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playoffs!!!
DC_1908:
--- Quote from: PUCKNRUSH on Sunday May 05, 2019, 02:28:35 AM Eastern ---
Hey Devise.
Well worded post, including the usual clarity in your style. Props to ya!
I’m with you on Carolina certainly being beatable, and the Isles, not being all that big of a deal either.
Respectfully, however, I disagree, (with what I can gather so far), from your overall assessments of why the Caps lost the R1 series.
No doubt that we saw the team run out of gas, that they “didn’t have IT in them”, in game 7, but I don’t follow your reasoning that well.
You say just prior to that quote, that you DIDN’T think it was a “mental let off”, on their part, so we can assume that you meant the running out of gas thing was describing more, a PHYSICAL condition, that occurred, and I would agree somewhat actually!
The issue, though, is what comes next in your post. This thing about an “emotional Cup win” taking its toll on the players.
“Emotional” would address a MENTAL issue, of which you thought, WASNT a real issue, contributing to the game 7 loss. Certainly the PHYSICAL BODY can’t possibly “tucker out”, in the last half, (and 2 OT’s), of an R1, game 7, played in April 2019, simply because it hasn’t recovered from a Cup series playoff win, that happened in June of 2018! Obviously not!
So then you must be giving some credence to the mental aspect of their recent, game 7, ousting, in the playoffs.
Rhetorically asking you, which is it?
Secondly, and still respectfully, how does a Carolina sweep of the Isles, relate to, and “prove”, that Rierdens coaching was not to blame!
I personally held off on judging Rierden, with any definitive conclusions, until the last few weeks of the regular season, so as to have a decent, 60-70 game sample, to look at.
Thusly, some patterns started showing themselves, IMHO, and, at a minimum, we all at least had a small sample to observe his pre and post game comments, with reactions, what he took note of, what he thought were problems, and successes. Also the players he did, or didn’t scratch throughout the year, his coaching “priorities”, and pet peeves, and the overall “cause and effect”, strategies that he either employed, or failed to employ, all season long!
Correct me if I’m wrong, Devise, but from some of your posts I’ve read over the seasons, you are in the camp of those feeling that the fault for lack of motivation/effort, from players in any given game, is generally, more on the players, than the coach.
While it is TRUE that the players decision to be motivated, or not, comes solely from THEIR BRAIN, it is the RESPONSIBILITY of the COACH, to DEAL WITH, TAKE ACTION, and RECTIFY, not only singular, but HABITUAL and REPETITIVE issues of low effort/motivation!
Todd Rierden FAILED miserably in this category! Even WORSE, he, and many players in the locker room, ACKNOWLEDGED the problem, REPEATEDLY, after the all star break, SO there is no claiming it wasn’t a ROUTINE issue, that we, as fans, constantly witnessed, and CONSTANTLY saw Rierden, not take meaningful measures, to address it!
Too many GREAT TEAMS, have won back to back Stanley Cups, throughout history, for the “emotional Cup win” excuse, to be a valid one! (Please take note I used the words, GREAT TEAMS)!
Todd Rierden, a very good man, failed to satisfactorily RECTIFY, season long issues, with some players low effort levels, as well as our famous PK, and PP issues, just for starters!
THAT is why Rierden bears a great bit of the blame for this seasons early playoff exit!
If we were to have achieved Oshies, “back to back”, wishes for a second Cup win, then we would have proudly, and deservedly, joined the ranks as one of the many GREAT TEAMS, in NHL history!!
WE DID NOT; The reality is still that we are one of the many GOOD TEAMS, that has won a Stanley Cup!
Todd Rierden, IS one of the MAJOR reasons, that is SO!
I welcome your comments
GOD BLESS
Rush
--- End quote ---
Agree with both you and Devise on Reidon. Yes, the series loss was not totally a coaching one, but he sure as fuck didn’t do much, enough, or anything to be an asset to win that series, and would of continued to be a liability.
One example, “fatigue” has been used as an excuse. Well consider that 8 players on a Cup winner averaged more than 18:TOI in the regular season. In the playoffs, with a double OT, that number went up to 9 players. No wonder they looked tired.
In Game 7, The Canes has one player with under 10 min, (a rookie with limited NHL experience), while Dowd and DSP, veterans with usable skillets played under 10, and Stevenson playing only 14. 100min of game time and he benches a whole line . . .
This is just one example, but I have no confidence that he would gotten out of, and forced his players out of the comfort zone of just doing “what works” when it doesn’t
PUCKNRUSH:
Just for clarification, I’m not throwing all the blame on our head coach. He shoulders a good portion of it, when the ENTIRE season is in view.
I’ll cut him his due slack for being in his first year, especially the early months of the season. Additionally, coming off a Stanley Cup year, unless you win it again, the only outcome possible, is a “less than” year. I’ll grant that to Rierden, as well.
Where the story is really told, for me, concerning the ASSESSMENT of his overall job performance, is in the LAST HALF of the regular season, and into the playoffs!
