RedLeaf said:
Potvin29 said:
RedLeaf said:
Potvin29 said:
RedLeaf said:
MY point is that you don't know what a new coach brings to the table until it happens. I have a hard time going along with an off-the-cuff remark that 'he can't be worse'. You just don't know that.
I mean in terms of play. They can't really allow more chances/shots against, their PK can't really get appreciably worse, they can't really give up more possession time.
Leafs are a capped out team on the playoff bubble. Can't really afford to waste more of Kessel's best years. Maybe it will or won't work with another coach, but it hasn't worked with the current one.
The team has not improved under Carlyle, and arguably taken a step back.
This is highly debatable. Their W-L record since Wilson left suggests the team has improved. And you've already admitted to preferring the team now that is 'under' Carlyle as opposed to the one that was 'under' Wilson.
Right, I prefer the players on the roster. W-L record is not a good indication of how the team is playing, especially one enhanced by the SO, but we won't rehash this for the millionth time.
If the W-L record isn't a good indication of whether or not a team is improving, then which indicator should we use?
Goal differential, shot differential to name a couple. Leafs are on pace to give up more shots than an expansion team that won 17 games, how is that improvement? That shouldn't even be possible. Leafs points percentage is 19th in the league. Leafs PK is 28th, in 2011-12 it was 28th. Goals per game in 11-12 was 2.77, this season is 2.80. Goals against per game in 11-12 was 3.16 (29th), this season is 3.04 (26th). PP is 2% better this season than in 11-12.
The Leafs are on the same regulation/OT points pace this season as in Wilson's last season. Like I said, this roster is better. SO's are a
crapshoot and not something you can expect to repeat season to season.
I struggle to see what improvements have been made with a better roster and FAR better goaltending. Where have improvements been made? Any positive differences from Wilson's last season to this season are incremental at best (ex. GA/G and PP differences) and in some cases are clearly attributable to Bernier's goaltending.