New York fans have seen their team succeed consistently in the regular season, only to fall apart in the playoffs, and 2016-17 was no exception. After finishing in a 3-way tie for second in the league during the regular season, injuries and poor performance from key players led the team to another early exit from the post-season at the hands of the Bulls.
Over the Summer, the front office overhauled the center ice position; buying out the remaining year on Tomas Plekanec's and Boyd Gordon's contracts, walking away from the $6.5 million contract an arbitrator awarded Tyler Johnson. Replacing them are a pair of free agent signees Jordan Staal and Kyle Brodziak. Bryan Little was also brought in via trade from Notre Dame in exchange for Chris Tanev and $2.3 million. Tanev was considered expandable given the development of Ian Cole and Nikita Zadorov and the addition of multiple blueliners in the draft, including Brady Sjkei who is expected to compete for a position in his first season.
But the biggest splash was the signing of free agent Carey Price, after Chad Johnson and Brian Elliott struggled in the playoffs.
"When we won the Cup," reminisced head coach Kirk Muller about decade-old history, "we were more of a run-and-gun team. Lots of offense. This team will have a different identity, a much more defensively-sound one that we believe will help us win the Cup in the modern HBMHL."
When it was pointed out that Winnipeg, the 2017 champions, had the best offense in the league, Muller appeared to become defensive and ended the press conference. He clearly seems to feel the pressure of being the head coach of a team that has not lived up to expectations in recent years. If 2017-18 is more of the same, could a coaching change be next?
Over the Summer, the front office overhauled the center ice position; buying out the remaining year on Tomas Plekanec's and Boyd Gordon's contracts, walking away from the $6.5 million contract an arbitrator awarded Tyler Johnson. Replacing them are a pair of free agent signees Jordan Staal and Kyle Brodziak. Bryan Little was also brought in via trade from Notre Dame in exchange for Chris Tanev and $2.3 million. Tanev was considered expandable given the development of Ian Cole and Nikita Zadorov and the addition of multiple blueliners in the draft, including Brady Sjkei who is expected to compete for a position in his first season.
But the biggest splash was the signing of free agent Carey Price, after Chad Johnson and Brian Elliott struggled in the playoffs.
"When we won the Cup," reminisced head coach Kirk Muller about decade-old history, "we were more of a run-and-gun team. Lots of offense. This team will have a different identity, a much more defensively-sound one that we believe will help us win the Cup in the modern HBMHL."
When it was pointed out that Winnipeg, the 2017 champions, had the best offense in the league, Muller appeared to become defensive and ended the press conference. He clearly seems to feel the pressure of being the head coach of a team that has not lived up to expectations in recent years. If 2017-18 is more of the same, could a coaching change be next?
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