We have an entire room full of players (specifically veterans) who are defeated and no longer believe in themselves - especially at the top of the lineup and it is by in large part a carry over from last year. The top end of this roster didn't just lose their talent over night. These guys are struggling to make even the most basic of hockey plays, and it's certainly not helping that every mistake they do make ends up in the back of the net. I don't know what the answer is to get these guys back on track, but I'd certainly start with making a major change to the dynamic of the dressing room and that begins with a Lindholm and/or Hanifin trade. These are core guys that clearly already have one foot out of the door, and it's certainly contributing to the losing environment. At any point over the last two seasons have you looked at the body language of Lindholm or Hanifin and thought "man, they sure are enjoying themselves here". They are fantastic hockey players but it's draining having those contracts hanging over the dressing room, and it's creating a culture in which I don't want the young kids surrounded by. Something needs to change.
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