G46 Devils @ Capitals 7:00pm Sat Jan 11, 2020 NBCSWA, MSG+ 2

[Surreylily]

I'll say it again. WE NEED TO GET HOLTBY THE FUCK OUT OF THE STARTING POSITION.

Holtby: 32 GP, 18-9-4, .899 SV%, 3.02 GAA

Samsonov: 16 GP, 12-2-1, .921 SV%, 2.24 GAA

Now I understand that Samsonov hasn't played enough games for it to be a significant enough sample size. I also understand that Samsonov, in his limited time in the NHL, hasn't done much to prove he is better or can be better than Holtby in his prime (i.e. Vezina caliber Holtby). There's nothing that tells us Samsonov will be the next Vezina and Cup winning goalie. But Holtby has done JACK SHIT to prove that he deserves to keep his starting spot. He's riding on the coattails of his Vezina/Cup wins. That's it. He's the employee who rolls into work 4 hours late and just sits there doing nothing. And when his co-workers ask why he's being a lard ass, he just pulls out his resume and says "that's why."

DC - You say there's no planet where Samsonov in his limited time in the NHL has proven to be better than an established veteran like Holtby? Okay I'll give you that. Samsonov COULD be better one day but we're going to need to see a lot more games out of him to begin to judge. But there's also no fucking universe where less than .900 SV% and more than 3.00 GAA is considered good for an NHL goalie, much less a goalie making $6-7 million this year, and on track to make $10 million.

Several days ago when we were playing the Sharks, everyone was talking about how much of a shit goalie Martin Jones was. Well Jones has an .890 SV% and 3.19 GAA. That's not far off from where Holtby is. But we are also SUBSTANTIALLY better than the Sharks as a team. And that's the thing...Holtby is in the bottom 20% (roughly) of the league in terms of SV% and GAA, but he's on a team that's best in the league. We're winning despite Holtby, not because of Holtby.

Now I also understand that SV% and GAA aren't everything. Maybe they're almost as useless as +/-, I don't know. But let's not pretend they don't mean anything at all here. Samsonov has been solid. He hasn't been lights out stand on his head brilliant. He hasn't stolen the starting job from Holtby, as much as Holtby has lost it with his poor play. But Samsonov has earned a chance, much like Grubauer earned his chance a few years ago. Worse case scenario, Samsonov also goes through some rough patches and we cycle Holtby in to see if he's gotten his shit together. Best case scenario, Samsonov plays well for us and/or Holtby finds his game again come playoff time.

Holts has properly fallen off the proverbial cliff.  I agree,
Not sure if Sammy is totally ready, but hey, he's moved all the way over there  Left his famly and friends and comfort zone.....
I would like to see him get more starts.

[Surreylily]

I tell you what I'd do, and hiring a guy like Alan May.  He always makes insightful comments on the team and quickly diagnoses what they are doing wrong.  He's an old school guy who would command a lot more respect than Mr. Magoo back there.  Of course, that would be bold and boldness is frowned on in most professional sports organizations.

[PUCKNRUSH]

Disagree with this luv.Trotz was a fantastic coach and has always come across as a decent person.  he got Mitch Korn here to school Holtby.  I'm npt xure many other coaches could have done that.

Trotz was the one to eliminate Klub Kettler.

THAT is how and why we won the CUP.
HE was the one that got us to play as a TEAM.
HE was the one who taught our boys what TEAM meant.

 I DO respect and see where you’re coming from Lily!


 Not exactly sure where you got the part that I may not think that Trotz was a fantastic coach?
I totally agree with you, in that I absolutely think Trotz was fantastic, AND I also believe the capitals CHOSE to pull it together, to lay everything on the line, and win the CUP,  FOR Barry Trotz!


The locker room, I believe, had an inkling that Trotz was not coming back, that this was their last year with him!!
 There were all kinds of rumors, and small leaks,  starting in the preseason,  when management did not offer the customary, 1yr prior,  contract renewal, in the summer, leading up to his last season here!


 Word had it, that this was an insult to Trotz, He felt, (and I agree), that his performance, the prior years, had warranted a longer-term, career ending with the Caps, type contract!


 Not to rehearse all the stuff over again, but it was this backdrop, going into the locker room in the playoffs, that the players knew their coach would not return next year!


It is my belief, that this was the time when the Caps collectively decided to give it their all, giving themselves, the city, and the head coach they respected, the Stanley Cup they KNEW they could attain!!


Having said this, my point about this long repeated pattern of complacency, marked by the lazy and careless play we see, when they’re way ahead in the standings, is something that Barry Trotz also had to battle with,  as we saw this same phenomenon occur in the 2 Presidents trophy years, AND, the Stanley Cup winning season!


