I see your point and understand your perspective. But I would argue that what it takes to win in the playoffs has changed very little in the past 40+ years I have followed the NHL. Sure, some rules have changed and there have been some minor changes to the way the game is played as a result. But the overall concept of playing hard-checking, vertical, puck-possession game hasn't changed that much. Hitchcock preaches and teaches a very NHL, playoff style of play. The trouble is the some of the modern players think they can play like the wide open college or international style of play, in the NHL playoffs and they can't. Perhaps that's why Berglund struggles and why some of the more free-flowing type of players go into a funk at times, playing under him.
I can tell you this with relative certainty. If every player on that team bought in to his system and played every shift with 100% effort, this team would breeze to the Cup. Armstrong has assembled a fantastic group of players and they have all the talent and size they need. I think the issue is some players think they can freelance and play "their style" when it suits them. When that happens you put yourself and/or your teammates out of position and create turnovers and odd-man rushes against your team.
I will argue that Hitchcock is the right man for the job. There is a time when players need to be accountable and that time for the Blues is now...
-------------------- "Hunts are best measured by the endurance of the memories they produce..."
Previous
Index
Next
Flat
Re: 2014-2015 Saint Louis Blues
Edit
Reply
Quote
