How do you fix it? How do you get that level of "urgency"? Well, you make changes. You restructure the veteran leadership.
Gulutzan - likely has to go. Even if it's not outright for culture-reasons, as it may not be, his player utilization is counter-intuitive and beyond logic. If you come back with Gully next year, you better have SIGNIFICANT roster turn-over, because he can't coach the group he has now. He can't make use of the good players he has now. I think he should be gone, but if he returns...then Tree better be making HUGE roster changes.
Brouwer - has to go. Trade with money retained if possible, buyout if required. Changing the culture is worth $1.5M of negative cap-space for the next 4 years.
Tkachuk - give him an "A". Doesn't matter if he's ready or not, it's an "A", not the "C". Giving a letter to the perfect embodiment of how you want your team to play will help shift the culture of the team.
And flat out, you don't get gun-shy. Don't fall in love with your own players. Everyone is on the table, but always acquire quality ahead of quantity.
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Originally Posted by Strange Brew
Gulutzan has taken heat for his public tirades? I don't believe that's the case.
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His veteran leadership group openly joked about it after the fact. That speaks to the disconnect between coach and players, and the lack of "urgency" that Friedman alludes to.