?   Why isn't Marner paired with 3rd or 4th line players like Pettersson was last season ?   Or one second line player, (Debrusk) and one 4th line player, (Sherwood) like he is this season?

 

Because the Toronto coaches are not stupid... they want scoring production, and they know you have to put together lines with multiple high skill players to get that production.  (Toronto was top 2 or top 3 in the league in scoring multiple years with these pairings)

 

And I would disagree that Pettersson has not shown speed and skill to drive to the net and score... he did that regularly in previous years.  And he has better goals stats.

 

By the way, management have said they need to add more players.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 15, 2024 by -Buzzsaw-

[Toni Zamboni]

[wai_lai416]

1 hour ago, Canucks164cup said:

When posters bitch about Tocchet and being the Canucks highest winning percentage coach in Canucks history, then they make no sense at all.

lol highest winning percentage coach in canucks history is not really saying all that much when his sample size is tiny.. AV won the division every year except 1 and won the most rounds of any canucks coach history? ppl still bitch about him everyday. by the time RT is done with vancouver I'll bet he won't be the winningest coach here.. 

 

the gripe with tocchet is legitimate his style of hockey is boring and predictable for other teams.. there's a reason Arizona finished almost bottom 5 every year in scoring when he was there and he have no player even remotely close to a ppg.. and as soon as he's gone there's like 2-3 players close to a ppg.. this team didn't have issue with zone entries back in the days with Boudreau so I fail to see how they are incapable of gaining zone entries and can only play dump and chase. they weren't a dump and chase team in the 1st half of last season.. but they gave up a lot more chance than they did in the 2nd half.. then they decided to tighten up the defence and all of a sudden we became a dump and chase team incapable of gaining zone entries because they are focused on getting the puck in deep and don't take the chance of turning the puck over trying to gain the zone.. there's no team in the league that dump and chase more than the canucks and there's prolly no other team that's more pathetic at it because they rarely manage to retrieve the puck dumping it deep.

[Pianoman]

In my mind Pettersson is way down the list of things to worry about on this team. Honestly, a lot of the things people are freaking out about I think are way overblown. When you step back and see our record, realize we overachieved last year but are still a solid playoff team despite multiple injuries, it’s easier to be positive about it. Good teams are getting blown out all over the place. Maybe not great teams, and maybe not as often on home ice, but if you look around the nhl it happens almost every night to some tea, with a winning record. 

[LillStrimma]

1 hour ago, Canucks164cup said:

 

So Pettersson wasn't lucky to play on the lotto line with high skilled players either which started in 2019. Boeser and Miller aren't high skilled players.... 

 

Marner is a better player than Pettersson plain and simple, they might play a similar style and yes Marner is more of a set up guy, but Marner has shown way more strength to drive the net and score goals than Pettersson can, and Marner's speed is much stronger and better than Pettersson's. 

 

Pettersson is making $11.6M and him and his agent believed that's what he's worth, he should be able to make players around him a lot better as well, being that valuable how come he can't? Why does he need a superstar beside him to be that much better?

If Petey had made a 100point season more he would have got way over 12.

 

Now he plays often like a defensive forward and that means he doesn't get a chanche to reach McDavids ppg.

Hughes shoots instead of passing through the defence like he should wich would have meant more points for Petey.

The straight forward play with Hughes to Miller to Boeser has generated a lot of points Petey doesn't get a sniff at.

 

Picture McDavid has to be second C the team. Talk about he would bitch about it all the time and demanding a trade.

Petey dug down and is doing what Tocchet say.

That is the reason why he was one of if not the best, pointwise, 5v5 C one year. And now hits and PK etc instead of get all the attention on the other side of the ice.

[Drakrami]

1 hour ago, -Buzzsaw- said:

Why is Marner paired with Matthews for the last couple seasons ?  Why was Marner paired with Tavares for multiple seasons ?   Why isn't Marner paired with 3rd or 4th line players like Pettersson was last season ?   Or one second line player, (Debrusk) and one 4th line player, (Sherwood) like he is this season?

 

Because the Toronto coaches are not stupid... they want scoring production, and they know you have to put together lines with multiple high skill players to get that production.  (Toronto was top 2 or top 3 in the league in scoring multiple years with these pairings)

 

And I would disagree that Pettersson has not shown speed and skill to drive to the net and score... he did that regularly in previous years.  And he has better goals stats.

 

By the way, management have said they need to add more players.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May be because Matthews is a Center and Marner is a RW. 

lol

[filthy animal]

3 hours ago, Elias Pettersson said:

Tocchet played with Gretzky, Lemieux, Jagr and Coffey. How exactly is Petey not his type of player?  

 

Those guys took initiative on being the best players on the ice. The Petey we have right now is a far far cry from 3 - 4 years ago where he would have shifts where he was dominating the opposition, points or no points. The Petey we have now is hesitant and for some reason has a fear of shooting. The points are there, but hes accumulating them not in the same fashion as he was a few years ago. He's now hesitant to shoot, and he'll shoot if its the only play thats left. The old Petey won't hesitate to shoot because he knows he going to score.

 

Big big difference

 

Even Gretzky, he was pass first, but if there was a clear look, he's taking the shot

[filthy animal]

2 hours ago, Canucks164cup said:

 

So Pettersson wasn't lucky to play on the lotto line with high skilled players either which started in 2019. Boeser and Miller aren't high skilled players.... 

 

Marner is a better player than Pettersson plain and simple, they might play a similar style and yes Marner is more of a set up guy, but Marner has shown way more strength to drive the net and score goals than Pettersson can, and Marner's speed is much stronger and better than Pettersson's. 

 

Pettersson is making $11.6M and him and his agent believed that's what he's worth, he should be able to make players around him a lot better as well, being that valuable how come he can't? Why does he need a superstar beside him to be that much better?

 

If youre getting paid 11.6 million, theres no excuses. The wingers are dependent on YOU not the other way around. Pettersson is vastly overrated. Could you imagine, a 11.6 million dollar player, highest paid on the team, hes not even the best player on the ice  on any given night. Most nights, he's not even the best forward let alone best player on the team

[filthy animal]

1 hour ago, wai_lai416 said:

lol highest winning percentage coach in canucks history is not really saying all that much when his sample size is tiny.. AV won the division every year except 1 and won the most rounds of any canucks coach history? ppl still bitch about him everyday. by the time RT is done with vancouver I'll bet he won't be the winningest coach here.. 

 

the gripe with tocchet is legitimate his style of hockey is boring and predictable for other teams.. there's a reason Arizona finished almost bottom 5 every year in scoring when he was there and he have no player even remotely close to a ppg.. and as soon as he's gone there's like 2-3 players close to a ppg.. this team didn't have issue with zone entries back in the days with Boudreau so I fail to see how they are incapable of gaining zone entries and can only play dump and chase. they weren't a dump and chase team in the 1st half of last season.. but they gave up a lot more chance than they did in the 2nd half.. then they decided to tighten up the defence and all of a sudden we became a dump and chase team incapable of gaining zone entries because they are focused on getting the puck in deep and don't take the chance of turning the puck over trying to gain the zone.. there's no team in the league that dump and chase more than the canucks and there's prolly no other team that's more pathetic at it because they rarely manage to retrieve the puck dumping it deep.

 

Im absolutely against Tocchet's mantra of "don't waste shots". There was many times tonight where we forego shots to get that perfect play. That is the sole reason why we lost against EDM last year in the playoffs. They shot from everywhere, guess what, it may not beaten Silovs clean, but the bounced off sticks or our own players. Anaylitics already have shown thant if you shoot more than the other team, the percentage of winning was like what? 60 percent ish?