Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
Without a doubt this is on the players just as much, if not more than the coach. Really of all teams they should have been going after a guy like Andrew Ladd at the traded deadline as they seem to lack that leadership as you say nobody ever steps up at critical moments of the playoffs. Sharks lacked this for years as have the Blues. The Sharks changed leaders while the Blues are still running with the guys that have never been able to climb the mountain. They have added guys like Stastny and Bouwmeester over the years but those guys aren't going to be clutch in the playoffs and carry a team in the playoffs. They need a shakeup in their core as all they have build is a great regular season team not a true cup contender.
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agreed on Ladd for sure... and SJ: Joe Thornton is a great player, but sometimes you need a guy that leads vocally as well as "by example". Pavelski is that kind of guy. St.Louis? I am not sure yet... a guy like Backes should be stepping up to be honest. Tarasenko too if he's going to call out Hitchcock - prove it. Doesn't mean you have to score, but matching Chicago's intensity is most certainly what they have to do...
they need guys that hate to lose more then they like to win. Chicago has that in spades. That's why they win Cups.
St.Louis needs to slay the demons of their past and guys like Backes, Tarasenko, Schwartz, Pietreangelo need to tap into that will and step on Chicago's throat the next time they have that shot.
otherwise, major changes will happen, and Hitchcock's head (a little unfairly imo) will probably be the first head to roll