Washington Capitals Fan Forum
Talk about Capitals hockey & more! => Washington Capitals & Other Hockey Discussion => Topic started by: Surreylily on Saturday February 22, 2020, 05:47:02 PM Eastern
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There have been a few grumbles of late regarding Reirdon.
There are a couple of people who blame the coach for everything, including the weather, but I think it's fair to say that the coaching needs to be assessed/examined. in light of our recent play, or lack thereof.
There has been a definite downturn in our team and for a while now.
We had a whole series of games where we played like crap, then put in an effort in the last twently minutes.... then ten minutes and then only five minutes. lots of come from behinds ,that we really didn't deserve to win.
Now we've (RIGHTLY) stopped winning.
Is it the system? That's down to the coaches.
Is iit the executiion? That's down to the players.
Is it motivation? Who's to blame for that? 50/50 imho.
What really concerns me right now is the lack of correcting the constant and repeat mistakes that are being made, over and over again. The passing and giveaways are appalling. The telegraphed stretch passes that a blind person can see.
Our face=offs are appalling. WHAT is wrong wiith Nicky?
As for our D .......... :huh: I say send them to Dale Hunter for a week...... :snicker:
WHY can't Reirdon address these glaringly obvious issues. Has he lost the room?
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Honestly, I'd prefer them to slump NOW as opposed to mid-April/May/June
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Honestly, I'd prefer them to slump NOW as opposed to mid-April/May/June
Do you thiink the awfull play is just due to a slump? I hope you're right luv
t's one hellof a slump and it's been going on for a while now. I'd say around the last 20 games or so give or take...
That's not a slump. That's a collapse.
Imho.
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Honestly, I'd prefer them to slump NOW as opposed to mid-April/May/June
I can't see this team playing in May or June. Hope I'm wrong.
It was only a matter of time before this team started losing games. The Caps weren't really playing that well early in the season but we're pulling out alot of wins that we didn't deserve. We have played without structure from day 1 winning games on skill alone.
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Do you thiink the awfull play is just due to a slump? I hope you're right luv
t's one hellof a slump and it's been going on for a while now. I'd say around the last 20 games or so give or take...
That's not a slump. That's a collapse.
Imho.
I'm with Surreylily
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I'm with Surreylily
Lol! :lmao:
But what do you thiink is the problem? IS it coaching?
Who would you want as a replcement?
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I'm going to be my usual self and suggest Alan May as our next Head coach.
In the same beath.... almost... 'm going to be very uncharacteritic and say,,, maybe not so much.
I think he could be a GREAT coach. In time. Just not now and not for us, just yet anyway....
He's great at analyzing our play, for sure. Analyzing and putting into play are two different things.
I adore :hearts: :hearts: :hearts: Alan May, as I'm sure you all kno by now. but HC. I don't think so. I shall tell you why.
There has been a trend here with our team of employing FIRST TIME head coaches.
This has NOT gone well.
The one and only time we got an EXPERIeNCED coach we won THE Cup.
NUFF SAID
This experiment with fiirst time coaches should be over by now, imho. It doesn't work. It hasn't worked for YEARS.
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To clarify.... I owuld not have a problem if Alan May came in as an interim coach, if supported by Dale Hunter especially. GOD knows our D needs some workk. But he is not a lond term solution, i dont think.
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Lol! :lmao:
But what do you thiink is the problem? IS it coaching?
Who would you want as a replcement?
I would say the problem is more related to coaching. There is no structure with this team. We have serious problems with gap control. Both horizontal and vertical. Too much space between our defencemen and too much space between our defencemen and forwards.
Alot of the problems we are having getting out of our zone is because there is too much cheating in our game. Our forwards quite often leave the zone early. So way too often our defencemen have limited options, forcing our defence to attempt low percentage passes. Like all the stretch passes they attempt.
We are struggling defensively but that starts with puck management. Way too many turnovers all over the ice. Most of the odd man rushes we are giving up start in the offensive zone caused from a turnover entering the zone. Players trying to get too cute.
If it was one happening to a couple players I wouldn't say the problem was coaching but it's happening to alot of players on a regular basis.
Alan May commented on how the Arizona Coyotes are over coached. Everything is by the book. The Caps are under coached. Too much improvising in our game.
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To clarify.... I owuld not have a problem if Alan May came in as an interim coach, if supported by Dale Hunter especially. GOD knows our D needs some workk. But he is not a lond term solution, i dont think.
I've wondered about Alan May coaching. He knows the game very well.
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I've wondered about Alan May coaching. He knows the game very well.
He does. No question about that. But I wouldn't want him as a rookie Head Coach.
