Originally Posted by
FIRST B0RN
Originally Posted by DoubleJs07
FirstBorn...I gotta tell u, I LOVE what Troy Brouwer brings to the table. This has been an awful year for the Caps, but he's played well.
I miss Brouwer, he's a solid addition to any squad. Management knew he was due a significant pay raise and decided to go the other route. It's good to hear that he's been contributing for the Caps. What's your take on your team's struggle this season?
It's a lot of things....
1. No identity - this team was one of the most dangerous offensive powerhouses in the NHL until the Montreal series a few years ago. Because they lost to an 8-seed in 7 games, EVERYONE panicked. People were calling out Boudreau and his system and saying how a defensive first philosophy was the way to go. The way this team was built, it was like trying to put a Ferrari engine in a Geo Metro. I honestly believe they would have had more success if they just kept things the same (high-powered offense) and the Montreal series was more of a fluke than anything. It's the overreaction to losing that really messed things up.
2. Ovechkin - a couple of things with him. 1) ever since he got suspended for his hit on Brian Campbell a few years ago, he's really toned down his physical style. 2) Olympic hangover. Russians were the laughingstock of the Vancouver games and those guys wear their hearts on their sleeves. I think Ovechkin took it very personally that they failed in the fashion that they did. He wasn't the same after the games. 3) His conditioning. Dude parties HARD. As soon as the season is over, he's in the clubs in Moscow the next night. He waits until a month or so before training camp to get himself ready for the NHL season. That's not leading by example and it's not working. He needs to re-discover what made him great and get a little more serious. 4) Remember what it means to have the "C" on the sweater. He needs to be the best player on the ice. If the offensive game isn't working, think about what else you can do to help out the cause. He has way too many mental mistakes for a guy in his 6th year or whatever it is. Honestly, I'd love to see him get some time on the PK, because it would almost force him to become more responsible on the defensive end of the ice. He could be a complete player like Datsyuk or even Kovy if he paid attention to detail when he doesn't have the puck. It took a guy like Kovy a while to do this, but he's proof that it can be done.
3. Roster make up. The problem with this team is that it's filled with grinders. There are too many guys who have the same skill-set. I'm talking about Laich, Chimera, Ward, Hendricks, etc. A few of them are overpaid (Laich and Ward). This falls solely on the shoulders of George McPhee. In addition, he still hasn't addressed the fact that this team needs a LEGIT 2nd-line center. This has been ignored for too long and the stop-gaps they they try just aren't cutting it. I really expect big changes on the roster in the summer. It speaks volumes that the team has over 7 million dollars (combined) tied up into a a defenseman who doesn't play (Hamrlik) and a 4th line winger (Ward). That can't happen..and again, that falls on the shoulders of George McPhee. Awful.
4. Going forward, I'd like to see this team get some more grit/snarl in the lineup. If there is a team I'd like for them to emulate, it's the Bruins. It's easier said than done, and there are WAY too many soft players on this roster. Guys who will get shoved and punched and not do anything about it. On top of it all, I also think that there will be a new coach and GM on the way. Dale Hunter is in over his head and George McPhee has had 13 years with the club to make a difference and all he has to show is 2 series wins in the playoffs.
They are an absolute mess. It's sad because this was the one team in DC over the past 3-4 years that you could count on to be good. Those days are gone...
holy $#!& was it loud
