Gilbert says all the right things

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Greg Gilbert said a lot of the things Saint John Sea Dogs fans were hoping to hear on Monday.

The new Saint John Sea Dogs head coach was a guest on this week's Monday Night Mic'd Facebook Live broadcast. Along with discussing his lengthy career in the sport, Gilbert mentioned some of his coaching style and philosophy, touching on a few things all Sea Dogs observers can agree the team needs help with.

"I like to focus on our hockey club and how we're going to play," Gilbert said from his home in Oakville, ON. "If we play the right way and we do the right things then we'll win hockey games. That's the first thing I want our players to know. It's not going to be easy. It's going to be hard work and there are some things you've got to work on. You've got some very skilled players, no question, that can score goals. But now we've got to play without the puck a little bit without taking anything away from the offense. It's not hard to do, it's just a matter of buying into it and learning how to execute the right way. When that happens, hopefully championships follow."

The Sea Dogs have allowed the most goals against in the league in each of the past two seasons. Last year, the team allowed a league high 4.35 goals against per game. It's no secret the team needs to find a way to, somewhat significantly, improve defensive play - and it's good to hear that Gilbert is aware of that.

Gilbert described himself as a patient coach and not someone who is going to yell and scream.

"The more situations that all players can be used in, the better they become," said Gilbert, mentioning that former NHLer Patrick O'Sullivan turned from someone constantly looking for breakaway passes to a top penalty killer during his time as head coach of the OHL's Mississauga IceDogs.

Another potentially good omen for the Sea Dogs: the 58-year-old has had a lot of success in his first seasons with clubs at all levels. Gilbert won the Stanley Cup as a player in his first two seasons with the New York Islanders in 1982 and 1983; was named the AHL coach of the year in his first season with the Worcester IceCats in 1997; and won the OHL coach of the year award in his first season with the Saginaw Spirit in 2012. Gilbert said he's not focused on individual awards.

"That's the last thing on my mind right now. I want to get people to where they want to be. I want to make our players the best players they can be. That's what they need the help with and that's what our job as coaches is - make them better not only as individuals but as a team. The stronger we can make them in both those instances the better the hockey team we'll have."

One other interesting note from the interview was that Gilbert coached two players in Saginaw who ended up becoming Sea Dogs later on: Sam Povorozniouk and Chase Stewart.