I donT want ANY rookie head coach. As an assistant HC, I think he would be amazing. Truly.
He's an incredible stats guy and hugely knowledgable about the game in general. He has the experience and is a Caps legend.
BUT.
Being a HC isn't just about facts and figures, is it. Its about PEOPLE. It's about the players. Every single one of them. And every single one of them is differrent, unque and has to be treated as such. A stick might work for one, a carrot for nother and every single permeantation in between....
And then you've got to figure out the other team....
Being a head coach isn't aout facts and figures and routines. The reason Trotz was so good was because he understood people and chemistry.
I believe Alan May is a very personble... um ... well. person. ...but I think he's too clinical and factual to LEAD a team.
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To add
What we need is an EXPERIENCED coach. Think "herding cats"...Wrangling egos.
We need a coach that the players believe in and that belives in THEM. Individualy and collectively AS A TEAM.
You show me a coach out there that is availble, that can do that?
I would give one year of my life to get Trotz back here. :hearts:
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Laviolette has experience.. I'd take Alan May as a filler as well.
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Laviolette has experience.. I'd take Alan May as a filler as well.
Is the Violet avaiilable....?
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Willing.....?? :snicker:
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weYou've been gobbing off about the coaching alo season.ll come on Apace!
money mouth luv.....
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I believe if we're gonna win the Cup agan, we need to get lTrotz back.
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I love Alan May. I used to think he would make a great coach...
But not so sure now.
I think Alan May certainly has the hockey knowledge and personality, but not sure he could cope with the mindset of today's players and effectively manage them. He is a smart but hard-nosed type of guy. What would he do with Kuzy when he takes a couple...three...four games off at half effort? What would he do with Ovi if he does the same? Maybe he would get better response from players due to respect for him, but I'm not so sure. Maybe I'm not giving him enough credit though....he has managed NOT to strangle the life out of his moronic on-air partner; eyeliner boy. Maybe the players would respond to a former player, but Reirdon is a former player too.
Trotz was great at "managing" these things. That's what head coach is more than anything....a manager of all things on his team. A coach has to manage all the players and their personalities and ups and downs, strengths and weaknesses, and manage to find a way to get them all on the same page and stay there long enough to half long term success. Trotz is a smart guy. He "managed" Ovi...went to Russia in the off-season and laid out a plan to make Ovi more responsible, a better leader, a better Captain and got Ovi to buy in and actually captain this team and they won a cup. Sorry to say that ship has sailed with Trotz. No way would I want Trotz back I do not believe he could accomplish the same success with this team. Too much bad blood between team/management and Trotz. I don't see that working again. I think he nearly "lost the locker room earlier in the cup season before the playoffs. Once we got in the playoffs and started rolling, it was a different story, but I recall nearly everyone on these boards trashing Trotz and calling for his job about halfway into that season.
Sorry about the font/size change - I still can't hit the backspace key without it totally messing up my posts (good thing I rarely make a mistake and have to backspace) :raspberry:
Which is one of the things wrong with this team. They are SO talented and they know it. They know they can play 1/3 of a game and still maybe win. Hell, they did that the whole 1st half of the season. They were winning games they may not have deserved due to over scoring with the top talent as well as scoring from bottom guys. Now the top guys have leveled off and the bottom guys haven't scored in .....forever.
NOW they need to actually WORK to win games and it isn't happening. Part of the problem is they "know" they can still turn it on and win. That works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't.
I'm hoping they all know and realize this and they are just sort of waiting for the right time to peak. Yes, it is frustrating to watch when you KNOW they have more in them, but maybe they are "saving it" for the playoff run? I know that is a dangerous concept, but also partly realistic. At the relative age and experience of our leadership core, maybe they know they can't go full afterburner for 100+ games in a season so they are coasting while they can. Or maybe they are a bunch of lazy, complacent overpaid athletes who are satisfied with one cup. I don't think that is the case. I think most of these guys are much more competitive than we are - they have to be to even get close to this level. The are professional athlete's which we can't even imagine the rigor and effort it requires to play at this level.
Anyway....got to cut this off...turning into a Rant.
I don't think TR is the guy, but also don't think he is as bad as we all like to pretend.
Alan May would be an interesting experiment, but like Lil said....do you want to "experiment" with him as our head coach?
Also, I think a new coach is a pipe dream at this point - it will take a monumental collapse falling far short of making the playoffs for the Caps to even consider a coaching change. That or a total loss of confidence by the players that is SO obvious the team cannot avoid it.
