Should the Caps Fire Barry Trotz (February 19th)

[Brian23]

Most people had us fighting for a WC because they expected the Pens and Columbus to put up 100+ points. We're just where the team was projected to be at the begining of the year, a 95 - 105 point team who should be in the hunt. It's just the Metro was awful this year so we're first instead of 3rd or battling for the WC.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Most people had us missing the playoffs this year. Fourth straight 100+ point season as the Caps' head coach. I know Trotz's problem is in the playoffs but he deserves a pat on the back for his regular season work this season. I still think we should move on if we lose in the early rounds though.

Absolutely.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Joe Sacco getting some praise as a HC option again elsewhere in the BOS/PHI game. Former Capital? Check. Likely not too expensive? Check. A name to remember perhaps.

Yikes. He was horribad with the Avalanche. Avs fan hated him something fierce. Much rather they just stuck w Reirden.

 

[Holtbyisms]

If Reirden isn't the guy that's a horrible move.

 

[ALLCAPSALLTHETIME]

No thanks to Sacco. He was horrible for the Avs.

Mind you, Cassidy is doing pretty well in Boston. Lol.

 

[Raikkonen]

Btw, Malkin said yesterday Caps are now playing different, very good in neutral zone and dangerous on counter attacks. Less individual play, more system play. Literally what he said.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Btw, Malkin said yesterday Caps are now playing different, very good in neutral zone and dangerous on counter attacks. Less individual play, more system play. Literally what he said.

Lies....Barry has no system!

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Trotz rope a doping all season long lol....

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

Trotz rope a doping all season long lol....

 

[Calicaps]

Btw, Malkin said yesterday Caps are now playing different, very good in neutral zone and dangerous on counter attacks. Less individual play, more system play. Literally what he said.

link?

 

[Raikkonen]

link?

Малкин: как я вижу,

 

[Calicaps]

Малкин: как я вижу,

Interesting. Google translate leaves a bit to be desired, but a good read all the same.

 

[Midnight Judges]

I would love nothing more than to eat a gargantuan pile of crow over this.

 

[Bananas]

I would love nothing more than to eat a gargantuan pile of crow over this.

Same here. Maybe contract year Trotz is a different animal.

 

[crazy8888]

Interesting. Google translate leaves a bit to be desired, but a good read all the same.

Yep he basically said caps changed the way they play this year. He also said he got pissed off at kuzy for making jokes in russian while he was tied up with oshie. He told kuzy come to the ice and say to my face. Also mentioned that they were dissapointed that they were not able to win the division. Oh and his parents are here in the states and his mama is making him some borsch

 

[Bananas]

Yep he basically said caps changed the way they play this year. He also said he got pissed off at kuzy for making jokes in russian while he was tied up with oshie. He told kuzy come to the ice and say to my face. Also mentioned that they were dissapointed that they were not able to win the division. Oh and his parents are here in the states and his mama is making him some borsch

I sincerely hope that means we’re not gonna give up odd mans all series long should we face them again.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Yep he basically said caps changed the way they play this year. He also said he got pissed off at kuzy for making jokes in russian while he was tied up with oshie. He told kuzy come to the ice and say to my face. Also mentioned that they were dissapointed that they were not able to win the division. Oh and his parents are here in the states and his mama is making him some borsch

Hah Kuzy! I love it! Give it to Shrek!

Probably some comment about how little Oshie was able to subdue him in that headlock.

 

[twabby]

I certainly think Trotz can stand to make more aggressive coaching decisions but that's not really what worries me. It's the lack of specific gameplanning and tactical adjustments and counter-adjustments that's more worrying. Trotz is potentially going to be coaching against Mike Sullivan, Jon Cooper, Mike Babcock, etc. and those guys are going to be doing their best to neutralize what has worked for the Capitals all season long and exploiting existing weaknesses in the team. Trotz might decide to be more aggressive because it's his final year but is Trotz really going to be able to out-coach these guys just because he's in a contract year? I doubt it, and given that Washington is no longer the clearly most talented team in the league I think it makes projecting them going far a difficult proposition.

If something's not working after one period, is Trotz really going to be able to make adjustments on the fly and change the tide of a game? I haven't seen it yet and unfortunately I don't think this regular season has shown me that he's capable of doing so, despite some recent success.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

He doesn’t have to outcoach anyone if the players step up, he just has to not mess it up.

But hey, everyone is likely to fail in the NHL postseason. I haven’t projected a Caps team to “go far” in 38 years....why start now?

 

[Raikkonen]

Malkin's talk is cheap anyway. Only results will tell the story. I doubt Pens gave their all. Caps and Trotz have to step up.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Btw, Malkin said yesterday Caps are now playing different, very good in neutral zone and dangerous on counter attacks. Less individual play, more system play. Literally what he said.

Was this before, or after, he had his warm milk bottle (with the extra long sucker for his big head)? I'm guessing after, since he's speaking coherently and not frothing at the mouth?

 

[bur and 666 others]

Was this before, or after, he had his warm milk bottle (with the extra long sucker for his big head)? I'm guessing after, since he's speaking coherently and not frothing at the mouth?

He said that after the game, but in my opinion, he just summarized the Trotz hockey . Below a translation what he said if anyone interested:

"We were little bit unlucky" - Malkin gave his thoughts - "and their goalie played very well, give due where due is. Washington played very well, according to the system. You can see they wanted to win. Of course, if we won, we would be closer to the first place at the division. There were practically four points at stake. It was painful defeat for us."
So what kind of system is it? It seems, Washington looks differently than in the previous years. They don't look like a team that crushes and demolishes everyone. Now Capitals play more from defense.
"Yeah, agree - they changed the tactics," - agreed Malkin - "Now it's not a team that scores 5-6 goals and has great offense like they used to in the past years. They try to play more according to the system (or they try to play more the team system). As it seems to me, Washington plays very well in the neutral zone. They don't rush (or slow down), they close gaps and wait for counterattacks. In my opinion, now Capitals do more counterattacks by themselves."

 

[bur and 666 others]

I see Malkin's quote as we play more trap hockey now where four players wait on the blue line, while before we had great forwards and did more damage.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

No no Malkin.....Trotz has no system. Silly ogre.

 

[g00n]

Trotz's system has always been "defense first" and "defense leads to offense". Beyond that we're probably not talking more than some standard man or zone packages