Quote:
Originally Posted by Burning Beard
Darryl the Dman whisperer. I kinda dig the plan though. Keep the 4 to 8 dmen competing to get back in. One has a game where they don't show up next man up gets the chance until he loses it. Keeps the rookies competing with the veterans and keeps everyone's efforts honest if they want to play.
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Hope I'm not just letting optimism blind me but this is the first time since Bob Hartley that it's felt like there is actual meritocracy in place. Gulutzan played favourites with his vets. Peters would randomly bench Brodie after good games but there was no rhyme or reason to it most of the time, like game 3 against the Avs where he demotes Brodie to third pair despite Brodie's stellar job on MacKinnon. And Geoff Ward used the stick on some guys in a facade of coaching while "his guys" had free reign to do nothing.
Hearing Sutter's pointed comments towards Zadorov in the pregame really shows the value in a real coach. Reminded me of when Hartley scratched Wideman early in 2014. Wideman turned it around right after that and dropped 56 points