slocal
Dude...what?
The show must go on!
I'm open to title suggestions. Should we just start new and make this the offseason thread?
I'm open to title suggestions. Should we just start new and make this the offseason thread?
I'm done discussing the Bruins or any other team. Just because the fans want something doesn't mean you do it.
Bottom line is this team is retooling the roster with younger players if you can't handle that then you should go watch baseball. Because this year is likely to happen next year whether you think it's easy to make the playoffs or not.
Bottom line is this team is retooling the roster with younger players if you can't handle that then you should go watch baseball. Because this year is likely to happen next year whether you think it's easy to make the playoffs or not.
lol sorry slo...I was editing while you were in there. haha
"You show up and it's a brand new season and it should have got us more fired up," Couture said Wednesday when the Sharks met at the team's practice facility for the final time this season. "It should have made guys hungrier to come in and prove people wrong and have a better year, have your best year. It didn't and it's disappointing."
The Sharks integrated several young players into the lineup throughout the year and finished with 22 fewer points than in 2013-14. He certainly wasn't pinning San Jose's woes on its least-experienced players, but said the challenge for the rookies is to build on what they learned this year, and for other players to figure out what they need to do better.
More from Couture
http://www.mercurynews.com/sharks/c...rce=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
So... who's he referring to? Sounds like Patty, Hertl, Nieto, Niemi....Since Pavs and Jumbo still produced where it counts. He does lay off Hertl and Nieto later on in his quote.
There is a lot more going on than just the direction of the team in terms of personnel that is used as reasoning to fire DW. He didn't get the job done in the past direction. He's got a heavy hand involved in what is now reasonably seen as a toxic atmosphere within the locker room and their connection, or lack thereof, to the coaches and front office. The spat with Thornton alone is enough to fire a GM to a lot of people. You're oversimplifying the issue of DW's job status by just talking about the direction of the team.
It's also not a bright idea to tell someone to deal with it or go watch something else. It's not much of an argument. I also didn't say that it was easy to make the playoffs. I said it's not that big of an accomplishment.
Couture didn't say anything bad or suggestive that he wants out. Not at all. He sounds like he's being real and answering the questions asked of him. Some of you made it sound like he's whining his way out for a trade. Geesh...
That said, again, I wont be shocked if he is traded for reasons not related to him voicing his opinion.
Thornton seems fine in his statements to me. I think he might have been remembering how the C was taken from him. Tmac forgot to tell him about it. Someone, DW or Tmac, should have told him to his face.
Culture is a big thing for the Sharks. They don't play hard for each other. They don't trust each other enough. It has been a problem for years.
Is that the job of the coach, the players, or the GM? Who creates the culture?
After reading his entire interview, I agree. It's almost refreshing to hear such candid responses.
I do think he's calling out some vets... and a lesser extent Nieto and Hertl.
As for vets, I'd say Pavs and Burns produced and were consistent - most of Burns' issues are too much effort, not being smart.
Jumbo, for the most part, produced and was consistent.
Niemi, enh.
Patty, definitely was not consistent. Braun perhaps could fall into this bucket - he had a down year.
The other vets don't really matter much - Hannan, Irwin, Wingels, and the bottom 6.
It's impossible for us to know what they actually said to JT but from what DW and TM have said to the media, it doesn't sound like they ever explicitly said to Thornton "We're stripping you of the C".
I think the culture thing probably starts with the coaches and players btw.
Couture didn't say anything bad or suggestive that he wants out. Not at all. He sounds like he's being real and answering the questions asked of him. Some of you made it sound like he's whining his way out for a trade. Geesh...
That said, again, I wont be shocked if he is traded for reasons not related to him voicing his opinion.
Ok. I'll concede Wilson didn't get the job done.
But, don't try and tell me Vlasic, Thornton, Marleau should be allowed to stay when they have been here for every playoff collapse.
I would rather see Wilson's plan unfold and I'm done trying to argue with people about it. You have you're view about pro sports management and I have another.
BTW, yes if you can't handle these lean years you should just go away. It's just annoying having to read posts from someone who does nothing but say "fire x". We get it, I too wanted Wilson gone in 2012, but I'm not going to support half way through a retooling of the roster getting rid of the head. It's just going to prolong the efforts made by the previous GM.
Many teams have retooled with the same GM and many have not. Since the last time we fired a GM didn't do anything I would like to try the approach of get new players maybe coaching. But, I'm sure everyone will conclude some random year/team to prove me wrong.
Yeah Couture's interview was an honest assessment of the season. If Jumbo said those words there would be nothing but praise.
Is anybody ragging on Couture for the most recent blurb cuz I don't see that anywhere.
I honestly have no problem with anything Thornton or Couture said. Pretty tame to be honest.
I chalk it up to frustration over a bad year in which they fell short of their own expectations. The players are allowed to feel that way. I'd be more concerned if they were all rainbows and smiles.
I honestly have no problem with anything Thornton or Couture said. Pretty tame to be honest.