First, let me say that I have been a long time reader, a short time comment-er and now a 1st time writer (on here).
So be gentle, fair and accurate if you want to critique.
Penguins fans, or Pittsburgh fans in general, are a little, shall we say, spoiled?
And I get it, I want them to win, always, forever. But the other team also gets paid.
Now, about the pitchforks. A lot has been made of Mike Johnston (with a "T", sheesh) and his "performance" with this team, but a lot was made of former HC Dan Bylsma also. The biggest complaint of the latter being, "he never makes adjustments" or "we are beating our heads off a wall" with the basic premise that he does not care to coach, just institute his system. The former, current Coach M.J., meanwhile seems to only make adjustments and yet people still complain. Maybe, just maybe, he is preparing his team to play in adjusted styles, at differing times, so he can later make said coaching adjustments with some knowledge of how it will look and the players are prepared to enact it.
For example; Last season, the Penguins started as world beaters.
Untouchable.
Especially that power play.
Wow.
Then the league adjusted and "caught up", so to speak.
This season, it would seem, (hopefully) that HCMJ is getting this team prepared to make adjustments week to week, game to game, period to period. And that is a grind, especially with a lot of new faces.
If that is the case, this group will be much better equipped to play the style that is deemed appropriate for that match-up. Come playoff time, the match-up matters. Think - Montreal's speed, Washington's size, or Boston/NYR interfering style. Very differing approaches to the game, but all very beatable IF we can play a style that causes them trouble. I would like to see the lineup change based on this as well. Scuderi/Plotnikov out against fast teams and in for physical teams, etc. (Although Plotnikov is playing very well at the moment)
If the Pens are capable, by the end of the season, of playing multiple styles, (trap, LW lock, 1-2-2, etc..) they will, not only be better for it, they will be a much tougher team to play against, leading to more wins.
Let's take a book out of the Steeler's playbook, commit to a coach, allow him to tinker and do not have him worrying about job security until he has a chance to actually institute his framework. That does not happen quickly. The "freedom" to tinker is what allows a coach to be innovative.
I, for one, am excited to see what Johnston can come up with as the season moves along. He may just surprise us all and have all of his players in positions to succeed in the playoffs, not just the regular season. And ultimately, that is all we want as fans; Playoff success, and no regular season, regardless of greatness, has ever won a Stanley Cup.
But, I may be wrong entirely.... and if that is the case, someone toss me a pitchfork.
Thanks for reading and be excellent to each other!
