Lord Stanley's Cup thread

[slapshot]

As I posted over in the other forum, either Hunter has to go or the team has to be remodelled in his image, which is grinding, boring, low scoring defensive hockey. That is not how the team is built at present. So, they have to decide who they are. As for their playoff effort, they'd have been out much sooner without Holtby's stellar play. Why he was wasting away in Hershey, especially after last year's great 14 game stint, has to make you question their ability to evaluate talent at times.

Did you read this morning's column in the Post by Thomas Boswell? He answered your question/challenge.

The headline reads:
A SERIES LOST, BUT A NEEDED IDENTITY FOUND



While the ending results are the same, as in prior years, who the Caps faced in the playoffs are quite different. In prior years, the Caps faced lesser opponents in the opening rounds, and still lost. Sometimes in convincing fashion. This year they faced two of the top seeded opponents in the opening rounds, and came within a backhand swipe of moving on. Never lost one game, in 14 games, by more than one goal. One. And sometimes those losses came in OT.

The Caps are right there. They can play with anyone, and I disagree with you that this team would need a major over haul or re-structuring. They are right there, right now.

IMO, IF Hunter wishes to return, the door will be open for his return. But that said, Hunter is a private guy who doesn't like all the limelight and attention...so he may very well decide this isn't for him.

[slapshot]

Word this morning that Hunter is not coming back and Caps are looking at Maurice,Crawford and Hartley. They want somebody with NHL experience

Link?

Here is what I did find (from a reputable source):

http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2...s-next-season/

"Most of the time, the decision is out of a coach’s hands, but Hunter’s OHL options mean that he might just call the shot. He told Katie Carrera and others that he hasn’t made up his mind just yet – or at least isn’t telling, as Hunter said now isn’t “the time to talk about that.”

It’s not surprising that he’s reluctant to inform the media of such a decision at this time, but one must imagine that McPhee and the Capitals will want an answer soon enough. Considering the strategic changes he instituted, the decision to bring back one or more of free agents such as Alexander Semin, Mike Green and Dennis Wideman might come down to Hunter’s own decision."

As I mentioned above, I suspect the decision to return, or not, will be his to make. The Caps front office know a winner, when they see a winner. He's coached the Caps all off what, 5 months...give him time, he will lead the Caps to the promised land within 1-2 years.

[thinking_man]

To be honest, I've been to multiple (not just hockey) sporting events by myself - all at friendly confines. Never did enjoy it that much as nobody to share the good moments with. Can't imagine the experience, by myself, in an unfriendly environ like NY.

Also, since both sons are now gone - my job to take wife out for Mother's Day (early tonight). Reservations are early enough that I should be back for 2nd period.

Go Caps!

I haven't been to NY in 10 years.

"Unfriendly" would be an understatement.
I went to 3 other road games this season and I never took any abuse from anyone until yesterday. This came mostly before the game, but not during. And there was a lot of it.
It is not like this at The Verizon Center.

While walking to the game someone threw a firecracker toward me and almost hit me. Since it was at by back there was no way to say for sure if that person tried to hit me or just scare me. It wasn't funny but some Ranger fans thought so.

2 Caps fans came up to me and told me how brave I was and said they were afraid to wear their Caps gear. I'm used to seeing more Caps fans at road games but I looked around and saw maybe 10 Caps fans wearing their gear.

Nothing more needs to be said about the game. If was a fair effort and I thought it was a great series.

[slapshot]

I haven't been to NY in 10 years.

"Unfriendly" would be an understatement.
I went to 3 other road games this season and I never took any abuse from anyone until yesterday. This came mostly before the game, but not during. And there was a lot of it.
It is not like this at The Verizon Center.

While walking to the game someone threw a firecracker toward me and almost hit me. Since it was at by back there was no way to say for sure if that person tried to hit me or just scare me. It wasn't funny but some Ranger fans thought so.

2 Caps fans came up to me and told me how brave I was and said they were afraid to wear their Caps gear. I'm used to seeing more Caps fans at road games but I looked around and saw maybe 10 Caps fans wearing their gear.

