Kaz - very good couple of posts. My 4 points:
1. Caps don’t have enough guys with the absolute burning desire to win. Guys that refuse to lose.
2. Kuzy was the number 1 disappointment for the regular season and the playoffs. He needs a hardass coach that will bench him when he doesn’t shoot or doesn’t give the effort.
3. Worst coaching was for special teams. It was obvious to everyone that our PP was a one-trick pony and our slingshot and entry into the zone was embarrassing. Forsyth needs to go.
4. Our defense needs to be totally revamped to get more size and physicality and be coached to stop trying to clear the zone by staying on the boards every single time.
Hey Beags!
Very wise and well worded post!
Your point #1, saying they didn’t have enough guys with the burning desire....Excellent! It only takes a few guys, with smoldering efforts, to gradually quench the burn in others, within the multiple shift changes, and slowly diminishing RESULTS, that will naturally follow!
We absolutely have a few players, whose attitudes and effort levels are very FICKLE!!
This is the perfect word to describe this phenomenon, that occurs so OBVIOUSLY, in a few of the same guys, (this fickleness), and yet....
In a different group of just a few players, their attitudes and effort levels, are always turned on with “burning desire”!
Then we have the rest of the guys, (the majority), where being classsified into one, or the other, mentioned above, isn’t so obvious.... neither reliably giving it all, nearly all the time, NOR, predominantly lacking in effort, most of the time.
BUT.....we surely know the few names of those that “stick out”, as ALWAYS up and down, (fickle), with attitiude and effort level, and those other few that are “always burning”!
I use FICKLE, because it can imply INTENT, of the player, both good or bad!
Here they are then:
The obviously FICKLE: (with their effort levels), in no order.
1. KUZY
2. VRANA
3. BURA
4. OVI, (maybe excused by his production, etc., but still true)
5. BACKY (hard not to like him, but still true)
6. CARLSON
The obvious 100% effort givers:
1. OSHIE
2. ELLER
3. HAGELIN
4. KEMPNY
5. DOWD
6. JENSEN?
7. WILSON?
8. BEAGLE-(just for sentimental reasons)!
Also Beags, points #2, 3, and 4. Very good, my friend!
I do also blame Rierden, and align more with Kaz’s perspective. He inherited good special teams, so with the overwhelming flatness on PP, showing from the start of the season, with no real tangible, or observable improvement, (unless you think going from abysmal, to below average qualifies), there should have been coaching changes, (Forsythe), or AT LEAST, rumblings of it, in the media, or something.
I have an issue with Rierden, passively giving cute little euphemisms, through the press, in an attempt to “soften” the focus, and significance, of the how these FICKLE effort levels AFFECT GAME OUTCOMES!!!
Attempting to avoid the TOUGH ISSUE, of having to DISCIPLINE some of the BIG NAMES!!
THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT IT.....By keeping the media at bay, with his softer, more vague tone, in his post game interviews....Rierden actually SUCCEEDED!!
And WE, the fans, witnessed ANOTHER low effort, R1, game 7, pathetic loss!! THATS IT, folks!!
NOW....back to the present. I say this just as strongly!
NOTHING, can put a stain on MY Stanley Cup experience! It is an already accomplished, PURE DEED, in and of itself!!
Only those who wish it to be tarnished, for them, and their memories of it, can actually WILL it to be done to themselves! If so, you have my sympathy.
Try to consider that our boys names, hand-engraved, on that majestic trophy, will not be melting away, off of the Cup’s face, like the Wicked Witch of the West, on the steps of OZ, due to this years playoff performance!
I hope your joyful experience of those great moments, stay solidly engraved in you, likewise!
I’m turning the page, people!!!👍
Thanks, Beags!
Rush