Go Caps
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Well, now that I’ve been fired, by Lil, (even before being hired😁), as a future motivational speaker for the Caps, 😂🤣, I have officially been cut loose to speak freely on this coaching thread!👍
(Everyone knows I never speak freely, or LENGTHY, here) BWAHAHA!
All kidding aside....IF it’s true, AND IT IS, that what this team needs, above all, and in a perfect world, would be to find the energy/motivation/drive, that we HABITUALLY WITNESS our boys, LOSING, at different random times, AND in random different degrees, causing the frustrating SLUMPS, in the 2nd half of the season! It is one of the biggest subjects we talk about here on the board, PERIOD!
Manifesting itself, in what we refer to here, on the board, as “They’re not playing like themselves“, “they are lazy“, “they play like they don’t care”, “Where is the energy“, “who the hell is this freaking team?“, and ALL the various ways we find, to basically state THE SAME FRICKIN DISEASE, this HUGE, and constantly FRUSTRATING issue.....(hold on now)
IF....we are looking for a COACH, that is able to come in and rectify, this many years old, low effort issue, that reliably, pops its ugly head up, EVERY SEASON, for at least, half a decade, here in Washington......well honestly, sincerely, and SADLY....
THERE ISNT A COACH, ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH, OR ANY HUMAN BEING, CAPABLE of pulling off such a feat!!!
This shit, (I’m being REAL now, IS, and HAS BEEN, so deeply entrenched in the core of this Capitals organization, that it’s truly UNSOLVABLE!!
On top of that, this phenomenon has been actually REWARDED, and deeply REINFORCED, season after season, by finishing at, or near the top of the division, with two recent Presidents Trophy’s, AND a Stanley Cup, and has MORPHED now, practically into a LEARNED.BEHAVIOR!!
In other words, they’ve slacked off, at some point, just after mid season, ROUTINELY, then unfortunately, have LEARNED THROUGH REPETITION, that they WILL still make the playoffs, have even won a Cup, and STILL continue to sellout tickets, continue to NOT get displined by Mgmnt, OR coaching staff, AND ALL CONTINUES ON OK!!
The real truthful, suck-ass, BAD NEWS, is that it is NOT going to stop, no matter what coach comes in here, any time soon, until we start to become losers in the division, NOT make the playoffs, and revenue starts to tank!!
And you, and I, and all the other fans, will continue to watch, and go through the crazy highs and lows of the emotional roller coaster ride, we’ve voluntarily chosen to hop on, as the price of admission to being a Washington Capitals fan!! Some of us definitely take it better than others!!
NOW, having barked ALL this negativity, I am still a very happy Caps fan, ON BALANCE, that is! After weighing it all out, and everything. Hell, there aren’t many cities,That have NHL franchises that can “recover”, after our multiple fiascoes, and still be winners, by the end of the regular season!!
In an odd twist of reality, we are actually FORTUNATE, as a city, within an NHL franchise!! So somebody, PLEASE, go figure!!
More importantly, I do believe there are a few coaches who could “TRIM“, the problem, so that it may not be as prevalent during the last half of our season. TROTZ was one of them, and there are probably a few others!
And I can definitely say that Coach Rierden is ABSOLUTELY NOT, one of those coaches!! This team marches to the beat of its own drummer, AND, the DRUMMER, is not our CURRENT coach, FOR SURE!!
Coach Rierden, IS however, the INNOCUOUS BABYSITTER, and the lucky INHERITOR, of an extremely talented team, that as I’ve said 1000 times, DIALS IN, when they “feel“ like playing, generally speaking!!
I think Coach Rierden is a good guy, and probably a damn good assistant coach! But he lacks the entire package necessary to be a head coach, mainly I don’t think he puts much emphasis on discipline, in any form except to passively “scratch“ somebody once in a while! No balls!
Sometimes folks, when your looking at a bull from behind, you just have to admit that its ASSHOLE IS AN UGLY THING!!!😂🤣😂
So is the story of hope, for a coach that could “change”, the locker room culture here!!!
(I’m sure there will be plenty of disagreement here)!
Well Lil, you asked for my comment, and I put it forward, the best I can!
Rush
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I admit freely that I have never looked at a Bull's asshole :)
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I admit freely that I have never looked at a Bull's asshole :)
you've obviously never spent any time in a barnyard
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I admit freely that I have never looked at a Bull's asshole :)
LMFAO, Rich!!😂🤣😂
I confess.
I believe I was around 19 or 20 yrs old. Don’t really remember how me and few buddies wound up walking through a cow pasture! (Could be that we were all a bit “micro dotted”, at the time!😆
My buddy had a flashlight, and in near complete darkness we heard a big long SPLAT_SPLAT!!
He swung the flashlight beam over to the sound and...WHOA MOMMA!!