Nothing more needs to be said about the game. If was a fair effort and I thought it was a great series.

Welcome back, and glad nothing happened. Fan violence at sporting events seems to be getting worse. Years ago I stopped taking my kids to both college and professional football games because of all the drunks and abusive language. Just not worth it.

In any event, next year we should arrange to go up as a group...in force. I'll bring a few hockey "enforcers" along for good measure.

[slapshot]

Oh, and yes, both the Boston and NY series were outstanding. Other than winning yesterday, I could not have asked for better, more exciting hockey.

[AntiMoon]

My info was from Garrioch's column in today's Ottawa Sun.

[veritas]

Did you read this morning's column in the Post by Thomas Boswell? He answered your question/challenge.

The headline reads:
A SERIES LOST, BUT A NEEDED IDENTITY FOUND



While the ending results are the same, as in prior years, who the Caps faced in the playoffs are quite different. In prior years, the Caps faced lesser opponents in the opening rounds, and still lost. Sometimes in convincing fashion. This year they faced two of the top seeded opponents in the opening rounds, and came within a backhand swipe of moving on. Never lost one game, in 14 games, by more than one goal. One. And sometimes those losses came in OT.

The Caps are right there. They can play with anyone, and I disagree with you that this team would need a major over haul or re-structuring. They are right there, right now.

IMO, IF Hunter wishes to return, the door will be open for his return. But that said, Hunter is a private guy who doesn't like all the limelight and attention...so he may very well decide this isn't for him.

If Hunter stays then changes need to be made. If they're going to play a grinding, defensive game, you don't need guys like Green, Semin and a few others. If he goes, then you need a coach who can get the most out of these guys. For anyone who has watched a lot of hockey (and I've watched a hell of a lot) it's obvious they need better coaching in several areas.

Foremost would be on how to exit the defensive zone with speed. How many times did the Caps attempt some long pass up the boards to some forward standing completely still? How often did those passes go by the guy or get in his skates or otherwise get away from him? It happened constantly. That is NOT how you play winning hockey. If you watched the Rangers, they never did that. They moved out as a unit with short, crisp passes and everybody moving, not standing flatfooted along the boards. This is hockey 101 but seems to have gotten lost ever since the two line pass was done away with, at least with some teams.

My take is that Hunter is not the guy for this team as it now stands. If they go into next season with basically this roster and Hunter, I predict they don't go any farther than this year, even if Holtby is the #1 and plays very well. The bottom line is winning and the fact is that they didn't last any longer than they did under Boudreau in his best effort. They need the players to fit the coach or the coach to fit the players. Right now, that is not the situation.

[slapshot]

If Hunter stays then changes need to be made. If they're going to play a grinding, defensive game, you don't need guys like Green, Semin and a few others. If he goes, then you need a coach who can get the most out of these guys. For anyone who has watched a lot of hockey (and I've watched a hell of a lot) it's obvious they need better coaching in several areas.

Foremost would be on how to exit the defensive zone with speed. How many times did the Caps attempt some long pass up the boards to some forward standing completely still? How often did those passes go by the guy or get in his skates or otherwise get away from him? It happened constantly. That is NOT how you play winning hockey. If you watched the Rangers, they never did that. They moved out as a unit with short, crisp passes and everybody moving, not standing flatfooted along the boards. This is hockey 101 but seems to have gotten lost ever since the two line pass was done away with, at least with some teams.

My take is that Hunter is not the guy for this team as it now stands. If they go into next season with basically this roster and Hunter, I predict they don't go any farther than this year, even if Holtby is the #1 and plays very well. The bottom line is winning and the fact is that they didn't last any longer than they did under Boudreau in his best effort. They need the players to fit the coach or the coach to fit the players. Right now, that is not the situation.

You make some valid points, and some would also be my points.

Some of the passes made by the Caps were horrendous, and no doubt, were made in an attempt to catch the Rangers D flat footed. The best break away goals, or 2 on 1 situations come off of passes like that. However, this has nothing to do why they lost, in a game 7 situation, against the top seeded team in the East - on their ice.

