I don't know whats wrong with you guys......
the players are not really a problem.
Like some mentioned other teams would kill for a team like that.
It's more that all that and even the last season reminds me of Terry Murray hockey.
trailing very early..... and doing nothing to make something going on.
This team should control games, it should set the pace and the way the game is played.
Problem is same as we had before.
We don't play to win, we play not to lose.
This will fetch out a victory here and there but it doesn't bring you trophys.
of course it comes with the good old "it's a long season.... lot's of games to be played"....... from game 40 on it's "we still have 42 games left.... lot's of games to be played.
From game 60 on it's "if we win 15 out of 20 we will be fine"
From game 70 on "we are still in as long as we are not eleminated by math"
it's always the same
I wonder when we get a coach or front office who says
"our target is to win the first 15 games to get some room for experiments in mid season to create a playoff powerhouse"
I disagree with allot of what you have written.
I use one Stanley Cup and a return to the WCF's to support my argument. We are a team built for the playoffs and we start out slow every season. Other then that we do more then pick up a few wins here and there under our current regime.
What I know to be true is that there are allot of us here who still don't believe that this team is as good as the past two years have proven them to be and as such freakout when things are going well.
It is conditioned response to an extent but if you live in the past then you will miss out on the present. We presently have a great team that almost every fan of every team in the league would love to have. We should have won last night but we didn't. We play Ottawa next and we will be better and get the win.
Something I don't see being said is one of the reasons it is so hard to repeat as the champs is the drain it takes on you physically, mentally and emotionally. We were this close to back to back finals. We played longer then our opponents so far and it is going to take a little time to get everything going again.
It happens this way more often then not.
So yep, we struggle today but we wont for long and we will be right there in it for it all before everything is said and done. No doubt about it. I understand disappointment and frustration but we aren't even 8 games into the season. Give the team your support and a bit of time to get it back together. We will get there.