It's a wrap...
Congrats to TB. They wanted it more. I know this game isn't over, but there isn't a chance in hell that the Caps come back tonight. I had hope, too
I thought that there would be more intensity and fire from the guys, but they proved me wrong. Changes needs to be made. I can handle losing....what I can't accept is a poor effort. These guys think that they can just get by with their skill. On paper, this might be the most talented team in the NHL. What we're finding out (again) in the playoffs is that a lot of guys aren't willing to do the necessary things to score goals. Go hard to the net, pay the price, win battles, etc....If it ain't coming from Bruce, you gotta look at your captain. I'm a HUGE Ovechkin fan, but you look at other cup winners in the past who had the "C" on their sweater (Messier, Yzerman, Brind'Amour, Stevens, *whispers* Crosby, etc..), they ALL led by example. I'm not talking about trying to do things on your own, because things don't work that way in the NHL. All of those guys on the road to their championships in NY, Det, Car, NJ, & Pit, each had a moment where their leadership came through in one way or another. I think we're still waiting for that "moment" with Ovechkin. It's not just him.....players are not being held accountable for STUPID mistakes. Mistakes that you should not be making when the stakes are so high. Obviously this isn't the year....but it's been the same song/dance with this team for the past 3 seasons. Honestly, this series loss to TB is worse than what happened last year vs. Montreal. G
Going back to Bruce....I like the guy. He's done wonders in developing the talent that we have here in DC. Guys like Backstrom, Green, and Laich have flourished under him. That being said, he's being out-coached by Guy Boucher. Which should not happen. Maybe this team needs more of a disciplinarian at the helm (not Mike Keenan), but someone of the Bylsma mold. A guy who can motivate and get the best out of the talent on a nightly basis. I dunno, man. A lot of things going thru my head about this team. There are PLENTY of questions that need to be answered, but here's my quick breakdown of who should stay/go for next season:
Keepers:
Ovechkin
Backstrom
Johansson
Laich (hopefully)
Chimera
Gordon
Hendricks
Green
Wideman
Alzner
Carlson
Hannan (hopefully)
Neuvirth
Trade:
Fehr
Schultz
Semin
Varlamov (Holtby can backup next year)
Poti (that contract
)
Cut:
King (Wish we still had SDR still in the system and never gave him up....what an absolute WASTE of a trade)
Undecided:
Erskine
Bradley (no point in having both he and Hendricks on the roster IMO)
Arnott (keep either him or Knuble)
Knuble (keep either him or Arnott)
Sturm