A Forecast Of The New Coaching Staff
Given that Randy Carlyle was hired with very little time to have influence on last nights game, it was difficult to determine what kind of system he was going to install with his new team. With 17 Games remaining in the regular season, what kind of game would the Leafs be playing to try and squeeze into a playoff spot? Last night I took the liberty of watching several hours of video that was available on NHL vault during the first 2 years of his tenure with the Ducks. Also read interviews with players both current and former, and used some of the CBC Hockey Night In Canada interviews last night to try and piece together what Leafs nation can expect from the new boss. One disclaimer to all of what is listed below, the team that he coached in Anaheim was significantly deeper than the one he will be overseeing in Toronto. It is really hard to determine what kind of differences he will have to implement based on personnel.
1. The defensive zone will be very organized. Watching the Ducks during his tenure the one thing that is very evident is defensive zone poistioning. Look for guys like Phaneuf, Komisarek, Schenn, to all get increased responsibility, and to be much more physical. The amount of contributing that the defense will be able to do with the offense is somewhat unknown right now, but one change I would predict is that only certain defensemen will get the green light to join up moving forward. Most likely Liles and Gardiner would most likely be the only 2 as their skating ability is very strong.
2. More cycle and less transition. Carlyle seems to enjoy playing a puck possession game which is going to be difficult with this roster. They are not very big, and board battles have been scarce. Players like Nikolai Kulemin and Clarke MacArthur both seem to enjoy playing this style on the boards as is, but beyond that the team has lived and died in transition most of this season. This type of play will help guys such as Steckel and Lombardi, but may not suit most of the top line. Interesting to watch going forward.
3. Hitting, hitting, and more hitting. This team will hit everything that moves on the ice. They may be small in size, but they will play big in stature. Players that have had a difficult time cracking the roster such as Colby Armstrong and Jay Rosehill will both be intricate parts in the type of game Carlyle prefers. Look for a return of the top 6/bottom 6 mold that Burke used to speak of, and the Bottom 6 players will skate fast and hit hard. Carlyle not only loves this, but his formula seems to be during games when leading in the third period to lean on the bottom 6 players. This might be the biggest change in culture in the Leafs current system.
4. The players will always know where they stand with him, the media may not. During his time with the Ducks, it was reported widely that there was a rift between he and Bobby Ryan. Search up and down, try finding a quote from him anywhere being forthright with this. He seems to treat his dressing room like a vault, and this may be a good thing. When you have as many people writing and covering your team, the slightest mis-step at a post game press conference or after a morning skate can turn into a major distraction. The hole the Leafs are trying to get out of is distraction enough, don’t look to Carlyle to create any more. Carlyle also stated following the game last night that he addressed his team, and does so after nearly every game. Another change from previous regimes.
5. The team will have very difficult practices. I have to admit I have never seen the practice habits of his current team, but with the Ducks he was known for having up tempo practices with strong attention to detail. Only being 2 or 3 points back of a playoff spot, having games against nearly every team that they are fighting look for the intensity to pick up. With only 17 games to implement a new system and determine what pieces are needed going into next season.
These were just a few observations that I put together after a very long night of video and research. As was stated above, it really is difficult to forecast how the team is going to be coached compared to another, given the differences in players.