I'd agree with most of that but, based on the performances I've seen I'm struggling to see what Riley brings.
To be perfectly honest Moggy, myself and a few friends in private have joked about the difference between what we saw when 'Belfast' Riley came to the rink, and what we've seen so far from 'Cardiff Riley'. (please don't think i'm bashing the player as that's the last thing i'm trying to do).
There's a couple of things we've established though (well, *think* would be a better word).
1) Injury - he picked up a nasty injury early on, and took a couple of weeks out of the squad as a result
2) Coaching - Is he being preached to backcheck HARD firstly, and finish checks second? (This is a question nobody can answer)
3) Different style of play - similar to coaching - Keefe likes crash bang, Lord likes skill and finesse - both have been effective in league titles and 1st/2nd places so not knocking that.
And finally, his production IS there, is it on par with "Belfast" Riley's production? No. But then, is that his fault? - The team around him isn't producing at last years rate either, so that's more of a collective than anything, also, another year older, a new team, new teammates, new rink...
Similarly; and again - i'm just spouting ideas; Lord seems to get guys working as a collective far more than any other coach; I'd be fascinated to see the ice time between individual guys so far this season per game, as it feels like we roll our lines very equally between 1-2-3 and for the most part line 4 also.
Was this the case in Belfast last year? Did they roll 1-2 very heavily?
And my final favourite stat - 2016-2017 (One win away from the clean sweep in PO Final)
Not one single player broke 20 goals in the regular season.
(As near as makes no difference) - no player broke the point per game mark through the season
The GOAT managed 'only' 53 points - 14 less than any other season as a Devil.