Clearly, the Caps are capable of playing a shut-down, physical game and dominating opponents, as we saw in the first two games. Their biggest problem is Reirden, a soft-touch coach ill suited for this veteran team that needs a tough voice to keep them focused and playing hockey. Terrible mistake letting Trotz walk. They're going nowhere as long as this guy is at the helm. (They have the same problem in Tampa, where Cooper is a mild-mannered guy, who just stands there while his team is lollygagging around out on the ice, playing pretty-boy hockey.) Read the recent article on Brind'Amour and you'll understand why Carolina is in first place and plays a hard-nosed game.
Welcome aboard, Tacker!
It was in the middle of Trotz’s 2nd season here, taking notice of how the Caps could bring a total, 60 minute, physical game, annihilating their opponent, THEN, next game, play a completely soft, slow, lazy-minded, embarrassing game, having their ass handed to them, that caused me to pause.....
Searching for an answer, or answers, to make some sense as to why I was witnessing this phenomenon, about just what could possibly explain the reasons this Caps team can be the SAME GUYS, who can appear so 180°, different, from one night, to another.....AND......that it CONSISTENTLY OCCURS, but in random waves that seem to defy explanation!!
The first beginnings of a theory I had, about the Caps TEAM, were born! Although, it would need more time to test and see if it would manifest, to be fair, I started realizing that these guys, basically decide, as a group, WHEN, exactly they feel like SHOWING UP,...OR... when they’ll be OK with dialing it down a little!!
Trotz would FREQUENTLY mention, in post game interviews, about “some or our guys not buyin’ in”, “some folks didn’t bring their “A”, game tonite”, and other similar phrases!
SOMETIMES, Trotz would get pissed, you’d hear about him yelling in some locker room, at practice, or mid-game, and then SOMETIMES, Trotz’s message would work, for a short time, and sometimes it had no effect!
I’m talkin’ Barry Trotz, here, with a proven, tough cookie, no whining, no excuses, “next man up”, type of SUCCESSFUL pedigree!! EVEN HE, couldn’t get the boys in line sometimes!
It has been well documented in my posts, especially over the last two seasons, screaming from the mountain tops, my frustration with paying $10K/yr. to Big Ted, for good season tickets, just to watch these guys play footsie, with their collective on/off energy switch, all during the season!
And I’m supposed to be GLAD, and grateful, about it!!
Well, although I love my Caps, I put my money, (or didn’t put my money), where my big YAP was, this year, by NOT renewing my tickets this year! The main reason??
Reirden!!! I gave him EVERY opportunity, last year, to prove he could HANDLE, and be in some form
of control, of this UNDISCIPLINED team, that his predecessor, Trotz, had to pull teeth for, often, in order to get even small disciplinary changes to come about!
On a good tough day, Trotz, could be a teeth-gnashing Rottweiler, although rarely employed, you did NOT want to go there with Trotzy!!!
Rierden, on his toughest day, last year, seemed no more than a hummingbird, who told us of the nectar he’d found, when we won, and talked of the nectar that’s “coming soon”, when the boys will get it back on track!
I mainly view Rierden as the guy who Ted uses, to stand in front of the mic, and softly speak general, vague, game play rationalities, and well worn cliches, that ask the average fan to swallow the assumed falsehood that, soft-speaking and intelligence are inseparable!!
YOU’RE WRONG, COACH!!!
Hey Ted!
Of course, I still love NHL hockey, and the CAPS!!
I just don’t give you $10K, anymore!! I watch and scream and yell from my living room sofa now!!
Waiting for you to open a can of hockey whip-ass, grow some testacles, get a LION-type coach in here, change this rotting team culture, allowing me to return as a PROUD purchaser of your seats, and a RESPECTER, of our TEAM!!!
Good post, TACKER, and again, welcome!!
Rush
