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Re: WHO?

Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 6:02 pm
by glen a richter
Oaklandblue wrote:The situation is one of two things:

A. We have a ton of potential elite scorers being held back entirely by Hitchcock's system.

B. A group of average players who at times have moments of brilliance and excellence and Hitch, who has been beating a strong D ethic into their heads, has kept the games within one to two goals and well within reach of a win.

Which do YOU believe?

The problem is the Blues and Hitch are a players team, they do not demand the best out of these guys, they do not bench, bag skate, suspend, sit down, yell at or even glare intensely at players who don't have their act together. I am of the belief that if Ken Hitchcock can teach someone as egotistical and conceited as Brett Hull how to play D, he can teach anyone. I seriously don't think the problem is certain players buying into it as much as it's that we expect too much out of a player who, after all is said and done, is an average player; we cheer and yell when we got a 20 goal scorer, to us that's extrordinary but to a Cup Contender like Boston, Pittsburg, Rangers, etc. That's a 3rd line player.

That should tell the tale right there as to why they got Cups and we don't.
We know Backes is capable of potting in the 30's, so where has he gone, offensively? Same personnel with a coach who at least allows the offense to do their thing and we're scoring in buckets and still winning games as well, because our D is good enough. Imagine this team if they still give up only 20-25 SPG and also happen to score 3 or 4 a night. I believe Hitch has it in him to let the scorers do their thing, he did very briefly during this season. I recall a stretch where they scored maybe 15 or 16 goals over a period of 3 games, which was started (unfortunately) by that huge Kings comeback that I think ended 6-5. But when he let the ponies run, they scored. The D is good enough to adjust accordingly.

Re: WHO?

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 9:54 am
by WaukeeBlues
Oaklandblue wrote:The situation is one of two things:

A. We have a ton of potential elite scorers being held back entirely by Hitchcock's system.

B. A group of average players who at times have moments of brilliance and excellence and Hitch, who has been beating a strong D ethic into their heads, has kept the games within one to two goals and well within reach of a win.

Which do YOU believe?

The problem is the Blues and Hitch are a players team, they do not demand the best out of these guys, they do not bench, bag skate, suspend, sit down, yell at or even glare intensely at players who don't have their act together. I am of the belief that if Ken Hitchcock can teach someone as egotistical and conceited as Brett Hull how to play D, he can teach anyone. I seriously don't think the problem is certain players buying into it as much as it's that we expect too much out of a player who, after all is said and done, is an average player; we cheer and yell when we got a 20 goal scorer, to us that's extrordinary but to a Cup Contender like Boston, Pittsburg, Rangers, etc. That's a 3rd line player.

That should tell the tale right there as to why they got Cups and we don't.
And we also have the misfortune of being teased that we have someone who can consistently score 30+, all the time. Boyes scores 40+. Backes scores 30+. Stewart scores 30+. So we get all pumped up and excited, but then... bleh. Flashes in the pan unfortunately and not indications of consistency. There are many players on this roster who CAN (and have) score 30+ every year. Just doesn't always work out that way; much less for us.