Quote:
Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan
I mean he did get beat off the wall on the 2nd goal, but where the hell were his teammates to help him out for once? The guy constantly covers up for his partner/teammates, and they can't do the same for him on one measly play?
No, if I'm Gio I'm ripping them for a lazy effort tonight. Way too many guys looked to be in 2nd gear. He's the leader...so lead in the dressing room as well as on the ice.
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I think this is the exact problem, though. I don't think it's the team's style to "rip" on each other--which, ultimately, is a good thing.
But every so often, this is exactly what's needed--someone needs to get angry enough to create a culture change and demand that players commit to being better.
Along these lines, although I can't say I'm in the coaching detractors' camp, I question what role a coach has if it's not to get players to buy into a consistent defensive effort each night. This team simply does not commit to team defence. The Leafs' second goal is a good example of this: point man sneaks in from the blue line and the first one to challenge him is Backlund, because both wingers have gone to the exact same (opposite) side of the ice.
There have been far too many examples already this season of players covering absolutely no one in the defensive zone. So, at what point does the coaching staff have to lead the "rip" session?
Sometimes I fear that, because Gulutzan was brought in for being a "young player's coach" (especially relative to Hartley, or at least what we heard about players' complaints about him), the leash is too long. The carrot is good, but sometimes the stick needs to also be applied.