(Yeah we saw it)!😂🤣😂
Rush
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For Lil's sake, I have reposted this in the "proper" thread....
You guys are all high and living in Fantasy Land if you think TR will be fired this season/
What viable reason would you give for firing? Stating "because he sucks" is not a viable reason.
What grounds do you have for firing the guy? Because the Caps are in lowly 1st place in the division? Because they are only 3rd in the entire NHL?
Oh, maybe because our superstar Ovi is struggling mightily with this system and can't score goals and draw in fans anymore?
You don't fire a guy cause he's tall and goofy and the board fans don't like him. If there was a team dynamic that caused the players to turn on him, then okay, but that has NOT happened with this team.
I don't believe TR is a great coach. I never liked the choice, but understand the process and commitment the team made to him.
Having said that, there's no way they fire him at this point in the season based on the level of success (more importantly standings points) the team has this year.
The caps have 18 games left. What veteran coach would want to come in at this point to a team that fired a head coach that was in 1st place? What effective changes could he make with essentially 4 weeks left in the season? Not saying it isn't possible, but it won't happen.
For better or worse, the Caps are committed to the horse they rode in on at this point.
I doubt very much the Caps would even fire TR after we fail to progress in the playoffs (again).
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Ship has sailed on a new HC this year. But if they continue to look lethargic, get bounced early in the playoffs, he'll probably be replaced in the offseason. I don't know if it's the system or what, but they just don't respond to TR.. This team looks vastly different, in the way it looses, compared to past year slumps. This team never has energy, doesn't forecheck, rarely hits, have terrible (repeated) breakdowns in their own end, has a stagnant PP that never evolves past putting different bodies in the same spots, etc..
No creativity going on, just hope the stretch pass connects a couple times a game and maybe Ovie beats a goalie with a 1 timer.. Pretty much all they have to offer. Hard work is a double four letter word with this group. Coaching could probably change that, for at least a little while. But starting off with a pond hockey system, that has early (division leading) success, then expecting them to turn up the work ethic and start playing responsible is a pipe dream for this group, coming from a bozo coach.. Just is what it is.
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Ship has sailed on a new HC this year. But if they continue to look lethargic, get bounced early in the playoffs, he'll probably be replaced in the offseason. I don't know if it's the system or what, but they just don't respond to TR.. This team looks vastly different, in the way it looses, compared to past year slumps. This team never has energy, doesn't forecheck, rarely hits, have terrible (repeated) breakdowns in their own end, has a stagnant PP that never evolves past putting different bodies in the same spots, etc..
No creativity going on, just hope the stretch pass connects a couple times a game and maybe Ovie beats a goalie with a 1 timer.. Pretty much all they have to offer. Hard work is a double four letter word with this group. Coaching could probably change that, for at least a little while. But starting off with a pond hockey system, that has early (division leading) success, then expecting them to turn up the work ethic and start playing responsible is a pipe dream for this group, coming from a bozo coach.. Just is what it is.
You mentioned our stagnant pp. It has obviously been a huge concern. Early on the PP was going well but teams adjusted and the unit has become mediocre. Reirden tried a few different looks but without much success.
They tried using Vrana on the top unit over Kuzy. That didn't really work. They have had Ovi and Carlson switch sides with limited success. The most successful unit in recent games was putting Wilson in over Kuzy or Vrana and causing havoc in front of the net. It was more of an old school type of pp. Lastnight they went back to Vrana on the top unit and it just doesn't work on a consistent basis. Vrana just isn't good enough at retrieving pucks. And he is way too soft to be a presence in front of the net.
They have also been messing with Kovalchuk on the PP. Trying him in different spots.
I like the first unit of Ovi, Backstrom, Carlson, Oshie and Wilson. And if they want to change it up they could put in Kuzy over Wilson, which was the first unit to start the season. The 2nd unit I'd go with Ovi, Orlov, Kuzy, Eller and Kovalchuk. I wouldn't use Vrana on the PP at all.
What do you guys think?
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The "unit" isn't my concern so much, it's how they go about executing it. It's the exact same look, just different bodies. As you said, teams have adjusted. If Ovie isn't pin point accurate, it's just a crap shoot system with Oshie getting the -random- look from the middle or Carlson getting a deflection from the point. I'd like to see some actual movement, rotation, etc. "Something" that's actually different then just 5 guys standing in the same spots, passing the puck back and forth until they get challenged and cough it up. Zone entries and faceoff losses are another concern they've not addressed.
