Mmmm....if I was Maurice....
My team has shown spotty play to this point. Blowing leads in the third frame seems to be the only consistency. My goaltending - while deserving empathy - has not been big league consistent. The leadership in my dressing room, with the exception of my captain, has been leading the league in defensive gaffs. My rookies and young players are bringin' their 'A' game every night, but everything seems to turn into silly buggers late in the game when every little missed assignment matters. My specialty teams seem to be heading north and south at the same time - we can't score with the man advantage (28th), and can't kill a penalty when its crucial. Finally, when my veterans try to turn up the intensity, they either end up in the penalty box, or run around like a Notre Dame recruiter looking for a high school prospect.
What to do?
Well, Maurice has forgotten more about hockey than I could ever hope to learn - but blogger prerogative comes into play here - I can still give some unwanted advice.
In this situation I have to ask - what's wrong with introducing the press box to some deserving vets? This seems unthinkable to a players' coach, but what could be more motivating?
If a certain veteran forward doesn't finish his back-checking assignment, or one your highly paid d-man won't use the glass when it matters, or one of your big men can't get his feet moving in the third and takes unnecessary stick infractions - then what's wrong with saying "how about taking some notes for the coach from the rafters?"
Yes, this will bruise some seriously out of line egos. It might cause some vets to waive their no-trade clause contracts. It might even make some rookies and sophomores query their own futures - if they become lax in the hard part of the game after they've earned the big contract down the road. I say, these are all good things.
You can enter your own player names into the scenarios above. What matters now is who is Maurice prepared to piss off in order to right the lilting ship Maple Leaf?
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