For me, the most glaring problem that the Caps had (especially in the 3rd or in OT) was they were late to the puck in their own zone, not good in the scrums, and when they did win the scrum, couldn't clear the zone...often loosing the puck, allowing the Rangers more chances to sneak one past Holtby. These were all defensive issues. For laughs, look at the top ranked defensive players in the playoffs. The Rangers have a ton, the Caps? Green and Carlson.

We could trade analysis until we were both blue in the face, and would accomplish nothing. You and I could arm chair every game, but the fact is - you and I know squat about the game of hockey, compared to Hunter. I accept this, but oddly, many on here think they know more about the game of hockey, how to coach and get the most from players...yet, have never even played the game, let alone ever coached a hockey game. I find that remarkable. We have no idea what errors were Hunter's and what errors were do to poor execution by the players. We already know, as fact, that Hunter sat his best player for repeatedly not following the defensive game plan. If a player makes one, or maybe two bone head plays in the game, is that Hunter's fault? But it is his fault if players continually ignore the game plan and/or screw up, and he continues to play them. That's on Hunter, at that point.

Finally, I too watch a lot of hockey - junior's, college and pro. But having both played and coached the game, I suspect my perspective is different than your's, and most on this board. Not necessarily better, just different. Unless you've been in the locker room - both as a player and a coach - it's hard to accurately analyze the game and appreciate why a coach is doing what he's doing.

Hunter did an outstanding job given the circumstances under which, and when he took over the team. I believe the Caps organization understand this, and will keep the door open should he elect to return. I hope he does.

[veritas]

You make some valid points, and some would also be my points.

Some of the passes made by the Caps were horrendous, and no doubt, were made in an attempt to catch the Rangers D flat footed. The best break away goals, or 2 on 1 situations come off of passes like that. However, this has nothing to do why they lost, in a game 7 situation, against the top seeded team in the East - on their ice.

For me, the most glaring problem that the Caps had (especially in the 3rd or in OT) was they were late to the puck in their own zone, not good in the scrums, and when they did win the scrum, couldn't clear the zone...often loosing the puck, allowing the Rangers more chances to sneak one past Holtby. These were all defensive issues. For laughs, look at the top ranked defensive players in the playoffs. The Rangers have a ton, the Caps? Green and Carlson.

We could trade analysis until we were both blue in the face, and would accomplish nothing. You and I could arm chair every game, but the fact is - you and I know squat about the game of hockey, compared to Hunter. I accept this, but oddly, many on here think they know more about the game of hockey, how to coach and get the most from players...yet, have never even played the game, let alone ever coached a hockey game. I find that remarkable. We have no idea what errors were Hunter's and what errors were do to poor execution by the players. We already know, as fact, that Hunter sat his best player for repeatedly not following the defensive game plan. If a player makes one, or maybe two bone head plays in the game, is that Hunter's fault? But it is his fault if players continually ignore the game plan and/or screw up, and he continues to play them. That's on Hunter, at that point.

Finally, I too watch a lot of hockey - junior's, college and pro. But having both played and coached the game, I suspect my perspective is different than your's, and most on this board. Not necessarily better, just different. Unless you've been in the locker room - both as a player and a coach - it's hard to accurately analyze the game and appreciate why a coach is doing what he's doing.

Hunter did an outstanding job given the circumstances under which, and when he took over the team. I believe the Caps organization understand this, and will keep the door open should he elect to return. I hope he does.

I can't argue with much of this. My mention of their stretch passes was but one glaring area where I thought they failed. They were also outworked along the boards and lost way too many one on one battles. I felt that way about the Boston series, too. As for Hunter's expertise, players don't always make the best coaches as has been proven in numerous sports. I've never subscribed to an overtly defensive style where you try to win 2-1 or 3-2 every night and I especially don't like it for this Caps roster as it stands. Very few organizations have been able to make that work year in and year out. New Jersey has done so but they've had excellent front office management and coaches who make it work, even in the face of multiple coaching changes. They've also been anchored by a HOF goalie for years and years. As I said, if Hunter, and by implication Hunter's style of play is here to stay, then they need to do some roster overhaul. They probably need to do some anyway because of the age of some of these guys.