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The "unit" isn't my concern so much, it's how they go about executing it. It's the exact same look, just different bodies. As you said, teams have adjusted. If Ovie isn't pin point accurate, it's just a crap shoot system with Oshie getting the -random- look from the middle or Carlson getting a deflection from the point. I'd like to see some actual movement, rotation, etc. "Something" that's actually different then just 5 guys standing in the same spots, passing the puck back and forth until they get challenged and cough it up. Zone entries and faceoff losses are another concern they've not addressed.
I agree that the PP has been the same look except when Wilson was on the top unit. It was an old school pp with a lot of traffic in front of the net. And it worked better than our usual setup.
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Yea, they're net shy as a team, unfortunately.. They can rarely be bothered to put on the brakes if they get near the net. Safest play is to skate by and hopefully not get checked. :clown: :poop:
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There have been a few grumbles of late regarding Reirdon.
There are a couple of people who blame the coach for everything, including the weather, but I think it's fair to say that the coaching needs to be assessed/examined. in light of our recent play, or lack thereof.
There has been a definite downturn in our team and for a while now.
We had a whole series of games where we played like crap, then put in an effort in the last twently minutes.... then ten minutes and then only five minutes. lots of come from behinds ,that we really didn't deserve to win.
Now we've (RIGHTLY) stopped winning.
Is it the system? That's down to the coaches.
Is iit the executiion? That's down to the players.
Is it motivation? Who's to blame for that? 50/50 imho.
What really concerns me right now is the lack of correcting the constant and repeat mistakes that are being made, over and over again. The passing and giveaways are appalling. The telegraphed stretch passes that a blind person can see.
Our face=offs are appalling. WHAT is wrong wiith Nicky?
As for our D .......... :huh: I say send them to Dale Hunter for a week...... :snicker:
WHY can't Reirdon address these glaringly obvious issues. Has he lost the room?
The bolded above are ALL coaching. Either Rierden doesn't see it or he can't make the players pay attention. Either one is lethal. The Caps were 24-10 on 12/16 and are 15-15 since. That's 12 weeks of crap play that hasn't been corrected.
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There have been a few grumbles of late regarding Reirdon.
There are a couple of people who blame the coach for everything, including the weather, but I think it's fair to say that the coaching needs to be assessed/examined. in light of our recent play, or lack thereof.
There has been a definite downturn in our team and for a while now.
We had a whole series of games where we played like crap, then put in an effort in the last twently minutes.... then ten minutes and then only five minutes. lots of come from behinds ,that we really didn't deserve to win.
Now we've (RIGHTLY) stopped winning.
Is it the system? That's down to the coaches.
Is iit the executiion? That's down to the players.
Is it motivation? Who's to blame for that? 50/50 imho.
What really concerns me right now is the lack of correcting the constant and repeat mistakes that are being made, over and over again. The passing and giveaways are appalling. The telegraphed stretch passes that a blind person can see.
Our face=offs are appalling. WHAT is wrong wiith Nicky?
As for our D .......... :huh: I say send them to Dale Hunter for a week...... :snicker:
WHY can't Reirdon address these glaringly obvious issues. Has he lost the room?
Good thread, and good post Lil’!
Having already given my opinion in this thread, I would like to pose a point on the last question of your post .....”Has he lost the room?”
Good question!
I would just add that “losing the room”, obviously implies that Rierden, at one point, HAD, the room in the first place!!
Well, I don’t think he ever HAD the locker room, to begin with. Therefore, you can’t LOSE, what you never HAD!!
The Caps players, simply seem to deal with Rierden, like the expression that the old time, middle-aged, southern, African American, women used to use......”They don’t pay him no never mind”!😁😁
Rush
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Just learned that VK fired Gallant this January, after four games loosing in a row. Quite bold. Is he already hired? Sorry, guys if it was already discussed!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_OF-y_n0YE
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I know many have posted that it's too late to fire HCTR. But how many more efforts like this week can GMBM stand before making some change. You clearly have enough talent to win a Cup, talent that ages every year and a window that's closing fast. What's missing is Trotz's ability to focus that talent.
I don't buy that we are just whining because we're currently tied for 1st place in our conference.
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Definitely, in that case scenario what was the main reason to let Trotz go?
After having success with Cup winning, Rierden with those great squad supposed to produce at least same results as it was with Trotz..
However, in his second season as main head coach I don’t see any signs how he can improve team overall results.
For sure, if we would be lucky we can reach 1/4 of playoffs this season,but having Ovi, Backy, Kuzy, Oshie in team it supposed to be just automatically every year.
Lastly, maybe Rierden is a good assistant manager but to be main coach he doesn’t have enough skills, just compare Backy, Kuzy performance/stats couple seasons ago and you will see it’s a big difference..
