This is a Heartless, Soulless Team

[Blues Dave]

To everyone here at Blues Talk; Hey guys, I don't know either.

[Ziggy3]

I think Schenn does what he can- he had a big influence on Neighbours. He does not have the skill or the legs anymore to put the team on his back.

100 percent.

And I question those who question whether he has heart; and, based on what possible evidence.

Schenn has always been a warrior in the past. Have you watched him lately though?

A buddy and I were actually having the conversation recently about whether any team has ever been successful with their captain not being one of their top players. And maybe there have been, but we could only even think of one other example to compare - Dallas Drake...

[hotrivets]

Another factor is we lost Bobby Plager. I think even in the late years he was good about establishing the team ethos and accountability. We have other guys now but I'm not sure they are really doing it.

Maroon was also good at that- he would keep them riled up. Last night the bench looked like they were at a funeral. I guess in a way they were.

[blackinkbiz]

Now that the goaltending seems to have righted itself and the defense has at least been average as of late, all of this once again falls on the offense.

First, other than Faulk, EVERYONE is underperforming offensively, except MAYBE Snuggs since he is technically a rookie.

Both Fowler (great extension, btw, *facepalm*) and Parayko are still without a single goal at the quarter mark, and everyone else is below career norms. Some a bit off, some a lot.

The answer is to stop trying to snipe these perfect goals and start throwing any and everything you can at the net to try and generate rebounds, something this team seems rarely able to do. Even when they do try that strategy, it's like they fire every puck into the goalie's bread basket or glove and then get frustrated they can't get rebounds.

So basically, Schenn, Buch, Parayko, Fowler, Kyrou and Thomas all need to do more. That's my brilliant assessment. The guys that get paid to perform, need to perform.

You're welcome.

[zuck698]

I think Schenn does what he can- he had a big influence on Neighbours. He does not have the skill or the legs anymore to put the team on his back.

100 percent.

And I question those who question whether he has heart; and, based on what possible evidence.

I never questioned his heart. Maybe try reading the post again!

[Harry York 37]

My apologies, I am going to hang Kyrou out to dry again.

The bast#rss tied it halfway through the second, but we closed out the period vigorously.

The opening faceoff of the third period showed how weak we allow ourselves to be…

We surrendered the lead on a play that was embarrassing and stupid, and cowardly.

We could not recover. When your highest paid player surrenders the puck after a faceoff win… because he panics and can’t make any kind of play to retain possession…. you suuuuuuuucck.

[Harry York 37]

My apologies, I am going to hang Kyrou out to dry again.

The bast#rds tied it halfway through the second, but we closed out the period vigorously.

The opening faceoff of the third period showed how weak we allow ourselves to be…

We surrendered the lead on a play that was embarrassing and stupid, and cowardly.

We could not recover. When your highest paid player surrenders the puck after a faceoff win… because he panics and can’t make any kind of play to retain possession…. you suuuuuuuucck.

[Ziggy3]

Now that the goaltending seems to have righted itself and the defense has at least been average as of late, all of this once again falls on the offense.

First, other than Faulk, EVERYONE is underperforming offensively, except MAYBE Snuggs since he is technically a rookie.

Both Fowler (great extension, btw, *facepalm*) and Parayko are still without a single goal at the quarter mark, and everyone else is below career norms. Some a bit off, some a lot.

The answer is to stop trying to snipe these perfect goals and start throwing any and everything you can at the net to try and generate rebounds, something this team seems rarely able to do. Even when they do try that strategy, it's like they fire every puck into the goalie's bread basket or glove and then get frustrated they can't get rebounds.

So basically, Schenn, Buch, Parayko, Fowler, Kyrou and Thomas all need to do more. That's my brilliant assessment. The guys that get paid to perform, need to perform.

You're welcome.

If I was Monty, I would tell all the forwards that until further notice, anybody who finishes a game with less than 4 SOG is put into a pool, and at least one player in that pool is guaranteed to sit the next game.

Passing up chances to shoot is just wildly unacceptable from a team in the offensive shape they're in right now.

[Younghopp1991]

If the story of what is going on in the locker room ever comes out, it should make for a good listen.

[TAFKAP]

You forgot the trash (donkey) sweaters. 70's colors, 70's team. We won the Cup wearing Brett Hull Blue. Let's go back to that.

[11WSChamps]

That was a Rangers team last night that was just begging to get run out of the building; totally disinterested in competing in the 1st period. But does this team pounce on them, hungry for 2 points? No, instead we give them all their confidence back and have them looking like the '95 Devils by the 3rd.

