THE CAPTAIN KNOWS ALL ABOUT SYSTEMS
Committing to Lemaire’s earned Guerin a Cup ring
2:45 pm - If the Islanders ever need someone to preach the gospel of committing to a system, all they have to do is look to their captain.
Bill Guerin was a second-year NHLer 15 years ago when Jacques Lemaire took over as head coach of the New Jersey Devils and installed a new defensive system. Two years later, Guerin and his teammates were the owners of Stanley Cup rings.
“On his first day, Jacques showed us his new system,” Guerin said after practice at the Coliseum today. “It had never been done before. All we did was practice it and practice it, every day until we started to get it right.
“We worked all the time on our positioning, our angles. It didn’t happen overnight. But Jacques changed the game, we won a Stanley Cup and the system is still being played today.”
Guerin’s Devils team was 41-27-12 that first season under Lemaire, then won 47 regular season games and the Cup in Year 2. No one is saying the Islanders can replicate that feat, but it makes it a whole lot easier to buy into a new system when your captain can look you in the eye and say, Been There. Done That.
“It’s a challenge, but it gets easier the more you commit to it and the more you work at it,” said Guerin. “It means watching a lot of tape and seeing where you did well and where you messed up. You’re rewarded for committing to the system and executing it.”
Gordon has stated since the beginning of the pre-season schedule that his teams have won the games when they nailed the system and lost the games when it got away from them. Guerin said that’s inarguably been the case in the Islanders’ 2-3 start to the regular season.
“All you have to do is look at the last two games,” he said. “In Tampa Bay, we played it well and won. In Florida, we were a step behind most of the night and lost. The results of Scott’s forecheck system are like when you’re trying to make a play on offense. When you execute it, you can see how it works. If you don’t execute, you don’t succeed.”
Guerin made a point to say, “Without question, everyone is behind Scott.” But what happens during those stretches when the system goes off the rails? Recalling his time with Lemaire, the Islanders captain said, “It’s the coach’s job to enforce it.”
The only way a coach can effectively enforce is through the distribution of playing time. With only 12 healthy forwards currently on the Islanders’ roster, the first sign that Gordon has decided he’s given everyone enough time will be a call to Bridgeport.
ETC: Absolutely nothing to report from practice today. Same lines, no news, no injury updates. Media at practice today: Arthur Staple of Newsday and two guys from Switzerland to talk to Mark Streit.
15 Responses to THE CAPTAIN KNOWS ALL ABOUT SYSTEMS
Committing to Lemaire’s earned Guerin a Cup ring
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I am all for a new System the problem with the Islanders is every 2 yrs the system changes with the coache’s.
Now i’ll be optimistic and say i am all for it and hope this System works, for i can see it now that this team might lose gas by Allstar Break! -
Was Guerin as bored playing Lemaire’s system as we were watching it? I know it works, but still…
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JKP in Halifax says:
The nice thing about this commitment to the system is, like the Devils, it’s being implemented in the farm club as well (as CB has mentioned in the past).
It’s a good sign of the commitment to build through the draft that we’ve been promised. The only question is as Paul above says, will they have the patience to stick with it long term…?
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KillerC says:
We suck so who cares…Tmrw whats the over under on goal scored??? i say 1.5
i say it goes under
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*GOALS
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Joe says:
Overspeed works for a couple guys, why is Trent Hunter playing the best and hes the slowest?
Still the same product I watched bomb out last year. If we keep going without an enforcer, by mid season half our guys will be destroyed and on the IR anyway.
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Adam M. says:
A little off topic, but any news on Sillinger CB?
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admin says:
They’ve even muzzled Sillinger, which for my guy Silli is like throwing a tarp over Mt. Rushmore. My hunch is he’s at least 4 weeks away from getting in an NHL game. There’s time to rehab, time to skate, time to practice and then time to learn the you-know-what…CB
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Chris TMC says:
Yup, we all know what. I hope Sillinger has been taking notes!
Oh and thumbs up for that line, 7thW lol
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It’s really a shame that Sillinger messed up his hip like he did…we could really use his leadership and scoring touch.
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dmarie says:
That’s what I’m waiting for time under our belts, it’s only been 5 games and putting a “system” into play, having young guys, injured key players, finding the right lines..etc..)
I don’t see how anyone can expect a lot right now from these guys.
I think that you can see a two step forward two step back kinda thing goin on. I like to call it finding their sweet spots. And the guys are hungry for it, so me? (imo) I think it’ll be awhile but big picture down road..if all falls into place, good things will happen.
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Diane says:
After reading this I am more resolved to keep my patience and optimism.
damn right!!!