Carbonneau: A better coach, with better players
February 2nd, 2008 by wrightScotty Bowman was once asked what made him such a great coach, and he modestly replied, “well I had great players that made me look good”. If only it was that simple. At the end of the day, coaching has a profound impact on the success level of any team, regardless of the talent associated with that team. The coach’s function is to amalgmate the disparate parts of a team and unify them into a cohesive unit, maxamizing each players ability within the structure of the team. In his second year as coach of the Canadiens, Carbonneau has evolved as a coach in conjunction with an improving talent base of players.
In his first year as coach of the Habs, Carbo was criticized for being uncommunicative with the players,and trying to impose a style of play that did not suit the makeup of the team. To a large extent those issues have been eradicated this year. In the offseason Carbo had lengthy conversations with Kovalev, a underperfoming critic of the coach. Issues were resolved, Kovalev at Carbo’s urging has simplifed his game, bought into the coach’s vision of a defense first philosophy. The result, a superb season from a player that has a reputation as a underacheiving superstar coach killer.
Like all winning coach’s, Carbo has also benefited from having better players in his second season. The addition of Hamrlik, Georges and Streit on the blueline has upgraded the Habs breakout/transition game from the teams defensive zone. Those three d men are quicker, and much more competent in terms of headmaning the puck to a forward going on the attack than Souray,Rivet and Dandenault, the three defense men they replaced. Due to better talent, Carbo has instituted a more aggressive forecheck, and encouraged the defense men to jump into the rush and be more proactive in terms of attacking the opposition. No longer is the Habs defense as passive and reactive as they were a year earlier. Carbonneau’s “better coaching” of his defense is a result of having better skill level defenseman able to take on greater responsibilities.
Perhaps, Carbo’s greatest impact on the success of the Habs, is the dominance of the Canadiens powerplay. Last season ranked number one in the league, this season second in terms of effectiveness. In the offseason the team losses its catalyst, Souray, who lead the league in powerplay goals. No matter, the team adjusted and is still as lethal with the man advantage this season. Carbo has Doug Jarvis, a former player that was noted for his defensive abilities to run the powerplay. A great insight, who better to to run a powerplay than someone who specialized in trying to neutralize the opposition. The Habs set the structure, and then read and exploit whatever the opposition penalty killing is trying to do. Of course,coaching the puck movement, the players decision to cycle the puck down low, use the half boards, or the point to score, only goes so far, ultimately the talent level dictates success or failure.
Carbo’s defense first philosophy remains unchanged from a year ago. What has changed is better personnel, and the maturation of young talent that continues to get better and better. The addition of Hamrlik and Georges makes the Habs transition game from the back end more effective. The Kostitsyn brothers, along with the rejuvenation of Kovalev, and the steady improvement of other young players such as Plekanec, Latendresse give the Habs more capabilities to force a turnover, and move from defense to offense. The Canadiens style of play has not changed much from a year ago, rather the collective conscience and maturation of a young talented team able to better execute defined responsibilities, in part ennunciated by the coach, has defined the Canadiens success this season.
The Canadiens vastly improved 5 on 5 pay this season is due in large part to the fact that Carbonneau has more depth and better personnel to draw on from a year ago. If a player is under performing, Carbo can quickly make him a healthy scratch for the next game. Last season, Carbo did not have the luxury of that option. Taking away a players ice time sends a message, and is a strong motivator for optimal performance by all players. As such, the Canadiens work ethic as a team is far superior this season than a year ago. Players are more willing to take physical punishment to make a play, as to ensure a place in the lineup on a continued basis. As a result, puck retrevial, blocked shots, disruption of the oppositions passing lanes, winning the battle on the boards, all important criterion for building the foundation for winning games on a consistent basis have been the hallmarks of the teams success this season. Carbonneau preached those concepts last season. This year he has a more attentive audience because he has more depth, and as such more options to ensure that underperforming/underacheiving players do not get rewarded with ice time.
The Canadiens are presently performing as a team, and are dazzling to watch. It is a result of good players buying into a system established by the coaching staff. Carbonneau is evolving into a better coach, aided by the steady progression of young and talented team that has not reach its peak as yet.
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