The identity of this team is clearly not defense. I'm ok with that. There was not a scenario where you could revamp the team and make it both offensively and defensive stout.
Sitting back seems to be Hiller's only approach to trying to protect leads and I have no idea why we are doing that when we don't have the horses for it.
Their options were very limited on the UFA market for defensive dmen.
The '99 Quinn team, similarly defensively challenged, did run & gun to the Conf finals but they could ride Cujo in his prime. I do not think the present goaltending tandem is up to that. As well, the game has changed.
Back then, the same coaching criticism was around: the forwards were not doing their fair share defensively. It was fair criticism.
Nobody is giving away top 4 dmen. It is tricky for them for cap reasons this season and next.
They spent a lot of dough supposedly upgrading the 3/4 lines. I haven't seen much from the 4th line. If they want to make the playoffs, to me, it will be the forwards making the improved, dedicated defensive effort that will decide it. With their D, it harder to teach old dogs new tricks.
On a positive note, Cowan is continuing to generate puck battles on the forecheck where I didn't think there could be one. I hope he can keep that up. He's really buzzing. To me, at times, it feels like some of the best forechecking I can recall in recent years. It is quite an improvement as I was not impressed with his defensive game during the Calder Cup playoffs. Collectively, I think the club seems to have better skating speed than I expected. That could help them defensively if they use it.
