The Stranger
Registered User
- May 4, 2014
- 1,233
- 2,077
Many have hit on it...but his mental game is rough shape right now...no confidence...terrible body language...you can see him having a mini-meltdown after each goal he lets in. It's tough to watch. He had some nice numbers playing backup on a very good team...thought this was his big chance to shine as a number 1 and he's flailing...I'm sure it's devastating.
I felt a similar way for Ward in the 2013-14 season...he was coming off the MCL injury and Khudobin was playing well. He had some big struggles physically and mentally that season. To his credit, he worked through it and is back to a good place.
There was some debate about how to try and work with Darling to get his confidence back...either reduce his workload with the Canes or send him to Charlotte for a low pressure and heavy workload. Early on I agreed with keeping him with the club, give him a reduced work load, and try to get some small, simple, wins in his game to rebuild his mental state....they've tried this and it's not working.
In a vacuum, moving him to Charlotte and promoting Ned is the right thing to do...however RF just owned the Kruger mistake...sent ~$2.2MM in salary down to the Checkers...now is he really going to put an additional $4.75MM in salary in the minors.
I felt a similar way for Ward in the 2013-14 season...he was coming off the MCL injury and Khudobin was playing well. He had some big struggles physically and mentally that season. To his credit, he worked through it and is back to a good place.
There was some debate about how to try and work with Darling to get his confidence back...either reduce his workload with the Canes or send him to Charlotte for a low pressure and heavy workload. Early on I agreed with keeping him with the club, give him a reduced work load, and try to get some small, simple, wins in his game to rebuild his mental state....they've tried this and it's not working.
In a vacuum, moving him to Charlotte and promoting Ned is the right thing to do...however RF just owned the Kruger mistake...sent ~$2.2MM in salary down to the Checkers...now is he really going to put an additional $4.75MM in salary in the minors.
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