Quote:
Originally Posted by timbit
Flames will win game 6 if their best players ( top salaried)are their best players.
Realistically, it’s pretty amazing there is a game 6 if you honestly grade their best players performances up to this point.
Talbot, Bennett, Dube Lucic, Backlund, Ryan, Andersson , Hanifin and Brodie and some others have competed hard and for the most part, played very very well.
The high end guys have to step it up and be the “drink stir” leaders.
That’s NOT on the coaches.
Also, NOT on system or tactics.
It is having the pride and commitment, through thick and thin, to play up to their highest standard and being positive difference makers in the shift, game and remainder of the series.
That’s what good teammates and top performers (producers) do.
Haven’t seen it yet and the moment is now because time is running out.
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This.
At the end of the day yes you can say that better coaching might get top players to perform, but at the end of the day it is still on the players.
To me there is no killer instinct. Could be in part because Tkachuk is not playing, but that still isn't an excuse.
I think 2-3 years of basically the same thing has shown us that we need different leadership on this team leading the charge. That can be internally, or brought in.
I love Monahan, and I've argued a 100x that he is a 1st line center, but he isn't a 1st line center in the playoffs. The guy has all the tools in the world but not the killer instinct needed to carry his line.
Johnny has been an absolute mess. Weak, wins zero puck battles, just terrible. To me that is what you get for $6.5 million. 80 point guy who players PP min. But should he drive the top line or even be part of it? I don't think so.
I also think Giordano has shown that he is expendable. Love the guy, but something is lacking there as well.