I believe a lot of things changed with the Caps overall play, throughout the season, but I attribute very little to Rierden, as the one responsible for AFFECTING those changes!
The Caps started out with difficulty, and challenges, in almost every aspect of the game! Then gradually through the second half of the season, we saw the Caps return to roughly the SAME Caps teams of the last few seasons, after the all star breaks, where we get a variety of big, dominating, 60 minute effort, type wins, peppered with decent wins, a few close losses, and some real disappointing, low effort, losses!
The common thread being they ALWAYS seem to be able to exert “just enough” overall effort, to win the division! ISNT THAT FRICKIN AMAZING!!!!!
Again, (luckily for the DC area fans), these guys are talented enough, to be able to almost turn it ON and OFF, AT WILL!! Some cities should be so lucky!!
They can practically dial in their destiny!
Trotz only had a LIMITED ability in attempting to control the “effort level”. And he’s an old school guy! Rierden is like silly putty in this area, as these Caps players ROLL, essentially, when THEY want too!
Their desire to play is completely disconnected from the head coaches desires. Both Trotz and Rierden are left only to COMMENT, and SPIN, to the media, AFTER THE FACT, of what type game the players CHOSE to play that evening! Both good and bad!
The coaches are GOOD at it too! Their JOB depends on it! Praising, of course, the good efforts, yet, skillfully, giving the fan base, softer, more digestible, and hopeful, assessments of REPEATED poor efforts!
Funny how our guys didn’t miss the WORLDS, isnt it??
Of course this is not exclusive to just the capitals! It’s in a lot of the NHL hockey organizations!
AND, It’s a damn shame!!
Realistically, folks in my general age group, will be the losers, as we find it difficult to move along with the times. I admire those who can adapt, but am absolutely not ashamed that I DONT!!
On a lighter note, I’M PULLING FOR GRUBAUER, and the Avalanche for this years Cup!
It’s the closest we can come to “back to back”!! LOL. 😂
Rush[size=78%] [/size]
Mickstix:
Be interesting to see what, if any, changes Rierden makes to his coaching approach.. Will he just be the same as he was and hope for the best? Did he learn anything and will he adjust?? Will they change any of the assistant coaches or systems?? Will the veterans of the team help with attitude, effort, etc.. (ie: someone needs to hold them accountable.. On effort alone! Especially shit like Kuznetsov saying he just doesn't give 100% most of the time.. If that's how he wants to play, please trade him immediately!!) And that leads to GMBM.. What will he do with the roster? That's about all we have to look forward to, imo..
My bets: No major changes forthcoming, just tinker here and there.. Probably overpay Burt, Sign Vrana for longer than they should, so they can afford him, let Hagelin walk. Probably keep Niskanen as I don't see how they unload that contract w/o major "helpers" attached.. Connolly? Not sure.. Him or Burt have to go I suspect.. Orpik probably comes back 1 more time. So basically Im looking at the coaching, system, attitude type adjustments..
Look for this to be copied/pasted when the "offseason" thread pops up.. Im too lazy to write it again. :snicker:
richkrt99:
Just a shame we couldn't muster a bounce in our favor in Game 7 and sneak away with a win (or not let in two untimely goals). This is looking to be an "easier than normal" path to the Cup. I'm not knocking any team along the way or the struggles each must overcome, but you have to admit Going thru Carolina, then Islanders is an easier path than Tampa or Boston or even Toronto.
Again, not knocking the teams that are still in it or what they have accomplished, but especially Carolina and Islanders have weaknesses a good team SHOULD be able to expose.
Even Columbus is not GREAT. I mean they are playing well and very tough, and Carolina is definitely hot, but they are by no means GREAT teams.
I really didn't think the Caps had it this year and figured them to get bounced eventually, but they sure as hell could have beaten Canes and Isles to get to a Eastern Conf final, and then who knows. We have two wildcard teams out of three total left in the east and a possibility of two wildcard teams meeting for the ECF. Two wildcard teams left in the West also...and a 2 and 3 seed. I mean, by standings rankings, six of the top eight teams are out and it could end up nothing but four wildcard teams left. (I don't think it gets there, but crazy playoffs this year)
Must be a true Cap fan.....still thinking what If, but If, If only...
I don't know who to pull for now. I definitely would like to see Columbus over Boston (although think Boston takes it), I'd like to see Columbus and Carolina play, and guess I would pull for Columbus, but I'd be okay with either. I sure don't wan't to see Boston in the SC Final. I mostly don't give a rat's ass about any of the Western Conference.
richkrt99:
Well...just watch Mojo put a nail in Columbus's coffin. I didn't even know mojo played for Boston. Long way from the volcano now.
Anybody know how many former Caps are still in the playoffs this year?
I got
Gruby
Williams
Mojo
I can't think of others but I don't really follow other teams that much.
Boston up 3-0 with about 5 minutes left in 3rd. Looks like Columbus is done. Too bad. I would have rooted for them.
I guess I'm pulling for the Canes here on out
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