Fantilli and Johnson are guys that we need to become top line impact players if we are going to compete. Stick them there and keep them there. Let them learn. It's going to take time, but we have to commit to it.
The Russians play well together and can communicate much better together than apart, which is a much bigger deal than gets attention for. Communication on the ice is huge, like every other sport.
I know Laine and Gaudreau have struggled to click, but there has just been way too much shuffling in my opinion. JG is great at creating space and angles on the PP, and Laine has a cannon of a one-timer. It's really quite simple. JG works the right half wall and Laine stands at the left circle. Werenski, Fantilli and Gaudreau are instructed to work the right side and draw the D. Look for Boone down low and Patty on the left dot, and EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. the pass goes to Laine he is to slap it on net. Boone works the net front to take care of rebounds and retrievals, and Fantilli is in the high slot to help with spacing, distribution and retrieval. This is the best possible PP set up, so put them in and do not change it no matter what. Make them figure it out. The second unit is our crack team of Russians along with KJ who is smart and creative enough to play the high slot with them. Same system as PP1 with March on left dot, KJ or Chinakhov at high slot and right half wall, Prov at the point and Vronk wreaking havoc in the crease.
I'd like to try something a little different on the PK. Preach a little more aggressive mentality. The D stay low to protect the net, one forward protects the slot, and the other is high to disrupt the opponent's Dmen. A 2-1-1 instead of the tight square. There are nuances to how each position defends, but this is the gist. When we gain solid possession, the high forward streaks for a scoring chance, then changes. Vronk would be a great slot protector, and Marchenko can score on those 1-on-1 chances. Similarly, Jenner is great in the slot, with Laine streaking for a shorty. This means our top D pairs need to play to make those breakout passes. No Peeke, no Gudbranson on the PK. I know, heresy in Columbus.
Jiricek needs to be on the top pair. Playing with Werenski and facing tougher minutes is going to make him better. Stop sheltering him. The kid has a great mentality and all the physical skills. They used that reasoning to play the dirt out of Sillinger for his first two years, so why aren't we doing that with Jiricek and Fantilli as well? Give them the reps so they can learn. These guys have to become our top impact players. They are mentally and physically able to handle it. Put them in at the top and let them play.
The fourth line is given the objective to hit everything that moves and create energy. Inspire our guys to fly.
When Sillinger comes back, he goes on the third line with Boone and Patty.
When Roslovic comes back he becomes the utility man, rotating in for Sillinger, Chinakhov, Danforth and Johnson to keep everyone fresh and playing. He should be sold at the TDL with 50% retention.
When Severson comes back, he sticks on the second pair, and Blanks is rotated in and out with Bean to keep them both healthy and pushing to play their best.
I believe in Greaves. Waive Martin and let him be the 3rd goalie.
The biggest thing we are changing here is our mentality, and that happens with reinforcement through every practice, every drill within, every pregame and intermission speech. We want to shift towards being an aggressively attacking team at all times. We need to be starving for a goal 24/7/365. If we don't have the puck, we should be stalking or actively attacking our prey. The D corps obviously needs to play with balance in the O zone and neutral zone, but our breakout remains aggressive, and our forwards' focus on backchecking and forechecking through the neutral zone needs to be greatly amplified.
Secondly, we are committing to consistency. We will still hold everyone accountable, but that means confrontation and honesty, not just scratching and demotions. It's kind of Torts style, but maybe with a little more tact. Love and understanding, but honesty always. If you aren't pulling your weight, you're getting called out and we're talking about it. Maybe in extreme cases you get stuck on the end of the bench for half a period, but generally, we trust the guys, and if you mess up, face it, fix it, get back out there and be better.