It's a mess. I don't want Holmgren to be allowed to make any desperation moves while he's in job saving mode.
- PLindbergh31

me neither, but it may not matter, Hextall won't have any green lights either unless the "Snider-asaurus" says so

Two words. One name.

Connor McDavid.

Just have two more years of this crap on ice show.

In all seriousness. I am truly worried about this club.

How many guys can you say are actually playing well this year? The goalies? Everyone else seems pretty damn streaky or disinterested. I really didn't see them falling flat on their face this year. I had concerns but this is tough/boring to watch.

Can someone explain to me why they have sent McGinn down twice when he has 3 goals this year. Why is Raffl playing over him? This to me makes no sense. Sit Fraud Giroux, clearly he needs to step away for a bit to regroup. Slap the C on someone else like Vinny. Is it safe to say Fraud has played himself off of team Canada.

Playing Meszaros and Gill as the third pair didn't work out? What a shock.

Berube and Holmgren must be looking at what other positions in the organization they can be assigned to once this season is over, if not earlier.
- Feanor

I think Gill has played a pretty decent defensive game the last three. That being said, he's pretty slow and not much of an offensive upside. I'd keep him in and replace Mezz with Gus, maybe Luke. Luke gives the puck away too much. They all do really.

As far as Holmgren goes, I'm ready for Hexy. That's the change the really need IMO.

I saw a clip from an interview with Lappy not long after the change, and he said "you can't scare the players anymore", you have to try to find a way to motivate them in other ways (I'm paraphrasing because I forget exactly how he put the second part).

Sorry, but that's not working. If Snider going to the room and threatening them with tickets to Tallahassee is what it takes to fire 'em up and get the lead out of their asses, it's fine by me.
- tangent_man

that stuff doesn't work either, remember when Bettman threatened the players in the lockout? remember 2003? Threats only pi$$ players off in a different way other then motivation

Hartnell's contract expires in 2019.

On the positive side this should be the last season here for Meszaros, Gill and Timonen.
- Feanor

All NTC/NMC on this team

Hartnell
Lecavalier
Simmonds
Giroux
Timonen
Coburn
Schenn
Grossmann

I saw a clip from an interview with Lappy not long after the change, and he said "you can't scare the players anymore", you have to try to find a way to motivate them in other ways (I'm paraphrasing because I forget exactly how he put the second part).

Sorry, but that's not working. If Snider going to the room and threatening them with tickets to Tallahassee is what it takes to fire 'em up and get the lead out of their asses, it's fine by me.
- tangent_man

Isn't it amazing in this day and age that players have to be motivated? Whatever happened to players being self motivated? The type of effort these players are giving on a nightly basis is an insult to everyone.

Can someone explain to me why they have sent McGinn down twice when he has 3 goals this year. Why is Raffl playing over him? This to me makes no sense. Sit Fraud Giroux, clearly he needs to step away for a bit to regroup. Slap the C on someone else like Vinny. Is it safe to say Fraud has played himself off of team Canada.
- LJF

Because aside from his 3 goals, what has he done? Honesty I don't see much out of McGinn that warrants his being up here. Not saying anyone else in the roster has bit McGinn scores three quick oaks and goes silent but everyone still loves the guy. If he's not scoring he's pretty ineffective out there this far

that stuff doesn't work either, remember when Bettman threatened the players in the lockout? remember 2003? Threats only pi$$ players off in a different way other then motivation
- puckhead17

Bring back the Bobby Knight School of Coaching. (frank)ing strangle them if they don't get the point.

Because aside from his 3 goals, what has he done? Honesty I don't see much out of McGinn that warrants his being up here. Not saying anyone else in the roster has bit McGinn scores three quick oaks and goes silent but everyone still loves the guy. If he's not scoring he's pretty ineffective out there this far
- funmaster18

also they acquired Downie, so that spelled the end of McGinn

Can someone explain to me why they have sent McGinn down twice when he has 3 goals this year. Why is Raffl playing over him? This to me makes no sense. Sit Fraud Giroux, clearly he needs to step away for a bit to regroup. Slap the C on someone else like Vinny. Is it safe to say Fraud has played himself off of team Canada.
- LJF

No way they can sit a guy just signed to a 8 year 66 million dollar extension

Fully expecting a trade and possible GM change today. This team is out of options.
- hereticpride

But like mjl says " we need to be patient, can't trade from a point of weakness" sarcasm of course. I'm curious if he still feels no trade needed. I've said since 3 weeks into last season this team doesn't have the elite level talent or even close to it. Now with every game that passes we will get less and less in a trade for these plaYers. Ive been warning people of this for the past 11 months. Not trying to be negative just realistic. This team is full of some decent younger players that are years away and only support players. I say at this point just keep team and key them play us into a top 3 pick. And how the hell are we worse than Calgary? We all laugh at feaster but homer is worse. Joke is on us

How many guys can you say are actually playing well this year? The goalies? Everyone else seems pretty damn streaky or disinterested. I really didn't see them falling flat on their face this year. I had concerns but this is tough/boring to watch.
- funmaster18

I think Mason is really the only player on the team that is playing well. And he's playing at basically an all-star level considering the crap that is in front of him.