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Well thanks to Wayne, we now have a suitable moniker for our fearless leader...Coach Rearend.
Coach Rearend is taking a lot of heat for the level of play of the players....as well he certainly should.
I think Mr. Rearend is actually probably quite a knowledgeable and decent enough coach. He just isn't a very good head coach. There's a huge difference in the responsibilities of the two. The head coach really does not "coach" the players anymore but more so "manages" ALL the aspects of the team. I think Mr. Rearend likely had a good handle on being the number 2 COACH guy, but was not prepared for the level of "managing" that is needed in all aspects of being a head coach. And of course now he is ultimately responsible for what happens with the success (or lack there of) of the team.
He certainly did not inherit an "easy" team to manage. Yes, a team LOADED with talent, but also a team loaded with talent that doesn't always put in the effort. A team that HISTORICALLY has long stretches of under performing. Let's be honest, this team has pretty much under performed EVERY YEAR of the last 15 with the exception of the Cup year and maybe one or two others where they simply got beat.
And I don't think moving from assistant coach to head coach on the same team with a bunch of the same guys really helps the case. In fact, I think it just makes it harder. The tenured Caps players surely had respect for him as a coach and listened to what he said. But now he's the head cheese and they likely still see him as "a coach". So I think it easy for them to take what he says NOW with less respect just by the nature of their previous roles.
An no disrespect to any of them, but you think Ovi really cares what some "assistant" coach says about his level of play. He knows he's the star and the apple of Ted's eye (and the silver lining in Ted's wallet)
You need a coach that fits the organization. And I know Mr. Rearend has fit this organization for a long time....BUT as an ASSISTANT coach. With a team with this meany "stars" with this much talent and experience, you need a head coach with at least of the calibre of players you have.
IMO you can't have a beginner head coach couching a bunch of high caliber players....who PREVIOUSLY know you as an assistant. It just doesn't create a fair opportunity for the head coach.
Especially when we KNOW what kind of under performing this very group is not only capable of slipping into, but historically has proven itself to do so.
Anyway, Mr. Rearend's probably not a bad guy or even a bad coach. He just is not the right HEAD coach for this team.
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I second Wayne’s revamping of our HC’s name! Seems like a keeper!
I’m just checkin’ if it was “Cut Coach Rearend loose”, OR, “Cut Coach loose Rearend”!😂🤣😂
Interesting point too, Rich, on the difficulty associated with having many of your players, dealing with you as an assistant coach beforehand, and now having to see you as the head honcho!
Might require a little more titanium in the nut sack, than Rearend possesses, in order to get respect!
I still though, basically maintain, that the “under performing” issue, that has plagued us for eons, SHOULD BE, and THEORETICALLY, IS the responsibility of the HC!....BUT.....It’s so deeply pervasive on our team, that NO COACH, anywhere, anytime, could ever remedy the problem!
My point being that the DISCIPLINARY measures, an HC would have to implement, necessary to TRULY break the collective will of its very foundation, amongst the ring leaders of it, would NOT ever be TOLERATED by Ownership!
Said another way, the faith in the HC, and the length of time, and patience, and LATITUDE, Ownership would have to EXTEND to an HC, (assuming he was even CAPABLE of taking the actions necessary), WOULD NEVER be acceptable to Ownership, as a PROPER way to handle the problem!
Rush
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My point being that the DISCIPLINARY measures, an HC would have to implement, necessary to TRULY break the collective will of its very foundation, amongst the ring leaders of it, would NOT ever be TOLERATED by Ownership!
Said another way, the faith in the HC, and the length of time, and patience, and LATITUDE, Ownership would have to EXTEND to an HC, (assuming he was even CAPABLE of taking the actions necessary), WOULD NEVER be acceptable to Ownership, as a PROPER way to handle the problem!
Rush
Great point Rush.
I have been pondering this very thought about Reirden's limitations, whether he has a weakness or not, or is much being imposed on him by ownership. This has been one reason I have not trashed him so much.
The problem AND the solution lie in the player's hearts and minds. At this point in the season this is not a bad thing. All relies on the players themselves to decide IF they want to grab this very rare opportunity and take home another cup. I still believe this team more than any other is capable of bringing home the cup. There is more than enough experience in our players and especially the leaders to accomplish this. They know what it will take.
It is almost too late. They will need to find the mettle to bind them very soon. Win or lose today against Pittsburgh, if they can't fire on all cylinders and avoid stupid mistakes I will call it pretty much hopeless at that point. I think they know this. Today will bear great meaning for the remainder of the season.
