BobRouse
Registered User
- Mar 18, 2009
- 10,144
- 374
Erat flat out said he came to DC because he thought they could win a Cup. Now after not even a full year he wants out because he doesn't think the Caps can win a Cup.
Part of me thinks this could be the death knell for GMGM, another part wonders if the snub will rally the remaining players to unprecedented heights.
Hahahaha who am I kidding.
The reality of the situation is that Erat was massively bitter due to his lack of ice time and being a proud veteran didn't like that. I don't think he handled it right but it just seems like sour grapes to me. If he was getting ice time (that I agree he deserved based on his play) then he wouldn't be asking for a trade and he would think we are a contender.
He just wanted to take a shot at Oates for his snubbing.
I don't think there was ever a coach (BB was close for me) that I pretty much agreed with 100% of the time. In fact I don't think there is a fan in the world of any team who agrees with his coach 100%. Just go to every message board EVER and you will see a general consensus that fans of any given team don't understand why "player x" is playing and not "player y". In most cases there are multiple players like this.
The reality is that some people don't like each other. Coaches are people (mostly) and they don't like some players (who in most cases are people too).
I cant begin to explain why Oates didn't care for Erat. I figure it had to be something behind the scenes.
Erat clearly could never play for a guy like Mike Keenan (just read Jeremy Roenick's book and there are some crazy hillarious stories of Keenan in there).
I think there is plenty of blame but Erat was not professional. I don't feel Ovechkin deserved 13 minutes of ice time under Dale Hunter and he must have been fuming. But he never said anything about it and played it diplomatically. Erat should have done the same thing instead of "What? I'm not getting ice time and playing on the 4th line??? TRADE ME!...what? I haven't gotten traded yet??? I'm going to the MEDIA and calling out everyone!"
Kinda weak on his part but I understand his frustration.
Wait, am I the only one who's noticed Ovechkin has more burst and better stickhandling this year, and is actually pulling off that move almost as well as his first 3 or so years??
Yes 100%. His moves are working and he looks to have speed to get around the guy. The only difference is he's not finishing some of those that would make for epic highlights like he did back then.
RE: Marchand
I LOVE this guy. No way the Bs trade him for Erat+. It would take a lot more than that. He's only 25 and has scored 20+ goals in his first two full seasons and led the Bs with 18 in a shortened year last year. Also he is a huge pain and has loads of grit and skill. He's signed thru his goal scoring prime at a reasonable $4.5 mil.
They already made what I thought was a major mistake in trading Seguin so I doubt they will do the same with Marchand.
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