Poll: Who/What do you blame for missing the playoffs?

[Run the Jewels]

The team came close to claiming the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but it wasn't to be. I'd like to get a sense of what the fans think was the primary culprit for coming up short.

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[FabricDetails]

 

[Shaman464]

Illitch trying to get the team into the playoffs for the money.

 

[RED WINGS STOMP]

Giving out blame..... so pointless

How about no one. Team tried their best, but sometimes it doesn't work out. The team isn't perfect, but no team is. This team certainly didn't massively under perform for the season. Yes, the bad March killed them, I get it, things could of been better there.

I guess this helps people cope. Fire away.

 

[Holden Caufield]

 

[takimaki]

The trash patch. How was that not in the poll?

 

[raymond23]

THE f***ING PATCH

 

[DanielMarois]

I think it was the veteran signings outside of Kane, I get with Larkin in his prime you want to surround him m with experience, but some of the signings were just horrible starting with Copp last year.

 

[SuperScript29]

Lack of talent and no one knows how to lead other than Larkin. All those vets we signed and not a single one stepped up when Larkin was out.

 

[WFIAA]

As with everything, multiple factors.

 

[FabricDetails]

Also, it's "Whom".

 

[GMR]

Lack of talent and no one knows how to lead other than Larkin. All those vets we signed and not a single one stepped up when Larkin was out.

Yeah, that was disappointing. Lots of Cup winners on the team that Yzerman added. The team lacked poise with Larkin out. They were rattled. Unprepared against a shit team like Arizona (twice). I was disappointed in the vets. Obviously you bring back Compher with that contract but Perron/Kane are probably gone. They're still stuck with Petry and Maata.

 

[lilidk]

I blame everything on Yzerman , become he made this team better

 

[Our Lady Peace]

Multiple factors for sure. I want to say coaching as it affects the team from a game-to-game basis moreso than the other factors and you have to adapt to changing environments every game, and every shift.

This team looked like it could not string together many games where they looked like they could lock it down defensively. I mean you have a lot of talent on this team that looked playoff bound and we pissed away at least a half dozen points because we decided to blow 4-1 leads or score our way out of a 4-1 deficit.

You can score all the goals you want, but clearly even in the most dire time of the year when Larkin came back, they still couldn't keep the puck out of net. Getting out-coached and caved in where our D looked like they had nothing to do but scramble around the zone really got tiresome.

Yeah Lyon and Reimer isn't a great tandem, but other teams like Seattle last year have mustered out more, with seemingly less in front of their goalies.

Like I said, many other factors but we were bound for a volatile season.

 

[Axel Sandy Pelikan]

Also, it's "Whom".

Whom isn't ever actually right. It's a made-up word designed to trick kids in school

How in the blue hell did Debrincat have 67 points and 27 goals?

 

[eojsmada]

Better defensive talent (speed/IQ) and continued growth from the forwards, especially needing a couple of forwards who will stand in front of the net on offense. Otherwise, you guys are basically on track to make it next year. Even more so, if you can figure out how to relegate Petry to the 7th dman and jettison Holl.

 

[SuperScript29]

One thing I will say about Lalonde though, he better not stick Seider with Chiarot next season. Even though I felt Mo slightly improved this season, I think he was held back due to that pairing.

 

[JohanFranzenstein]

Whom isn't ever actually right. It's a made-up word designed to trick kids in school

How in the blue hell did Debrincat have 67 points and 27 goals?

Whomevers name is John Tortorella why don't you take a letter opener and stick it in your skull.

I suppose I blame the roster construction. Too many times this year (Kraken, Coyotes, Senators, even the past two games against the Habs) we've been out skated by far younger and more skilled players.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

I think it was the veteran signings outside of Kane, I get with Larkin in his prime you want to surround him m with experience, but some of the signings were just horrible starting with Copp last year.

This take makes zero sense in relation to the question being asked. Apart from Ed, no one in GR was better than any veteran signing we have made in the last two years. You could argue that we should have deferred gratification and played the kids, but that is not the question being asked.

 

[Gniwder]

I blame Copp.


But ultimately, it's the GM's fault. 3 backup goalies with no starter, 2 mediocre centers, an "enforcer" who can't skate at NHL level, inexperienced coach, lack of protocol to prevent the spread of viruses, and Holl. Also committing to play AHLers instead of the one NHL ready forward prospect.

 

[Go Wings]

The Blueline was dog shit down the stretch. Signing Holl, Ghost (good offensively a train wreck in his own zone) and trading for Petry was a mistake.

The defense needs to be gutted. Let the young players play and sign someone competent as a stop gap for the 2nd pairing RD to play with Ed like Pesce.

 

[Oddbob]

Overall lack of talent which isn't fully on Yzerman as you can only do so much to make the team better. Still think Lalonde though isn't the right guy for the job and think Ed and Mo would benefit from him and/or Boughner gone. Mo's style changed with Lalonde and not for the better.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

Multiple factors at the end of the day, but mostly a lack of talent. I have a hard time arguing that we underachieved this season no matter how much it sucked watching them piss it away.

 

[dragonballgtz]

Lack of talented goaltenders and defensemen on the NHL club which falls on Yzerman. He's gone through three reclamation project goaltenders and signed defensemen who wanted bounce back contracts.

Bright side is I believe he is buying time until the prospects are ready to go.

 

[PavelDatsyuk13DET]

I was torn between "roster composition" and "over reliance on veterans on the blue line". I would have put a category for defense in general because veterans on the blue line isn't a bad thing but when you rely on veteran bums like Petry/Maata/Chariot and Holl for a large part of the year, it doesn't matter how good our PP or offense in general is.

Some blame should absolutely go on Lalonde too though, if it wasn't for us getting a near PPG Patrick Kane out of nowhere with his 7? game winners, most of us would be talking about firing him. If we don't make it next year, he should be gone for sure. If not before that.