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Heika: Fans can start to question the coach, system at this point





Hey Mike, this year is starting to be a repeat of last year, consistantly outshot and chasing the other team for most of the game which leads to penalties. Even though we're apparently in a transition, would you say our current problems are personnel or is it Gulutzan's system?

I think you can definitely start to question the system and the coach at this point. You can't finish this poorly in shots against and in times short-handed this consistently and win long-term. So, yes, I believe the system is under heavy scrutiny right now.


Mike, what do you think the job security for Gully is? I like Gully a lot but I'm not sure how patient Gaglardi is going to be considering he inherited Gully and GM Joe.

I've thought a lot about that lately, and I had some of the same thoughts you did. Because of Gaglardi's inheritance, does that change how he views things? I honestly think it doesn't. If the team wins or looks good, he'll obviously get a chance. If it loses or looks bad, I think he's done. If it's close, and they look like they're improving that's when the talking starts, and when I think Tom Gaglardi could be persuaded to be patient.


Early last season Gulutzan preached putting the puck on net rather than dumping it into the corners. That strategy seemed to work well for them. But they seem to have gone back to dumping into corners, away from goaltenders. Any chance they might go back to getting the puck to the net and forcing the goaltender to make a play?

They have done it more recently, so it's something they talk about. The problem is when a good goalie handles the long shot and simply negates the forecheck. It's a guessing game out there, and you have to adjust to different opponents. I'm still a fan of the high flip into no-man's land, and I think they need to use that more often.


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