Time finger points in Ovechkin's direction

Let the man play how he plays best.

I applaud BB for scratching Semin last night, and they won. Barely (can you "barely" win?). It's time to sit the Prima Donna, and see how that works.

Don't put that finger in your ear. You don't know where it's been.

And its the middle finger they're pointing. Not the index finger.

"Time finger points in Ovechkin's direction"

I think the finger is pointing more in Budreau's direction. The clock is ticking! If George McPhee had cohones half the size of Lou Lamoriello's, he'd right the ship by replacing #&*@!$& Budreau before it's too late.

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 09:34 AM ET  11.22 by roamer

"Time finger points in Ovechkin's direction"I think the finger is pointing more in Budreau's direction. The clock is ticking! If George McPhee had cohones half the size of Lou Lamoriello's, he'd right the ship by replacing #&*@!$& Budreau before it's too late.

Where there is smoke, there is fire.

So many rumors the problem lies with Ovie. Be careful what you wish for, cause if you let BB go, the next coach could have the same problem with Ovie.

BB never should have made it this far, should've been gone at the end of last season. Way too much talent has been on that team for them to fail every yr.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 09:40 AM ET  11.22 by PensFanDealWithIt

Where there is smoke, there is fire.So many rumors the problem lies with Ovie. Be careful what you wish for, cause if you let BB go, the next coach could have the same problem with Ovie.

It never seems to work out well when a coach gets dismissed cos a star player wants him out, does it? The tendency is to replace the coach with someone who will defer to the player and that usually ends poorly.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:42 AM ET  11.22 by ecugringo

BB never should have made it this far, should've been gone at the end of last season. Way too much talent has been on that team for them to fail every yr.

Agreed. Last playoffs should've been the last straw ... but wasn't.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:44 AM ET  11.22 by Nobody expects Phantomphan MMT

It never seems to work out well when a coach gets dismissed cos a star player wants him out, does it? The tendency is to replace the coach with someone who will defer to the player and that usually ends poorly.

You might want to ask the Pens about that one. BTW, this is more than just one player. I think it's reached the point of mutiny. With the talent the Caps have, there is no logical explanation for the Caps failures and early exits in the playoffs other than coaching.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 09:57 AM ET  11.22 by roamer

You might want to ask the Pens about that one. BTW, this is more than just one player. I think it's reached the point of mutiny. With the talent the Caps have, there is no logical explanation for the Caps failures and early exits in the playoffs other than coaching.

Do we know that though, Roam?

All I have heard (Slappy, you should weigh in here) is that Semin and Ovie are acting like overgrown babies/boobies. :)

We don't know the thoughts/feelings on the rest of the players.

Re: Pens - all the players started getting sick of MT - true, but we don't know (for sure) the situation with BB.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 10:04 AM ET  11.22 by PensFanDealWithIt

Do we know that though, Roam?All I have heard (Slappy, you should weigh in here) is that Semin and Ovie are acting like overgrown babies/boobies. :) We don't know the thoughts/feelings on the rest of the players.Re: Pens - all the players started getting sick of MT - true, but we don't know (for sure) the situation with BB.

Just got in to see this DWI. While I'm no expert (a shock I know!) I tend to side with the observations that it's Ovie's fault. I think he believes that he's the only one on the ice and I don't know why. For years he was a refreshing guy who seemed to enjoy the game more than anybody. His attitude is strange. Semin? A different guy shows up every night. He can be a player with as much talent as anyone in the game, or somebody who is no better than ordinary. Why? I sure don't know. My own belief is that the Caps' failures in the playoffs over the past 2 years have been the fact that they (most of them, especially the superstars) aren't willing to pay the price to play great defense. Offensive greatness makes the highlight reels, shot blocking not so much. Defense IMO doesn't require dazzling talent but it does require 110% effort and a lot of times the guys are giving 50%. Ain't gonna work.

I noted a half dozen guys had more ice time than Alex last night.. Maybe one day he'll quit sulking. Maybe he won't. If the team continues to underachieve he can look in the mirror for the answer. It ain't Bruce's fault.

