Even with Roy with his faults, which he DOES have in terms of certain structure and player personnel, he has taken a 29th club going nowhere to at least in a playoff contention. I doubt you could say the same thing if Sacco was in charge.
I don't care if he's coach anymore, I don't care if Eakins was the one who makes this club into a Cup contender (that's what I really want). BUT I think people are too harsh on Roy here IMO. At the current time I think I would be okay if he stayed all five years. Of course this could all change, but I think he deserves some credit for at least having a vision and carrying it out, I'm more with Dater when it comes to this.
As for the poll, personally the most logical conclusion is to stay the course, add some more talent in free agency, re-sign the players we need, trades without giving up a core piece, and come back next season with a hungry desire where they learned from their mistakes. While also having certain players being NHL ready for big roles with Rantanen, Zadorov, and Bigras.
But since I am crazy distraught right now, I think I would seriously consider trading a core piece. On the other side of the argument, majority of this core has been together for 5-7 seasons, and haven't really shown that huge "next" leap that Blackhawks, Kings, and Penguins have shown. It's been more of the same over two regimes where dumb plays at critical times, inconsistencies, and not having an ability to play a full 60 minutes has caused this team to go absolutely nowhere. Not only lose, but lose in probably the most insufferable imagination possible. As I've mentioned many times before, this team has what it takes to be good, but I haven't seen anything to think this team has what it takes to go far IMO (in terms of players).
Mental toughness isn't something you are going to automatically get by going out and getting different players. It's something that has to be built up over time. Part of it is trust in yourself and your teammates, there's no way to rush it. Part of it is from maturity, experience, confidence. It's possible that this group is too scarred collectively and something needs to change to improve the culture. I don't really think it's a problem in the room, we've heard nothing about that of any sort, all I've ever heard is the guys genuinely get along and care for eachother. I say it's more immaturity, fear. To some extent the "a core player is going to go" threats don't help either. You can't beat them into playing better, fear and intimidation don't accomplish much in the long run. For me it's too early to say this core can never get it. I'm sure the confidence of playing in front of a real defense would help. 5 years is what it was going to take to see what this group can and can't do, I don't feel much different now.
Great post Tigre, it truly is the hardest aspect to learn, but sometimes teams just don't ever have it. Again look at the St. Louis Blues for this, a team that has dominated games, but are not a scary team in the playoffs. Sometimes you actually do need to change the core because not only you don't think they have it, they showed us first hand they don't. Not really speaking about the Avs here, more in terms of the Blues, but Avs are following a similar path IMO. After losing yet again in the playoffs, they traded a turtle in Oshie, who is one of those weak mentality players, but got a equally worse player back when it comes to playoffs. Trading Oshie was a good move, but Backes should have also been gone as well, perhaps try and get an upgrade in goal from him. We all know that Blues aren't as good as Detroit of the 2000s so they can't have an Osgood/Elliott/Allen type of goaler to lead them deep. Just as Wild won't come close to the Stanley Cup with Dubnyk and Koivu in top positions.
