Carlyle not the same old coach
Ducks say bench boss’s new approach to dealing with players is making a difference
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Randy Carlyle has changed a lot since the last time Toronto fans saw him.
For one, he’s expanded his vocabulary.
Back when he was coaching the Maple Leafs, Carlyle kept describing the team’s constant collapses as “mind-boggling.” Really, it was an accurate assessment.
But beyond all that, the veteran bench boss has become more communicative and patient with his younger players — something that might have been lacking when coaching Toronto’s Jake Gardiner and Nazem Kadri or in his previous stint with the Anaheim Ducks.
“Today’s player wants to know why you’re doing something,” said Carlyle, who won a Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007 but was fired five years later. “Before it was more of, ‘this is what you’re going to do,’ and you didn’t have to really explain yourself on a day-to-day basis. Now today’s player has evolved to where you have to always give them the why — why you’re doing it, explain it, explain it, consult with the people that are involved to make the decision and why you made that decision.”
Carlyle was often criticized in Toronto for his treatment of Gardiner and Kadri, two young players whose games were still developing. Carlyle admitted in January he was hard on both, but “there was never a rift” between coach and players.
Still, it wasn’t until Carlyle was fired and Mike Babcock brought in as a head coach that both Gardiner and Kadri enjoyed career seasons.
When asked how Carlyle is different this time around, Andrew Cogliano said the Ducks coach is still just as demanding as ever. But Cogliano, who was 24 when Carlyle first coached him, said he’s noticed Carlyle is “more approachable” and patient with younger players.
“I feel like he’s also much better in terms of when you’re younger and you make mistakes, I think there’s a sense now where you need to continue to play and continue to work through those details, where back then that wasn’t going to happen,” Cogliano said. “I think he’s a lot better in terms of letting guys play and letting guys — in terms of figuring out their game and not having to be perfect all the time.”
NOT SO SPECIAL
Though the Ducks lost Game 1 on a one-timer that deflected in off one of their players (Corey Perry) in overtime, a big reason for the 3-2 loss was special teams.
While Anaheim went 5-for-5 on the penalty kill, the team went 0-for-4 with the man-advantage. The Ducks haven’t scored a power-play goal since Game 2 of the second round.
“The power play hasn’t been working good,” Carlyle said. “We’re 0-for20 (in the last six games) and that has to change dramatically. And the one thing that we’ve stated is that the will that has been demonstrated by the penalty killing units that our power play has been up against has exceeded our power play’s will.
“And that means work ethic, puck recovery, establishing shot and net presence. All those things are the staples in which you try to create a strong power play with, and right now our power play is not running at anywhere near its capability.”
One of the big reasons for Anaheim’s lack of success is the absence of Patrick Eaves, who was injured in Game 3 of the second round and who scored 13 of his 32 goals on the power play this season.
DEFENSIVE DYNAMO
With a corps that includes P.K. Subban, Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis and has combined for nine goals and 41 points, it’s no wonder Nashville’s defence is getting most of the attention in this year’s playoffs.
But after Cam Fowler logged a game-high 31 minutes and 22 seconds on Friday, it was difficult not to be impressed by Anaheim’s defensive anchor.
“Cam’s developed into being able to play in every situation, I think that’s been the biggest thing,” Ryan Getzlaf said of Fowler, who has five points in 11 playoff games. “He came in the league as the young guy that mainly played on the offensive side of things and obviously, we needed him to develop into that player that can take on both roles and be our No. 1 guy, and he’s done that. So it’s been very satisfying.”
FRIENDS AND ENEMIES
The NHL tends to be a small world, where two — never mind six — degrees separate one player from another.
An example of that are Fowler and Ellis, who are playing against each other in the Western Conference final but were Memorial Cup-winning teammates with the Windsor Spitfires in 2010. That bond remains just as strong now, with Fowler happy to see Ellis is enjoying personal success — as long as it doesn’t come at Anaheim’s expense.
“We’re fighting for the same thing right now, obviously, but I’ve stayed in touch with him a little bit here and there,” Fowler said.
“We’re obviously two competitive guys, but once this is all wrapped up, I’ll get a chance to talk to him and just tell him that I’m happy for him and he deserves it. He’s been playing great.”
SWISS JOY
James Neal joked it was the best day of his teammate’s life. And while that might be a slight exaggeration, Josi was both happy and proud to hear Switzerland upset Canada at the World Hockey Championship on Saturday.
“It’s great for Switzerland,” said the Swiss-born defenceman. “They’re a good team, Canada. It’s always a great thing for Switzerland if you can beat a team like that.”