As for myself, I never coached the game but I did play it for many years both organized and semi-organized. I've also watched it since 1962. So, no, I've never played at Hunter's level or played remotely the number of games he has but I have seen enough games to know what I'm talking about. I said two years ago that Holtby was their best goalie and it looks like that has been shown to be true. I also predicted they'd fire Boudreau this year and barely make the playoffs or miss them, which also happened. Not tooting my own horn, just pointing out that fans are not incapable of analyzing a sport simply because they've never been professionals. Some of the shrewdest managers and best coaches never played the sport they mastered as an observer or never at a high level anyway. Scotty Bowman is one guy that comes to mind.

[ajc54terp]

I mostly positive about the caps this year, but after losing game 5 the way they did, I predicted a game 6 win and then the let down in game 7, they can never let us down easy....oh well, at least we had some playoff hockey to watch, there's always next year...

[slapshot]

Anybody watching the LA-Phonix series?

Boy, the goalie for LA, Jonathan Quick, is something else. With a GAA of 1.95, this guy is going to tough to beat. Since the B's and Caps are gone, my money is on the Kings.

As an aside, I'm sure the NHL would love to see a LA vs NY finals.

[Eastside Terp]

So the match up is set, any predictions? ......

should be a good series with some offense in bunches .....

I am going with the Devils to win it in 6 ......

[slapshot]

So the match up is set, any predictions? ......

should be a good series with some offense in bunches .....

I am going with the Devils to win it in 6 ......

I HATE NJ. I dispise the fair-weather fans they have.

Even if I think they will win, I would never root for them.

[Eastside Terp]

I HATE NJ. I dispise the fair-weather fans they have.

Even if I think they will win, I would never root for them.

I hear ya ......

I travel to Newark a few times a year and talk devils and their arena with my associates there .......

I have walked past the arena a few times in the day time but never went to an event there .....

they are concerned that the devils might be bolting like the Nets did .....

they complain about it being in a bad neighborhood with no parking .....

[Eastside Terp]

here we go .......

hey slapshot, did you see that the king's captain brown is from Ithaca.......

doesn't appear that he played in college but I bet he watched a few games in lynah growing up ......

[slapshot]

here we go .......

hey slapshot, did you see that the king's captain brown is from Ithaca.......

doesn't appear that he played in college but I bet he watched a few games in lynah growing up ......

Did not hear that. Just started watching at the beginning of the 2nd period.

Hey, there's Adam Oates...wow, flash from the past.

I'm predicting the Kings win the SC. I think their goalie is playing exceptionally well right now.

[Eastside Terp]

going to be tough for NJ to come back now .......

I think their fate was sealed when they hit the pipe last night with about 15 seconds left ....

reminded me of OV hitting the pipe at the end of that one game ......

2 OT losses at home to start the series off is tough ......

I just hope they can make a series of it so we can have some game 7 drama .......

[slapshot]

going to be tough for NJ to come back now .......

I think their fate was sealed when they hit the pipe last night with about 15 seconds left ....

reminded me of OV hitting the pipe at the end of that one game ......

2 OT losses at home to start the series off is tough ......

I just hope they can make a series of it so we can have some game 7 drama .......

That was great watching lose another game in OT.

NJ is too good a team to be swept in 4. Series goes 5 or 6 games.

[slapshot]

going to be tough for NJ to come back now .......

I think their fate was sealed when they hit the pipe last night with about 15 seconds left ....

reminded me of OV hitting the pipe at the end of that one game ......

2 OT losses at home to start the series off is tough ......

I just hope they can make a series of it so we can have some game 7 drama .......

NJ can't even get one goal in game 3.

I say it's over for NJ.

[gps29070]

NJ can't even get one goal in game 3.

I say it's over for NJ.

I would say so... NJ didn't attempt a search and destroy shift, where old NHL protocol would have called for one when you're down 3-0 in a game 3 down in the series.

BTW - I wonder if a team has ever won the Stanley Cup with a power-play as awful as the Kings?

Still, this is the NHL where almost every game is a coin-toss, all NJ would need is a cheap goal in game 4.