I usually tend to wear rose-colored glasses, especially when it comes to the "effort" and "compete" cliches, but this team is definitely missing something. I don't even think it's necessarily a "move your feet" kind of problem, there is just some lack of a core desire and hunger to prevail. No killer instinct, especially from our best players.

I have always been a big Thomas fan, but I can't help but feel now like his drive will maybe never match his skill. His absolute refusal to put a shot on goal or drive the net unless he is completely open with no other options; I'm starting to see it as a softness, unfortunately. He wants to defer the tough areas and the finishing plays to someone else. That's not 1C material. Even the best playmaker in history shot the puck A LOT. He has 3 goals in 19 games...

How many times do we have to watch the other team score on a routine perimeter shot with one of their players untouched on top of our goalie? Parayko has got to be the on the Mount Rushmore of NHL gentle giants. Broberg plays like he'd like to be on there someday too. How has nobody gotten ticked off enough yet to at least try to make the opposition think twice about planting there? I'd love to see a nice, hard crosscheck penalty at this point, just to show me they care.

Everyone on the team looks like they want someone else to make a play. Loose pucks with multiple Blues around it, and everybody looking like, "oh, go ahead please...oh, me? Ok, maybe I'll take it...", straight into a turnover.

Schenn looks like he doesn't care anymore.

Toropchencko expends more effort doing absolutely nothing than maybe any player I've ever seen.

Buchnevich...

Did I miss anything? Oh yeah, the broadcast sucks. But at least we can count on Kerbs and Joey to distract us from the actual game.

Nope.

That just about covers it.

[11WSChamps]

Sundquist in 14 games has as many points (9) as Buchnevich and one more than Schenn in 9-less games.

Let that sink in.

[blues2112]

I think Schenn does what he can- he had a big influence on Neighbours. He does not have the skill or the legs anymore to put the team on his back.

100 percent.

And I question those who question whether he has heart; and, based on what possible evidence.

Schenn has always been a warrior in the past. Have you watched him lately though?

A buddy and I were actually having the conversation recently about whether any team has ever been successful with their captain not being one of their top players. And maybe there have been, but we could only even think of one other example to compare - Dallas Drake...

First (and only) thought was Dustin Brown (still can't stand him), who was captain of last LA cup-winning team. He had 27 points in 79 games, 10th on team in scoring.

He no longer had the skill or the legs, but was a leader.

[HighStick]

The players who make up the core of this team are all betas. They need a couple of alphas to inspire them. Thomas has never shot enough to be a #1 center. Buch and Kyrou used to score enough to hide it but if your starting center can't score your doomed. Now his wingers arent scoring and the whole line is non-existent. That has a trickle down effect.

[BobbyOrr]

*
SOFT..... In Every aspect of the game.

That describes this team Overall to the Core.

[Bluesbacker]

That was a Rangers team last night that was just begging to get run out of the building; totally disinterested in competing in the 1st period. But does this team pounce on them, hungry for 2 points? No, instead we give them all their confidence back and have them looking like the '95 Devils by the 3rd.

I usually tend to wear rose-colored glasses, especially when it comes to the "effort" and "compete" cliches, but this team is definitely missing something. I don't even think it's necessarily a "move your feet" kind of problem, there is just some lack of a core desire and hunger to prevail. No killer instinct, especially from our best players.

I have always been a big Thomas fan, but I can't help but feel now like his drive will maybe never match his skill. His absolute refusal to put a shot on goal or drive the net unless he is completely open with no other options; I'm starting to see it as a softness, unfortunately. He wants to defer the tough areas and the finishing plays to someone else. That's not 1C material. Even the best playmaker in history shot the puck A LOT. He has 3 goals in 19 games...

How many times do we have to watch the other team score on a routine perimeter shot with one of their players untouched on top of our goalie? Parayko has got to be the on the Mount Rushmore of NHL gentle giants. Broberg plays like he'd like to be on there someday too. How has nobody gotten ticked off enough yet to at least try to make the opposition think twice about planting there? I'd love to see a nice, hard crosscheck penalty at this point, just to show me they care.

Everyone on the team looks like they want someone else to make a play. Loose pucks with multiple Blues around it, and everybody looking like, "oh, go ahead please...oh, me? Ok, maybe I'll take it...", straight into a turnover.

Schenn looks like he doesn't care anymore.

Toropchencko expends more effort doing absolutely nothing than maybe any player I've ever seen.

Buchnevich...

Did I miss anything? Oh yeah, the broadcast sucks. But at least we can count on Kerbs and Joey to distract us from the actual game.

yep

Sad to say, totally agree