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08:29 AM ET 03.29 | As a player, rarely did Dale Hunter lack for fire. Hunter's fight-to-win aura, his pedigree as a respected, successful leader of a championship junior program in Ontario ... it all made sense. But now the Capitals are a mere five games away from not just the end of a lost season but the end of a five-year plan that has come woefully short of the franchise's Stanley Cup goals. And Dale Hunter makes no sense. George McPhee doesn't get many things wrong. But the Capitals general manager's decision to tap into tough-guy nostalgia, have Hunter be the taskmaster to replace Boudreau, the players' coach whom the locker room allegedly tuned out, was absolutely the wrong move.

Alex Ovechkin, Icon Sports

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March 29, 2012 09:04 AM ET

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This is what happens when you follow the Brian Burke five-year business plan.

Canuck eh?

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March 29, 2012 09:04 AM ET

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No kidding.

PensFanDealWithIt

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March 29, 2012 09:16 AM ET

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His decision to bench Halpern and Aucoin in the 3rd period against Winnipeg on Friday night was inexcusable. The Caps were tired from playing Philly the night before and had no legs for the 2nd half of the game against the Jets. That is NOT the time to shorten your bench and discipline your 4th line. Just awful coaching.

Capsfan

Arlington , VA

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Comment #4 has been removed

March 29, 2012 09:20 AM ET

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QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 09:04 AM ET 03.29 by Canuck eh?

This is what happens when you follow the Brian Burke five-year business plan.

I think even His irkedness would have done better with this roster. A lot of this is on McPhee too.

Spiny Norman

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March 29, 2012 09:24 AM ET

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Couldn't agree more. Maybe, and I say maybe, they needed to move Bruce to shake things up, but don't think so myself. Bruce is making progress out west. Dale has been a disaster and has gotten the absolute least out of a fairly talented group. I agree totally with Capsfan that shortening the bench against Winnipeg was inexcusable. Those guys were so exhausted in the 3rd period they were outshot 15-0 before getting their first shot.

Slapshot

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March 29, 2012 09:25 AM ET

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I love it!

The Caps are my 1A team after the Isles and I've been rooting for them for about 7 years now but watching Hunter go down in flames is actually enjoyable for me.

Puck082

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March 29, 2012 09:27 AM ET

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QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 09:24 AM ET 03.29 by Slapshot

Couldn't agree more. Maybe, and I say maybe, they needed to move Bruce to shake things up, but don't think so myself. Bruce is making progress out west. Dale has been a disaster and has gotten the absolute least out of a fairly talented group. I agree totally with Capsfan that shortening the bench against Winnipeg was inexcusable. Those guys were so exhausted in the 3rd period they were outshot 15-0 before getting their first shot.

GM GM has to get some of the blame as well.

Puck082

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March 29, 2012 09:34 AM ET

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No offense to the Caps fans; but I like watching Hunter lose.

It would be twice as enjoyable if Pierre Turgeon was in attendance ;)

NY Rangers

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March 29, 2012 09:35 AM ET

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QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:25 AM ET 03.29 by Puck082

I love it! The Caps are my 1A team after the Isles and I've been rooting for them for about 7 years now but watching Hunter go down in flames is actually enjoyable for me.

Pierre Turgeon? ;)

NY Rangers

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March 29, 2012 09:37 AM ET

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QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 09:27 AM ET 03.29 by Puck082

GM GM has to get some of the blame as well.

You're right. Maybe most of it.

Slapshot

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March 29, 2012 09:38 AM ET

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"Hunter failing to deliver in Washington"

Shouldn't the headline be, "Highly overpaid, highly overrated Prima Donas failing to deliver in Washington?"

Jest wondrin' is all.

roamer

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March 29, 2012 09:41 AM ET

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QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 09:35 AM ET 03.29 by NY Rangers

Pierre Turgeon? ;)

Indeed! It was really hard for me to root for the Caps as much with the clown behind the bench. At least the guy before him did horrible local commercials and was laughable in his own way.

Puck082

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March 29, 2012 09:42 AM ET

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QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 09:37 AM ET 03.29 by Slapshot

You're right. Maybe most of it.

He's been hell bent on getting a HIGH prospect AND #1 draft choice for Semin. Teams are not that eager to get a streaky, lazy Russian. Cut your losses dude and get some better character guys in there.

Chimera has been probably his best transaction.

Puck082

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March 29, 2012 09:43 AM ET

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Trouble is by firing Hunter you're almost giving the players final say in who their coach is. They didn't like Bruce, now they're not playing for Dale. What if they don't like the next guy?

Burgh-Fan

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March 29, 2012 09:44 AM ET

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QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:25 AM ET 03.29 by Puck082

I love it! The Caps are my 1A team ..... watching Hunter go down in flames is actually enjoyable for me.

How about Boudreau? Do you feel the same way about Bruce?

The Caps need more than a coaching change. They need a new GM and some serious personnel changes on that team. Gotta change the culture in that dressing room. Too many players who simply don't care or aren't willing to pay the price for success.