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Calgary4LIfe · 10-24-2023, 04:10 PM

Let's see how this team responds now.

Whatever this team can become, what they are at this moment is anything but a team. Bottom 6 I have no issues with (Backlund's line or the 4th line).

The top 6 are such a mish-mash of lost puzzle pieces from widely differing sets of puzzles, and it feels like someone is trying to hammer them into one another to fit. Hopefully Zadorov has it 100% right and it is about some players playing for themselves, rather than a complete lack of chemistry.

Identity was brought up, and I was actually thinking about it this morning and almost posted about it. What is this team's identity? I honestly think that this term gets overused in hockey, but even in vague terms, what is the identity of this team?

They are not a high-scoring offensive juggernaut. They are not a stingy defensive team. They are not a fast team. They are not a physical team that is intimidating to play against. They are not even a particularly hard-working plucky team giving other teams fits. They are.. a puck possession team? That's the best way to describe them, but yet it doesn't feel like it accomplishes much.

I am hopeful that the talk the players had today, coupled with Zadorov going public with it, really lights a fire under their butts and forces them to work together. I can't say that I am watching a team that isn't working hard. Yep, Huberdeau unquestionably coasted on that backcheck and I hope he Huska roasted him for it, but I can't say that he has been a constantly lazy player. I don't think anyone has been. They just look like I described earlier - a mish-mash of different puzzle pieces to different puzzles that can't fit together. I am hopeful that Huska can use these puzzle pieces and become the Jackson Pollock of coaches.

I do think it is difficult for talented players - particularly playmakers - to look good when there isn't much in the way of chemistry. Chemistry can be impaired by the wrong types of players together, or through having the wrong mindset. Hopefully it is the latter, and this team can get on a bit of a roll starting tonight, and figure this out together.

10-24-2023, 04:10 PM	#175
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	Let's see how this team responds now. Whatever this team can become, what they are at this moment is anything but a team. Bottom 6 I have no issues with (Backlund's line or the 4th line). The top 6 are such a mish-mash of lost puzzle pieces from widely differing sets of puzzles, and it feels like someone is trying to hammer them into one another to fit. Hopefully Zadorov has it 100% right and it is about some players playing for themselves, rather than a complete lack of chemistry. Identity was brought up, and I was actually thinking about it this morning and almost posted about it. What is this team's identity? I honestly think that this term gets overused in hockey, but even in vague terms, what is the identity of this team? They are not a high-scoring offensive juggernaut. They are not a stingy defensive team. They are not a fast team. They are not a physical team that is intimidating to play against. They are not even a particularly hard-working plucky team giving other teams fits. They are.. a puck possession team? That's the best way to describe them, but yet it doesn't feel like it accomplishes much. I am hopeful that the talk the players had today, coupled with Zadorov going public with it, really lights a fire under their butts and forces them to work together. I can't say that I am watching a team that isn't working hard. Yep, Huberdeau unquestionably coasted on that backcheck and I hope he Huska roasted him for it, but I can't say that he has been a constantly lazy player. I don't think anyone has been. They just look like I described earlier - a mish-mash of different puzzle pieces to different puzzles that can't fit together. I am hopeful that Huska can use these puzzle pieces and become the Jackson Pollock of coaches. I do think it is difficult for talented players - particularly playmakers - to look good when there isn't much in the way of chemistry. Chemistry can be impaired by the wrong types of players together, or through having the wrong mindset. Hopefully it is the latter, and this team can get on a bit of a roll starting tonight, and figure this out together.