Has Gabby lost the team....

[Forty_Sixand2]

A lot of people wodered if Gabby and his fun loving hands off type of coaching had cost the Capitals in past playoffs. Has he lost this team. Pittsburgh went through a similar awful awful streak right around this time of the season back in 2008 and out went Therien, and in came Bylsma. I think that we all know what happened next.

Is it that time for Gabby. I love the guy as a man, but he may have lost this team.

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

his nickname is "Gabby"?

 

[pixburgher66]

I think it's a very similar situation...that SAID, I think he needs to be given some more time. He came in and renewed this team...they bought in to whatever the heck he was selling them, and now *splat* nothing. I think it really depends on the ownerships patience or lack thereof. I must say though...in watching them these past few games, they seem to have no system. It's like a bunch of guys making their own plays out there. That's dangerous territory.

 

[elocomotive]

I don't think he has, but I'm not sure what's going on. They've played 2 weeks of pretty bad hockey, which we haven't really seen in about 3 years since Boudreau first came on. However, I do think he has a trial period of the next 10 games or so, or the team may go out and find somebody new. In my opinion, the team owes him this year to see what he can do and all teams go through hiccups.

I think it's a combination of injuries and some significant changes to the team. If you look at the defense, they're actually better both 5v5 and the penalty kill has improved significantly this season. But offensively, they're in a slump after dominating the league in that regard last year. I think it's a number of things...

-Knuble is not the player he was last year, and Fehr and Laich have not been playing as well either
-Ovechkin is in the biggest scoring slump of his career
-They've changed from a team with 3 scoring lines to one with 2 scoring lines and 2 checking lines.

The latter one concerns me the most. Getting rid of Flash and using guys like Gordon, Hendricks, etc. on the 3rd line is problematic I think. They also shed guys like Brendan Morrisson, who played really well last year. Beyond the first two lines, they aren't getting the kind of goal support they had a season ago. And they have a lot of youth on the team - Carlson, Perreault, Johansson, and Alzner all in the lineup on many nights and all rookies. Gonna take some time for those guys to grow.

The funny thing is they generally seem to be doing better at the things they were criticized for last season - not crashing the net/getting dirty goals and not playing well defensively - but it takes some time for those changes to sink in. Maybe this is the price for investing in some of those things, maybe they need a coaching change, or maybe they've just made some bad moves. Time will tell.

I think they'll come around - too much talent not to. But it's painful to watch right now, and even when we were winning earlier in the year, we weren't as solid as last year.

 

[anderwho2513]

Boudreau's an idiot.

And how the hell did he get a nickname of Gabby?

 

[Automattic]

What a coincidence...they lost to Gabby too!

 

[elocomotive]

Boudreau's an idiot.

And how the hell did he get a nickname of Gabby?

Well thought out post.

I think his teammates gave it to him b/c he talked a lot.

 

[pixburgher66]

I mean...I personally have very little respect for Boudreau, but that doesn't mean he's a) an idiot (though he's had his moments) or b) a bad coach. That stems from other moments on the bench. I think it's more because I'm used to seeing the staunch coaching of Bylsma now, who shows zero emotion on the bench, winning or losing, and at times it seems like Bruce just complains like a fan at every penalty called/missed. But, that's from my view, which is certainly tinted.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

I mean...I personally have very little respect for Boudreau, but that doesn't mean he's a) an idiot (though he's had his moments) or b) a bad coach. That stems from other moments on the bench. I think it's more because I'm used to seeing the staunch coaching of Bylsma now, who shows zero emotion on the bench, winning or losing, and at times it seems like Bruce just complains like a fan at every penalty called/missed. But, that's from my view, which is certainly tinted.

He probably watches Sid a lot....:p

 

[ritari330]

He might have lost this team, but I am not one calling for him to get fired. I love the guy, but a coaching change might be in order. That said, it isn't just a situation of change the coach and everything is fine. Its got to be the right coach, or there is no point.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

He might have lost this team, but I am not one calling for him to get fired. I love the guy, but a coaching change might be in order. That said, it isn't just a situation of change the coach and everything is fine. Its got to be the right coach, or there is no point.

100% agree, this can not be knee-jerk. I trust in ted and GMGM though. How are things Ty? I have not been around in a while.

 

[ritari330]

100% agree, this can not be knee-jerk. I trust in ted and GMGM though. How are things Ty? I have not been around in a while.

Yeah, I've noticed. Things must be going well with that Flyers chick, eh? :p Anyway, I for one have been BUSY! Between wrok, school, family and my girlfriend, there aren't enough hours in the day. Wouldn't know it by my post count though. Maybe I should post less, hmmmmm

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Things are actually awesome. Just been busy and CFB has been pressin me. I bought an old school Caps "took(sp)" at a place here in Pittsburgh today. I also received trash talk. It was great. I will be on more now.

 

[ritari330]

Things are actually awesome. Just been busy and CFB has been pressin me. I bought an old school Caps "took(sp)" at a place here in Pittsburgh today. I also received trash talk. It was great. I will be on more now.

I'm not sure what a Caps "took" is

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

tuque...like winter cap....snow cap....

 

[ritari330]

Oh, a beanie

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

There are three things that need to change for the Caps to win the cup this year.

1.Ovechkin needs to start scoring goals.
2.They're worrying too much about defense. They need to relax & just have fun out their. That's when the Capitals are at their best.
3.Don't think too much. They seem to be overcomplicating their game.

 

[Dacks]

1. Anyword on his injury? I heard he sat out the third after getting hit with Semin.
2. They remind me of the Phoenix Suns a bit. High-powered fun offense worked great in the regular season, came up short in the post-season. Trying to change their style to play the right away (as Umberger would say) took that away. Could the Caps be facing that dilemna?

 

[elocomotive]

2.They're worrying too much about defense. They need to relax & just have fun out their. That's when the Capitals are at their best.

I generally agree with you - not that they should ignore it, but use things like puck possession and aggressive forechecking to stifle.

One of the Caps' commentators (and former Cap Alan May) noted that OV is holding his stick too tight. I think he had a good point, both on a real level and a metaphorical one.

^Run wild with that one, boys and girls.

 

[Urkie]

tuque...like winter cap....snow cap....

Touque

I can't tell you how many times I called it a touque and somebody looks at you and says "what?"

People down here have no idea what it is until you tell them.