I've never seen a team through 15 games, where basically everyone seems to have regressed, or in other cases look completely shot. The bottom line there doesn't appear to be a quick fix.

Isn't it amazing in this day and age that players have to be motivated? Whatever happened to players being self motivated? The type of effort these players are giving on a nightly basis is an insult to everyone.
- PLindbergh31

You'd think they were playing a game where they don't keep score and nobody loses, but that generation hasn't made it to the professional level yet, have they?

Bring back the Bobby Knight School of Coaching. (frank)ing strangle them if they don't get the point.
- tangent_man

Ask the coach from Rutgers how that worked out for him.

I keep hearing the players, media, and some fans say they are "doing the right things out there" and "It's all mental right now". Not moving your feet is not mental, it's lazy. Not being able to score more than 1 goal on a career AHL goalie is not mental, is lack of effort. If they truly believe what they are saying, then we should be looking forward to the #1 pick next summer.
- Jimmygrazz

I don't think it's laziness... to me, it looks more like shell shock.

You'd think they were playing a game where they don't keep score and nobody loses, but that generation hasn't made it to the professional level yet, have they?
- tangent_man

Exactly. They look like they are partaking in controlled scrimmages.

Bring back the Bobby Knight School of Coaching. (frank)ing strangle them if they don't get the point.
- tangent_man

that's funny, but Bobby Knight had no business doing any of that, this is a real problem, I can't see how "playing through it" will help, they need to start offering the best pieces around & see what they can do to change things up, It can't get any worse.
Imagine tanking it & building with youth & the draft, we would have to have patience for 4-5 years, it wouldn't happen.

Isn't it amazing in this day and age that players have to be motivated? Whatever happened to players being self motivated? The type of effort these players are giving on a nightly basis is an insult to everyone.
- PLindbergh31

I honestly think that when certain players get their payday with a NMC they tend to slack off and hope other pick up their slack. Happens in baseball a lot.

Because aside from his 3 goals, what has he done? Honesty I don't see much out of McGinn that warrants his being up here. Not saying anyone else in the roster has bit McGinn scores three quick oaks and goes silent but everyone still loves the guy. If he's not scoring he's pretty ineffective out there this far
- funmaster18

How many goals does Raffl have, what about Fraud? He at least goes to the dirty areas to get goals. What has anyone on this team done to deserve to be out there, at least he has shown he can score. Not many others have shown that. How does it hurt having him out there vs Raffl?

Icing an all-AHL team is always the best option.
- jmatchett383

they would probably play better than they are.

And too be fair, right now he's trying to build a house of cards out of napkins. The team is giving him nothing to work with.
- funmaster18

Berube has arrived at a gun fight with a plastic fork. I think Berube understands they need to play the game faster. He just does not have the horses to get them there. Berube is in the same boat as Sandberg was with the Phillies.

I agree with most people on this thread though. Live and die with the young guys. Stop playing older players. I like Gill. He plays the game right and generally does what he is supposed to. But I would much rather see Gustafsson play and possibly develop at this point. They are not good enough to make the playoffs.

No way they can sit a guy just signed to a 8 year 66 million dollar extension
- Jimmygrazz

Why not? Maybe that is the problem. At this point I wouldn't care about who you are this team needs something and Fraud isn't doing it.

Can someone explain to me why they have sent McGinn down twice when he has 3 goals this year. Why is Raffl playing over him? This to me makes no sense. Sit Fraud Giroux, clearly he needs to step away for a bit to regroup. Slap the C on someone else like Vinny. Is it safe to say Fraud has played himself off of team Canada.
- LJF

First, McGinn's been sent down because, aside from driving the net (which, granted, not many are doing), Raffl has been much better at every facet of the game.

If you feel the need to strip Giroux of the C, then you better just trade him for picks right now, because you're basically letting him know you've lost faith in him.

Although I'd sit him right now. He's not getting it done, and maybe he needs a real message from the top.