Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
I think this is precisely the point, though. I maintain that those early weeks of the season—including what was going on in Las Vegas in October—were absolutely seminal to bringing that team together and making them who they are today. It may no longer be a point of reflection, but it was likely a crucial point of galvanization that has been reconfirmed time and again as the Knights have continued to surpass expectations.
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Re. “Rejects and outcasts” might have been effective as a motivator early in the season, the operative word is
might. I think most of the players knew they were not rejects and outcasts.
I also think that if the team needed a special level of motivation in the beginning, it more likely came from the horrible tragedy, and Engelland’s eloquent response which got the fan base wholly behind the team. This is leaving aside the overall high quality of the team, based on the fact the roster was made up of solid NHLers from top to bottom, and had a coach that knew how best to utilize the players.