The worst part of this is that it kills hope.
Look, my big brilliant idea was Lee Stempniak. Choosing Dave Moss over him really isn't a big deal. Neither are impact players. Neither really make a difference. All this does is signify that we really haven't learned a ****ing thing from last season.
Before this signing, I was anxiously awaiting us offloading other pieces of useless driftwood like Klinkhammer, Chipchura, and Schlemko. Ditching the dead weight. All of those depth players that good teams count on for energy and hustle. All of those inconsistent, sleepwalking, floating wastes of space. I really was expecting they'd all get cut in favor of younger, hungrier players who actually play with effort and gusto.
I figured we'd see Klinkhammer, Chipchura, and Schlemko on waivers after guys like McMillan and Szwarz really had a chance to show that they can bring the intensity every night that we missed so dearly last season.
I did not expect a playoff birth. I figured we'd pick in the top ten. I was okay with that as long as we got back to our true identity and started playing like a team the fans could be proud of even if we lost more than we won. A high effort, high energy, hustle team that did their damnedest to stay in games. Rather than the piece of **** roster we saw last season that just rolled over and died like a bunch of pansies night after night.
The fact that we brought back probably the worst offender. The best example of what was wrong with the non-skilled players on this team. The shining example of what made me sick last season. The fact that we brought him back, kills all hope that management or coaching even ****ing recognized how pathetic this team was last season.
We didn't get rid of floaters like Vrbata. We just let expensive guys leave. This has nothing to do with regaining an identity. This is merely cutting cost.
There is no chance we cut ties with the other useless players on cheap contracts. This signing is PROOF that they'll all be back.
Listless nonchalance is our new identity. This team is all about being soft and lazy. That's the Arizona Coyotes now.
Not only will...
Doan-Vermette-Boedker
Korpikoski-Hanzal-Erat
Klinkhammer-Gagner-Moss
Chipchura-Vitale-Crombeen
McMillan
OEL-Michalek
Yandle-Stone
Summers-Schlemko
Gormley
Smith
Dubnyk
...represent the lowest goals for total in the entire NHL, but it will also be a roster that gets run over night after night, and lays down to die. It's a team of quitters.
Listless nonchalance.