Players were already able to offer an idea of what that might look like following the first on-ice sessions of training camp on Friday. Their answers suggested a simplified, intuitive style of hockey that will promote individual creativity.
"It's on the ice and off the ice," forward Evan Rodrigues said. "On the ice, it's coming up with a five-man unit, having support, knowing where everyone's going to be and just being there for your teammates.
"[It's] being able to make plays without really looking, just knowing that there's going to be guys around you and you're going to be connected. It'll make our game be that much faster and it will make it easier on us as players."
One day after Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner suggested that their new coach's enthusiasm could be contagious, optimism seemed to be the prevailing emotion Friday.
Kyle Okposo, for example, told reporters he felt ready to go play a game after Krueger delivered a 15-minute speech to players on Thursday. C.J. Smith said that players sat in the dressing room after the first practice session and discussed how much they enjoyed the drills.
"He came in and he established himself as the guy," Sam Reinhart said of Krueger. "When he talks, guys are going to listen.
"That's just kind of the way he is and the way he holds himself and conducts himself whether he's conducting a meeting or you're talking one-on-one or just kind of joking around in a loose conversation. That's just kind of his manner, and it makes it very easy, very contagious for guys to pick up on."
The goal is for communication to promote clarity. On the ice, the coaching staff has worked toward establishing a consistent and clear set of terms they hope will be conducive toward keeping players on the same page.
"It's going to be simplified this year," Rodrigues said. "There's not going to be the questions of what we're doing, where guys have to be. You're going to be able to make plays without looking, you're going to know where guys are at all times.
"There's going to be no question on what we're doing. It's going to be plain and simple. We're going to play fast and play aggressive."
Off the ice, players will know where they stand and why.
"Whether it's good or bad or easy or hard to hear, he's going to be honest and we need to be honest with each other," Reinhart said. "I think a lot of that comes into buying in with one another and kind of accepting, embracing that we're all here to help each other and get on one page."
Krueger explained how honesty in difficult situations goes hand in hand with a "positive" approach.
