TB - I'm just asking questions. When you say "not an ongoing problem", I respectfully disagree as its been front and center this year and last. I was wondering if potentially longer than that. As for JDA coming to training camp - I think you are missing my point completely. I think that all of these kids are exceptional and there seems to be a bond between all of them that is extremely strong. If fact, could be said to be remarkable. Thats JDA coming to train with them. So, if they are all so incredibly tight, then where is the breakdown ? You mention PK leaving as possibly a style of play issue. Well, I for one would have loved to see ANY style of play other than what has been on the ice for the past 2 years. If you meant up-tempo with the defensemen being offensive minded, well I would have liked to see that too...but we just dont press the play hard enough as a team and as others have noted we frequently end up getting caught out on that and having odd man situations going the other way. I agree we have a talented team - I am very happy with the recruiting and the team we have. That is not what I am struggling with. When we talk about a "system", I dont know what that "system" is....but clearly it isnt working and doesnt seem that anyone is buying into it. As for discipline, it seems that every one of these kids has been a captain or leader in some way on the ice, and as a group are exceptional scholar-athletes. They are disciplined. However, there seems to be some massive disconnect between the players and the coaches. For the love of god, no one has more discipline problems than BU or North Dakota but they still buy into the "system" and consistently win. If SA doesnt have control of this team, or if they are rebelling against the coaching, then there is a much bigger issue - and thats what I am questioning and concerned about. If the coaching and system is just not working - THEN CHANGE IT. Isnt that what a coaching staff is supposed to do ? Sitting the number of players we did in a league game I think is going to push the players and coaches apart, not bring them together. I do also agree that there is a whole lot of hockey left, and so this can be turned around and that we have the horses to be a force. In the end, I'm left to wonder where we would be - in the same place or an entirely different team - if we had Lehman or Bennett....and I directly ask that question because of what they have done with a program that was basically non-existent 10 years ago and is a national contender now. The fact that they are continually stomping us is unacceptable.
Quite a few people coming out of the woodwork, but the more, the merrier.
