Quote:
Originally Posted by Strange Brew
It is annoying, I agree with you.
I'm just as annoyed at the play of certain players with the season on the line. A younger coach wouldn't have the balls to do what Sutter did which maybe is a good thing. Everyone should always have a little fear for their job. Maybe not enough people involved with this team feel that way.
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Again, I don't think it's about effort.
Offensive players need time, and multiple chances, to generate something. It is very common for offensive players to be completely invisible all game, then have that one play that works.
But if you don't give them the chances, that will never happen. Putting out the 4th line for those key situations, late in the game does 2 things: first, it drastically reduces the chances of success; and second, it is an extremely deflating message to the offensive players who should be on the ice. It's a lose-lose.
Sure, there are times, over the course of the season, that the coach needs to send a message. But there are 10 games left in the season, and the FLames need to run the table if they want to make the playoffs. Sutter isn't sending coaching-messages at this point, he is deliberately undermining their chances for success. He is just being spiteful at this point, whether that's to the players, the GM, the fans, or whoever.