We just enjoyed a several year stretch of Trotz, when the team didn't do stupid crap like that. And never had a problem with motivation. Players are a reflection on their coach. This team is deep and talented.
What do you like about Reirdon?
I can handle losing to a hot team in the playoffs like we love to do. I can't handle and accept crapping the bed because you can't be bothered to match the other, inferior teams effort level.
Trotz had a year where they played almost just like this actually. I can't remember which one, but they retooled the D the next year because they had too many offensive guys, and not enough physical on the blue line, we got pushed around and took a lot of stupid penalties and our PK unit was fairly brutal. I remember Orlov in particular was a huge problem there. Lots of stick penalties cause he'd get caught too far forward, bite on the first move, and then hook guys as they went past him.
It's not so much that I like him, or care really, he's got a fairly neutral system. It's not like Hunter's over the top defense first, or Oates' complete lack of defense. I think the problem is just that a coach can only do so much, and the players are just playing with zero heart like they barely showed up to play this thing and they are going through the motions. I actually caught a bit of it in Oshie's comment about Rask opting out yesterday, talking about guys with young families (which is like most of our team) really struggling with it, and wanting to play now that they are here, but it always being in the back of their head. I just don't think we are really here right now. I mean even Ovi's comment the other night when he missed the net, "shit happens?" that's VERY un-Ovi like. I kind of get the impression they were happy with the season being over, and aren't really on board with this late summer playoff thing.
I really don't see as much to pin on the coach himself, but he's the easy one to go after when there's not really a specific finger to point, so I totally see why you say that. I really feel like had we taken the other path, signed Trotz to a more expensive deal, Reirden would have been the one going to Long Island, and would be whooping our ass right now. I just think the horses have been led to the water, they just aren't drinking, cause they are wishing they were at home, or having a normal summer.