I don't think Bruce is the problem at all. Changing him will not help.
Firstly, Bruce has an unreal winning percentage.
Second, the playoffs have been a problem.
So, Bruce is doing something this year to address that and O.V doesn't like it...though I'm sure George might as he would rather have a Stanley than a Richard Trophy for his team. Semin needs to go and it will straighten O.V out. If Bruce backs off...lets OV skate for 2 minute shifts...well, we have all seen the results. OV biggest enemy is his own ego. I'm certain he is not popular in the dressing room.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 10:19 AM ET  11.22 by Slapshot

Just got in to see this DWI. While I'm no expert (a shock I know!) I tend to side with the observations that it's Ovie's fault. I think he believes that he's the only one on the ice and I don't know why. For years he was a refreshing guy who seemed to enjoy the game more than anybody. His attitude is strange. Semin? A different guy shows up every night. He can be a player with as much talent as anyone in the game, or somebody who is no better than ordinary. Why? I sure don't know. My own belief is that the Caps' failures in the playoffs over the past 2 years have been the fact that they (most of them, especially the superstars) aren't willing to pay the price to play great defense. Offensive greatness makes the highlight reels, shot blocking not so much. Defense IMO doesn't require dazzling talent but it does require 110% effort and a lot of times the guys are giving 50%. Ain't gonna work. I noted a half dozen guys had more ice time than Alex last night.. Maybe one day he'll quit sulking. Maybe he won't. If the team continues to underachieve he can look in the mirror for the answer. It ain't Bruce's fault.

Thanks, Slappy.

I don't watch that many games, so I can't make a fair call. Sometimes my opinions are biased, based on articles, commentary, and personal bias. As you know, I have been calling for BB's $%&^ head for a long time, but I am beginning to think he MAY NOT be the problem.

I heard he had the support of management last night to scratch Semin. If that is the case, I don't know his exit will come anytime soon.

Such a talented and deep team. This **** shouldn't be happening.

They always manage to beat the Pens though. ;)

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 10:23 AM ET  11.22 by PensFanDealWithIt

They always manage to beat the Pens though. ;)

Except in the playoffs.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 09:57 AM ET  11.22 by roamer

You might want to ask the Pens about that one. BTW, this is more than just one player. I think it's reached the point of mutiny. With the talent the Caps have, there is no logical explanation for the Caps failures and early exits in the playoffs other than coaching.

Was Thierrein (sp?) fired to appease Crosby? I thought there were bigger issues there but could be wrong not having followed that too closely.

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 10:52 AM ET  11.22 by Burgh-Fan

Except in the playoffs.

Which is all that matters.

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 10:56 AM ET  11.22 by Nobody expects Phantomphan MMT

Was Thierrein (sp?) fired to appease Crosby? I thought there were bigger issues there but could be wrong not having followed that too closely.

Nah. Crosby wasn't much affected by MT. If he was, it didn't affect his productivity. I do believe Crosby acted as player rep for the team/Captain (obviously), and spoke to GM about MT when things got so bad, a few weeks before MT was fired. I don't think he recommended his firing, just told GM how players felt, etc. The slump/losing streak was the straw that broke the camel's back.

I mean MT was sometimes child-like, playing Orpik on Wing because of defensive mistakes?

A coach v. a player? I hate these scenarios. This is a team sport. If Ovi and Semin aren't playing, trade both. The Caps are a very talented and deep team.
If Boudreau isn't coaching well, fire him and hire another coach.

Crosby is coachable, he actually enjoys working hard to improve his game and help his team and it shows. Thierrein was simply the wrong coach for the group as a whole. And, really should not have been an NHL coach though rumor has it he has vastly improved, and matured, and when Martin's head was being called for he was a legitimate candidate (in the media at least) to replace him.

BB use to let Ovechkin play how he wanted to, do what he wanted etc and Ovechkin was happy. Sure he was a puck hog, and ice time hog, and it was all about him, but he was happy and scoring goals. You might be able to do that in the regular season but it gets you bounced from the play offs pretty damn quickly. BB has been fixing it for a about a year now, and it seems like other than Ovechkin and Semin (shocking) the rest of the team has bought in.