Of course one could argue the vets are just as much to blame. But we have several young players now who are the best young players in the world. They are supposed to be holding their own. Especially when you have a unit comprised of two world number 1 picks, a 75pt player, and one of the best young D prospects in the world playing as a unit. That unit should be owning, every game. Theres been prolonged stretches where aside from eberle and J Schultz they've looked ineffective and unable to find answers. I'm a big Hall fan but he hasn't been much in 4 games. needs to be more effective.
As far as Vets on this club what great, reliable vets do we have? We have middling vets and mostly with a lot of mileage. Reality is Horc shouldn't be saying much because he probably shouldn't be captain and shouldn't have had the contract he was awarded. I can certainly see both sides.
I do wonder sometimes whether the VETS on this club basically wait to see what the kids are able to accomplish. I think if the Vets do see that they'll row harder as well. But I don't think the vets are initiating success right now. Not saying thats appropriate either, just saying. Horc and Smyth at this point may just as easily be counting stacks of money and wondering how to get out of Fort Knox gracefully with fortune in tact.
Just as an aside, any not making any direct comparison, just a story, but the 1990 Edmonton Oilers were a very interesting story of what very nearly never was. The team was facing the Winnipeg Jets in first round and a still excellent squad was mostly getting beat to the puck by the Jets. We were down 3-1 in the series and losing the 5th game. To that point the Vets weren't playing exactly inspiring hockey. I really think it took some turn around from Ranford, and an upstart kidline to really help the vets maintain interest in what would be a long arduous climb. Once that team got rolling they were fairly unstoppable. But the biggest question was in the Winnipeg series and whether the vets would buy in to another long playoffs that year. The kids helped it along the way and were key in that playoff run. They weren't even ringers like the ones we have now. But of course the remaining vets were world class.