Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
The ironic thing about last season is how little the roster itself mattered. All kinds of injuries to almost every key veteran player, but still a rowdy second half that moved them up the standings.
To me the big thing this year is sustaining that culture and work ethic. Not easy to do two years in a row ... do they collapse and fall into a huge losing streak and last place? Or take some greater prospect pushes, better goaltending and that crazy work ethic to actually move out of or to the top 20 in the league?
|
Came in to post something similar to this.
Last year was semi-euphoric in the sense that we hadn't seen a team with that work ethic in a long time. Being able (and willing) to be as enthusiastic this year and beyond is not going to be a given, especially now that other teams in our division know the style Hartley wants.
In time, hard work and attitude won't be enough--it'll be important that our skilled youth develops well and that management brings in meaningful supporting casts to flesh out the progression.
(i.e. not do what the Oilers did.)