(I will now begin to digress)
This is very reminiscent of 2018. It was the players that decided to bring home the cup. We slumped through February that year too. Then we went on a tear, but still had a very questionable Holtby with Grubauer holding down the fort. Holtby found his game after the playoffs began. The Capitals at that point were on a mission.
We are less than a handful of games separated from that successful season.
For some reason I was extremely calm and expectant of a cup win in 2018, even through the rough spots. This year I believe we have even more talent, though I miss Orpik and Niskanen for sure. Our defensive failing this year falls largely on the forwards, yet we've seen they are capable of extremely responsible two-way play. I am not now nearly as calm about our chances as I was that year
Someone else pointed out, I think it was Alta, that a new coach this late in the season is a non-starter for many reasons. I think Reirden has done a pretty good job as HC. There has been many a game where we were being handled by the opponents only to come out and tilt the ice back after an intermission. I believe Reirden played a large role there.
As many have pointed out, we have many larger than life players on our team, and with that headwind and the not so secret top down edicts setting an unchangeable mold of how we handle these players we must use our intelligence to fairly place the blame where most of us have realized it belonged for years ... on the players.
The one area I would blame equally on coaching and the players is the power play. We have seen how this team can thwart the best aggressive PK when they decide to drop the rigid PP structure and crash the net, fire everything at the net, and BE THERE for rebounds. I am inclined to believe the coaching is to blame for this failure.
With regards to excessive penalties I expect the players are now on their own to sort this out. Each player needs to be held accountable by the entire team for letting them down when they take a selfish penalty.
This year we've seen from the Capitals some of the most remarkable displays of confidence, skill, will, heart, and perseverance, leading to some of the most memorable comebacks and displays in NHL history. All they need is to find a few switches and we are capable of a legitimate shot at the cup.
I honestly don't know if Trotz had answers to these same problems. I'm inclined to think not. Even he said it ultimately came from the players.
Huge game today in Pittsburgh.
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I'll go back to the PP as the best measure of coaching ability. For the rest of the game, the coaches put in a system and players more or less try and execute it with the back and forth flow of the game. A good coach comes up with the right system for the talents of his players but then it is up to them to stay with it and execute.
The PP may be the same way to an extent, but it is contained and you can actually plan an exact system with specific play sets for each team you play. The Caps rarely adapt to different teams, they just do the same thing over and over. They also never copy the system of teams that have hot PPs, they just force the puck to Ovi every time.
The second aspect of the PP that is an absolute coaching flaw is the entry. Our ridiculous drop pass approach just does not work and wastes a ton of time. We would be much better off with quick sharp passes coming down the ice. Even dump-ins would be better than watching Dylan casually and blindly drop back lazy passes.
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I'll go back to the PP as the best measure of coaching ability. For the rest of the game, the coaches put in a system and players more or less try and execute it with the back and forth flow of the game. A good coach comes up with the right system for the talents of his players but then it is up to them to stay with it and execute.
The PP may be the same way to an extent, but it is contained and you can actually plan an exact system with specific play sets for each team you play. The Caps rarely adapt to different teams, they just do the same thing over and over. They also never copy the system of teams that have hot PPs, they just force the puck to Ovi every time.
The second aspect of the PP that is an absolute coaching flaw is the entry. Our ridiculous drop pass approach just does not work and wastes a ton of time. We would be much better off with quick sharp passes coming down the ice. Even dump-ins would be better than watching Dylan casually and blindly drop back lazy passes.
I agree about our pp. Especially that stupid drop pass. Our pp has had some success when Wilson plays on the first unit and creates traffic in front of the net. I hope to see more of that.
I think we should be talking about our 5 on 5 play. We have been horrendous defensively. We blame our goalies and defencemen but defense is a team concept and our forwards aren't helping enough. We have too many forwards that spent most of their time going north and not enough south.
Ovi himself was responsible for a goal in each of the last 2 games because of lazy back checking.
Another problem has been our forwards being guilty of leaving the zone early. Too often our defence have no options so they force a stretch pass.
There is too much gap in our game. Usually that means the east west gap between the 2 defencemen but it also means the north south gap between the forwards and defencemen. The one goal Philly scored a couple games ago was a 4 on 2. All 3 forwards got caught deep.
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I agree about our pp. Especially that stupid drop pass. Our pp has had some success when Wilson plays on the first unit and creates traffic in front of the net. I hope to see more of that.
I think we should be talking about our 5 on 5 play. We have been horrendous defensively. We blame our goalies and defencemen but defense is a team concept and our forwards aren't helping enough. We have too many forwards that spent most of their time going north and not enough south.
Ovi himself was responsible for a goal in each of the last 2 games because of lazy back checking.
