When was the last time a player cost themselves this much money in a contact season? Holtby seemed like a lock to match Vasi or Bob’s contracts and it seems with every passing game he’s costing himself tens of millions of dollars.
When was the last time a player cost themselves this much money in a contact season? Holtby seemed like a lock to match Vasi or Bob’s contracts and it seems with every passing game he’s costing himself tens of millions of dollars.
Which is why the Caps are going to give him every possible chance to play his way out of this, instead of just benching him for good. Its not like TR and GMBM don't see whats happening here, but their course of action is limited to play him, bench him, or cut him and two of those options are simply not happening while the team is in first place still. Remember, when Trotz benched Holts for Grubby, the team was in danger of sliding out of the playoffs. Right now they are not.
Yes, I get it, if we keep riding him, we may not end up in first place, I get that, TR gets that, BMac gets that. But the team and Holtby have a relationship and they will, without any doubt, treat him with respect until they can't anymore. THey will keep playing him until he either works his way out of this, or proves that this is who he is now. In the meantime, they are NOT going to wear out their rookie.
So Caps fans, be prepared for more of this, and one start per week for Sammy. Thats what TR said they would do.
When was the last time a player cost themselves this much money in a contact season? Holtby seemed like a lock to match Vasi or Bob’s contracts and it seems with every passing game he’s costing himself tens of millions of dollars.
I really don't know what Holtby needs. He used to be able to do his focus tricks to get him back on track. I'm not sure if his poor positioning and staying back more in the crease is due to overcompensation because of diminishing reflexes/coordination?
Someone (a visitor to HFCaps I think) pointed out in yesterday's GDT that Holtby used to have really good rebound control before when he was on. It's been getting worse the past few years and this year it seems to be really bad. Like to the point where he doesn't even worry about rebounds anymore, he's just doing everything he can just to keep the puck from going in. I'm far from a goalie expert though, so I really have no clue what to do.
And that's what we've come down to now, what to do. I agree that Holtby needs to keep playing and work his way out of this. At least a 50/50 split with Samsanov going down the last stretch of the season. But I think you need to sit him for a few games. Maybe a week or two off unless there is a back to back.
I haven't looked at the schedule yet, but while he's in this funk, playing him right now might be counter-productive. Holtby has had really bad puck-handling gaffes before, but that fourth goal yesterday by Ryan Johansen on a shortie was all mental. He's clearly frustrated and that play just shows how out of his head Holtby is right now. He needs some time to clear it.
not playing 70 isn’t contributing to getting him back on track unfortunately....
The Hipster struggles, but he needs to work his way out of it.
Oh yea he needs to play. I'm just advocating to give him a week or so off.
This might look like a hot take but I think Holtby is done as a solid #1 goalie. Not just in Washington but in general. He will probably get that role for lesser money on the market but won't last too long as a starter. Just something about his body language last couple of seasons is so wrong. It's so obvious yet it's hard to convert it into words. Just the vibe from him is wrong.
He just had a week off, unless you count the high pressure 20 minutes of swiss cheesery during the ASG to have ruined his bye week.
I don’t think his impending address change should be overlooked. This is a guy who is probably upset he’s being played out of town by the salary cap (largely).....
seems like a guy who doesn’t want to go and his play is suffering for the mental anguish.
Maybe that explains some of this season but it doesn't explain the 3-year trend of declining play.
I'd be sympathetic to letting Holtby work his way out of this funk if his recent history suggested he was still a strong #1 goalie but it really doesn't suggest that.
Haha.. swiss cheesery. True, he did have a week off for cheesery. Maybe playing in the All-Star game was the worst thing for him. Probably should have instead taken the whole time off somewhere and just not think about hockey.
Imagine if Samsonov gets in a funk too. A whole season of debating over who they need more the D or the F and eventually it'd appear to be a G. Lol.
Its not so hot of a take, its a valid opinion. Its not like this is a sudden month of play, he's been on this decline for three years and his Cup run is over rated because of "The Save" but overall he wasn't realyl tested very much. HE did play solidly during the Cup run, but he wasn't the driver of that bus.
Point here is more that, after his career with the Caps, he deserves to be given the benefit of the doubt and the chance to play his way back, so long as it doesn't seriously hurt the season. When making the decision to effectively end an important player's career, management is right to err on the side of the player until it hurts the team. Right now, its not seriously hurting, but I have a hard time thinking the Caps will let him cost us playoff games with this play.
2 guys that had career worst walk years and still got paid are Semin and Jack Johnson.When was the last time a player cost themselves this much money in a contact season? Holtby seemed like a lock to match Vasi or Bob’s contracts and it seems with every passing game he’s costing himself tens of millions of dollars.
Heh, its not always the hottest goalie that wins the SC, but its never ever been won by a goalie "in a funk".
All we can do is hope one or both of them combined gives us two solid months.
Anyone care to take a guess of what the odds are of the Caps re-signing him.