 No doubt, he was critical in bringing the boys to play more as a team!
 No doubt, he was critical in bringing the boys to collectively buy in to his idea of hockey![size=78%] [/size]


BUT...
Trotz NEVER solved the issue!  Although I agree he may have managed it a little better than the other coaches! He did NOT eliminate the Kettler Culture!
 We witnessed it with our own eyes, every mid season, when Trotz was coach too!


 The difference is, IMO, Barry Trotz was not only a fantastic coach but a fantastic PERSON!!
 The capitals have had the “potential“ to win the Stanley Cup several times in the last five years, but it was there incredible RESPECT for their coach, for THE MAN, that Trotz is, that caused the lesser character, “Kettler culture”, players, to MAN UP, and CHOOSE, I repeat, CHOOSE, to play their hearts out and WIN a CUP,  that their coach, and themselves, already knew they could achieve!!


AND.... IT’S STILL AWESOME!!!😁😁


Rush

[PUCKNRUSH]

This is turning out to be a slightly worrying trend.  Not least from that recent ridiculous comeback in the last minute. 

Over confidence?  Arrogance?  Ignorance, more like!   

Hell....you nailed it Lil!👍 ALL THREE😁😆


You go, girl!


Rush

[DC_1908]

As bad as the guys have looked, the biggest problem this team has is standing behind the bench.  It's clear that Rierden just writes out the lineup, tinkers with the lines a bit and that's it.  He has no clue how to discipline a lazy and careless team.  A good coach would only need to see about two of those 80' stretch passes in one game to read the riot act to them.  Yet, they've been doing that for weeks 5-6 times a game.  That's a sign of laziness, of guys not skating and of guys not backchecking.  Trotz would have fixed that instantly.  Same with the confused, panicky play in our own zone.  Rierden simply doesn't have what it takes, regardless of the current record.  This team will be one and done again as things now stand.

I tell you what I'd do, even with the team in first place.  I'd send a message by unloading Rierden and hiring a guy like Alan May.  He always makes insightful comments on the team and quickly diagnoses what they are doing wrong.  He's an old school guy who would command a lot more respect than Mr. Magoo back there.  Of course, that would be bold and boldness is frowned on in most professional sports organizations.

Agree completely.  In fairness, he’s been better this year, but that isn’t sayin a lot.  He does what he’s told and nothing more than a glorified babysitter

[DC_1908]

DC - Even if Holtby doesn't want to be here anymore, shouldn't he be playing his best? After all, he's in a contract year. He may have "earned" a big contract with his prior achievements but his performance this year is only going to hurt his value going forward.

One could think that, but also, why risk getting hurt, wear out, or burn out to make a team, and growing fan base, that thinks he’s expandable and doesn’t give two pan-fried fucks about him and are happy to turn on him and stab him in the back?


The guy got us into the playoffs every year, won our only Cup, ranked as an elite goalie on a teams that played a video game system, left him alone to face constant odd man rushes, forwards getting high minutes that turn the puck over every shift  and a DCorps that won’t clear the crease.


His resume, but more than that, coaches film (when they can see this and that he’s not a washed up hack), along with the market, will all but guarantee a top salary for him.  So why risk that in a few mid season games of minimal importance for a team and fanbase who have stabbed him in the back to get another division title?

[richkrt99]

THIS?  THis is the game I anxiously awaited for days?


Thanks Caps

[richkrt99]

On the goalie situation:


Love Holtby....but he sucks right now.


Impressed by Sammy, but not enough games to make a FOREVER decision on him.


However, hard to argue with Sammy's record of 12-2 and his level of play so far.


Holtby may not be getting the same effort from the team in front of him, but he still MUST do his job....whether he is happy or angry or lonely or butthurt or whatever.  You still must do the BEST you can do.  And IF he is giving us his best right now then something is wrong.


I think all of what is going on just pushes the argument for more playing time for Sammy.


And...WHICH goalie is giving you the best chance to win right now?  The NEXT game?  Holtby brought us years of great success and a Cup.  Which goalie do you think has better chance to win you the NEXT game we have to play?  Play THAT goalie.


it is certainly NOT all on the goalie, but which goalie gives you the best chance at winning (right now)


GO CAPS

[Mickstix]

Samsonov will be in net tonight vs Carolina..

[richkrt99]

Samsonov will be in net tonight vs Carolina..

Yeah, but that was probably the plan in the schedule regardless of Holtby's play of late


Glad to see Sammy in though

[alta]

Yeah, but that was probably the plan in the schedule regardless of Holtby's play of late


Glad to see Sammy in though

three games left before the bye week, Sammy is gonna get at least one of them