Another problem has been our forwards being guilty of leaving the zone early. Too often our defence have no options so they force a stretch pass.
There is too much gap in our game. Usually that means the east west gap between the 2 defencemen but it also means the north south gap between the forwards and defencemen. The one goal Philly scored a couple games ago was a 4 on 2. All 3 forwards got caught deep.
I agree totally on backchecking. This team is lazy as crap, something that Trotz would not tolerate. Remember Ovie backchecking and actually blocking shots? Seems like a long time ago. Nobody does much now aside from maybe the 4th line. Kuz and Vrana are one way guys and Backstrom has looked like an 80 year old woman for about a month and a half. I have no idea what's wrong with him. He's stunk since he signed the extension especially.
Much of this, though not all, falls on the coach and Rierden has demonstrated he's totally incompetent. They have a ready replacement sitting there in Alan May, who quickly figures out what's wrong and wouldn't put up with this type of play. He'd be cheap enough, too, which should make Leonsis happy. That's step one of a multi-step process because changes need to be made on the roster as well and that means that nobody outside Ovechkin should be untouchable. Yes, that means you Kuz, Carlson, Orlov, etc, etc.
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I'll go back to the PP as the best measure of coaching ability. For the rest of the game, the coaches put in a system and players more or less try and execute it with the back and forth flow of the game. A good coach comes up with the right system for the talents of his players but then it is up to them to stay with it and execute.
The PP may be the same way to an extent, but it is contained and you can actually plan an exact system with specific play sets for each team you play. The Caps rarely adapt to different teams, they just do the same thing over and over. They also never copy the system of teams that have hot PPs, they just force the puck to Ovi every time.
The second aspect of the PP that is an absolute coaching flaw is the entry. Our ridiculous drop pass approach just does not work and wastes a ton of time. We would be much better off with quick sharp passes coming down the ice. Even dump-ins would be better than watching Dylan casually and blindly drop back lazy passes.
The "slingshot" is the dumbest thing ever invented and needs to go.
The "slingshot" is the dumbest thing ever invented. What the hell use is getting to the red line practically, maybe getting around a guy and then throwing it backwards so that the next guy has to do the same work again? The whole thing is utterly stupid and, as you said, wastes time.
ou said, wastes time.
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After I mentioned the 4 on 2 goal by Philly it was bugging me so I had to re watch that goal. When I watched it live I had stepped away and got back to see the 4 on 2 and the goal. I didn't see what started it.
Now I see that it was a no look pass by Vrana from the right corner to the slot which was right to a Flyers dman who immediately went up ice. Our other 2 forwards didn't have a chance.
So it was Vrana that set up that goal.
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The "slingshot" is the dumbest thing ever invented and needs to go.
The "slingshot" is the dumbest thing ever invented. What the hell use is getting to the red line practically, maybe getting around a guy and then throwing it backwards so that the next guy has to do the same work again? The whole thing is utterly stupid and, as you said, wastes time.
ou said, wastes time.
I would disagree. Here is a story I read yesterday. :snicker:
Marauding monkeys take over government office block and force officials to flee
The Indian government is waging war on troops of marauding monkeys who have taken over the offices of top officials.
Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat headquarters in Northern India, which is home to cabinet ministers and bureaucrats, has been overrun by opportunist macaques, who are said to climb into offices via balconies.
Meanwhile security guards staged on site say they are being distracted from their work by the red-faced pests but are unable to do shoo them away while at their stations.
Until a solution is found they are reportedly making do with slingshots to protect themselves.
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/marauding-monkeys-take-over-government-21643512 (https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/marauding-monkeys-take-over-government-21643512)
Others:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2926284/Indian-officials-hire-men-fire-slingshots-monkeys-Obama-s-sight-state-visit-cut-short-President-meet-Saudi-Arabia-s-new-king.html (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2926284/Indian-officials-hire-men-fire-slingshots-monkeys-Obama-s-sight-state-visit-cut-short-President-meet-Saudi-Arabia-s-new-king.html)
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/25/world/asia/taj-mahal-slingshots-monkeys.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/25/world/asia/taj-mahal-slingshots-monkeys.html)
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slingshots are deadly when used properly
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slingshots are deadly when used properly
I've been using them since I was a kid. I have two very excellent slingshots with spare parts and a few sizes of steel shot. They are silent and effective. Quieter than my suppressors, except for maybe my .22 suppressors on my .22 rifles. Pistols still make a bit of noise.
I used to use a 6 foot homemade blowgun too, with homemade darts. That thing was scary accurate too. I remember my first shot with that thing. I took out a squirrel with a headshot as he was on the run.