Post-Game Talk: Capitals vs. BJs at 7pm

[SpinningEdge]

When you have stupid line combinations - your offense will look stupid. No surprise

 

[Calicaps]

That sucked. Ovie hopefully saving himself for Pittsburgh. This team needs an offensive system.

 

[Coldplay619]

That sucked. Ovie hopefully saving himself for Pittsburgh. This team needs an offensive system.

You play Ovi with Beagle, this is what you get.

He looked alive on that one shift with Kuznetsov.

How can we see it and Trotz can't?

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Right on queue, his man leaves him in the dust, and easily scores. **** poor.

Ovi needs to get his head out of his ass. Backstrom loses the draw and he doesn't even take a step forward to tie up Atkinson. That was a controller disconnected moment right here. That's not how you're gonna win a Cup, Alex.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

This team is just not very good right now.

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

Something needs to change with this team. This has been the same ******** since after the all star break last year. We need more speed, more creativity, and we need to take some risks. We have the goaltending to bail us out. I say let them play and see what happens.

 

[Capsman]

It's very clear in the Trotz era that this team never, ever, ever blows anyone out. It's no coincidence. For whatever reason, whether the ability to motivate his team when in the lead or his game plan with the lead, it's a problem. Getting tired of the line changes as his answer to everything.

Folks, Trotz needs to go. We need to get to the next level.

 

[SpinningEdge]

How does jay beagle keep ending up on Ovi's line for some time each year? It NEVER has worked.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I'll put some of the blame on Trotz for making ridiculous line combinations, but the majority of the team needs to step up.

 

[Bladerunner]

Is it just me or this the most boring caps team we've seen in years? I know its early but they've struggled to generate anything this season.

It's not just you.

Of course we didn't have deep playoff drives or SC's w/BB

 

[Coldplay619]

We're going to get smoked in Pittsburgh if Trotz keeps these line combinations.

Heck, we're probably going to get smoked anyways.

 

[Ovie's Neighbor]

I'll put some of the blame on Trotz for making ridiculous line combinations, but the majority of the team needs to step up.

I think Trotz is a big part of the problem. But I agree that without Kuzy and OV playing at an all star level, which they are not, this team is not that good. Our draft picks the last 2-3 years have been subpar and we have not made any great trades either.

 

[Calicaps]

It's not just you.

Of course we didn't have deep playoff drives or SC's w/BB

I miss the style BB coached but I have such a grudge against the guy for failing to really develop the young guns. He was so in awe of the raw talent that he let them build bad habits that have haunted their careers.

 

[Calicaps]

We're going to get smoked in Pittsburgh if Trotz keeps these line combinations.

Heck, we're probably going to get smoked anyways.

They're playing in DC, FWIW.

 

[Zoidberg Jesus]

If you can review offsides they should also review penalties.

Offsides should be a subjective call, not under a microscope so long after the fact. A player clearly trying to stay onside, and is not offside to the naked eye even to opposition fans, play on.

What really bugs me is that offsides is supposedly an objective call, which is why they have they made it reviewable, but when you get into these split second, not visible to the naked eye calls they always end up being subjective. Did the skater have possession? Based on a bunch of inconclusive angles, was the skate off the ice?

And the same thing happens on goalie interference calls. Did that slight contact impair the goalie's ability to make the save? Was the player forced into the goalie by the defender, or could he have stopped himself if he tried? Unless it's obvious enough that the refs will get it right on the ice, there's rarely a clear answer. It's almost never irrefutable evidence to support overturning the call on the ice, but the NHL standard seems to be that you need irrefutable evidence for the call to stand. The whole thing is ridiculous, and I really can't believe they didn't fix it this offseason.

 

[troyerlaw]

When whole team looks blah, usually it's the coach who gets the axe.

They look ripe for an embarrassing 6-1 loss to pens tomorrow, with Crosby potting two, just to add extra dose of misery.

 

[Coldplay619]

They're playing in DC, FWIW.

Meant to write against.

Oops.

Still, the point stands.

WE AREN'T PITTSBURGH

Crosby can carry his line, Kessel can carry his line, Malkin can carry his line.

Stop spreading the wealth.

 

[hockeyfan88]

#makethecapsoffensiveagain

Bruce Boudreau was the only coach to use the Caps' firepower properly. I wonder what guys like Q and Babcock would do with a team like this on their hands.

Barry Trotz is not the man to guide them to a Stanley Cup. Maybe he is the perfect Leonsis coach...You know, get into the playoffs, keep the cash flowing, managing the games...

 

[Coldplay619]

Trotz deemphasizes skill in how he talks, coaches and operates.

We were one of the best possession team's at the start of last year and the best this year and like clockwork Trotz decides to **** it up.

Isabelle KhurshudyanVerified account ‏@ikhurshudyan 41s42 seconds ago
Trotz said some players on the team aren't "committed" to scoring.

Why is it always effort with this guy?

 

[Capsman]

When whole team looks blah, usually it's the coach who gets the axe.

They look ripe for an embarrassing 6-1 loss to pens tomorrow, with Crosby potting two, just to add extra dose of misery.

As he should. I think our sample size has been big enough to know his limitations as a coach. Interesting what May just said. "They need more of a plan on the rush, guys in the right place". Been saying this for 2 years, not a Trotz forte.

 

[troyerlaw]

Chimera was the glue

 

[RandyHolt]

Laich was the glue.

 

[Bladerunner]

I miss the style BB coached but I have such a grudge against the guy for failing to really develop the young guns. He was so in awe of the raw talent that he let them build bad habits that have haunted their careers.

Many do.

To a degree, have to give BB a pass on Semin. Doubt any HC could get 28 to give it his best most nights.

 

[Coldplay619]

He's so delusional.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I think Trotz is a big part of the problem. But I agree that without Kuzy and OV playing at an all star level, which they are not, this team is not that good. Our draft picks the last 2-3 years have been subpar and we have not made any great trades either.

We've made one good trade, when we flipped Brouwer for Oshie. We've made two solid signings, Niskanen and Williams. Other than that, I agree with you, the Caps destroyed the league last year because we had 3 All-Star forwards and the best goalie in the league.

He's so delusional.

Here's the thing. Trotz is partially right on this one. Some players on the team right now aren't scoring because they're not working hard enough.

Ovi was scoring at his usual 50 goal pace because he was going to the net to get deflections and rebounds. Now he's on the perimeter and not making an effort to carry the play, so he's been kept scoreless in the past 2 games. Kuzy is not scoring because something is wrong between his ears, and as a result he's not working to get his points. He was a hound on the puck last year, now he's just floating around and forcing passes.

The others guys like Burakovsky or Sanford aren't scoring, but it's not because they're not trying. They're just lost, and it's Trotz's job to get them back on track.

I'll tell you what, Trotz is a dinosaur when it comes to coaching offense. That's why your typical grinders like Beagle, Chimera or Ward were able to succeed in his system. He can't coach an Alex Ovechkin or a Evgeny Kuznetsov in the offensive zone. Kuzy and Ovi under Trotz have been scoring thanks to their natural brilliance offensively. Kuznetsov doing his trick passes and Ovechkin hammering one timers has nothing to do with Trotz's coaching, but it allowed us to destroy the league last year.

Guess what, other teams have adapted to us and are now neutralising our stars. Yes, they should try harder but we need to go back either to a speed game or a full on physical game. We can't continue to be this half-assed physical/skill hybrid team. We need an identity.