Sit back and think about all of the teams over the years that came up short of expectations. All the experts’ year in year out said a specific team would reach the finals and win the cup, and it seemed like every year it was a pipe dream.
Part of those teams’ problems was they never changed things up. How many years can you accept failure and all you do is fire the coach? It to me is unreal with how long a general manager can go without change the player personnel. Refusing to make any major changes at the trade deadline going with the same core group of players year in year out , and before you know it your windows to win is gone.
Ottawa Senators
Ottawa is the perfect example of what we’re talking about. Five or Six seasons “the experts” called for Ottawa to win the east and win the Stanley Cup. They were deep in very position with the exception of goaltending. Other than their Cup appearance in 2005 (lost in five games to Anaheim) the Sens have not been past the first round since, in fact they have only one conference final appearance since rejoining the league in 1993.
Sit back and think about it, Spezza, Alferdson playing with Hossa then Heatley. That was a dominant line in the regular season but come playoff time they were a no show. Over the years they’ve had studs on the backend, Chara, Redden, Phillips and Volchenkov, that’s a defence most teams would like to have going into any playoff series.
Three main reasons for the Senators lack of success come playoff time. They did not make any moves come deadline time. Think about it this way, in the mid 90’s every year the Colorado Avalanche made a major move that put them over the top year in year out.
Like the Philadelphia Flyers the Senators have had a carousel of goalies, none of which have had any success to speak of. You can have the best team of all time, but if you have a shitty goalie you’re not winning the Stanley Cup. Excluding Chris Neil, Mike Fisher and Chara, the Sens were a softer bunch of players; they did not want to pay the price for series in series out.
San Jose Sharks
Surprise surprise the San Jose Sharks are on the brink of another playoff disaster. After about the third year in a row, I stopped listening to those experts who kept calling for them to win it all. For the better part of six years, the Sharks have had some form of playoff failure.
Former coach Ron Wilson was ousted three seasons ago, Evengi Nabakov’s time in San Jose was ended last season. Those have been the only significant changes made in the six years. Last season they acquired Danny Heatley, but that just added another lazy laid back player who has no success in the 2nd season.
When the Sharks come up short again, are they finally going to realize the “core” cannot get it done? Heatley and Joe Thornton are on the back 9 of their career, same can be said for Marleau and Boyle. The one thing San Jose has that Ottawa does not is a good young players such as Logan Couture, Ryan Clowe and Joe Pavelski.
What about the Caps and Canucks?
Ever since the Canucks obtained Roberto Luongo, they’ve been considered Cup contenders. If they do not win the Stanley Cup this year, can we include them in the teams of playoff failures? They’re on the upswing because of the play of a Ryan Kesler, but long term success will depend on help from others.
In my opinion Washington’s windows has not closed yet, only because they have one of if not the best up and coming defences in the NHL. Do they need to change the group up front? Yes, and drastically, but with a solid defence, decent goaltending mixed in with Ovechkin and Backstrom never say never.
If I were running a hockey team, like a coach I’d give the “core” a 3-4 year window. After repeat failures I would do whatever possible to make the proper changes, to take the team to the next level. Ottawa waited to long, San Jose is on the verge of waiting to long.
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