What To Do With Austen Matthews?
There is only one solution and that is Via Trade.
Get what you can and move on.
He is injury prone, lacks personality and won't play a hard gritty game. A princess on figure skates doing twirls around the circles, unwilling to use his 6' 3" frame to play physical when he can't score. He got injured trying to throw a hit in retaliation. He won't discuss his injuries because they are what many others have have played through. His players do not respect him and he is unable to lead them by example or via motivation by being the glue in the room.
The lesson, which will be forgotten.
Young talented players should not be captains. The "C" is for players who have experience in the league. Show the ability to change the momentum, lift up guys who are struggling and can deal with media in a way that engages fans, protects players, keep things light when times are tough.
Pat Maroon, Corey Perry, Wendel Clark, Brad Marchand......
These are the kind of players who have earned the "C"
Sometimes you take a loss to move on, fans would prefer to watch a bunch of blue collar players play a physical game and lose than a bunch of skilled guys stand around looking for someone else to do the heavy lifting.
He appears more interested in life after the games are played then doing what is expected 82 games per year. Send him to San Jose please.
picture/data credit to Sportsnet.ca
No Move Clause
No moves, should be removed from the CBA.
Players earn a no move through performance and value to the team, not through contract negotiations which tie a team up even when they want the player gone.
Think of the damage done by players who refused to move, Matts Sundin. Mitch Marner. Darnell Nurse, Dion Phaneuf. Keith Yandle....
No professional athlete should enjoy "settling" their family in a city that suits them. Their careers are short lived, they can grow roots when they retire.
What's Up With Goalies
The position requires two starting goalies on NHL teams to get through a season.
Why are there so many struggling?
Goalies are larger than ever
Equipment is better and lighter than ever
There is more training, more often from a young age
One would think goalies have the upper hand and goals would be hard to come by.
Are the players that much better, shots more accurate and harder to stop than ever before?
There has been talk that specifically "Canadian" goalies are not as good as they were in the 90's and early 2000's. In addition to overall skill level, there is also the issue that goalies can't play as many games in a season.
Could it be related to the "butterfly" style of play that is causing harm to hips and knees?
It' surprises me that Edmonton/Montreal/Carolina/Toronto and others can't find replacements in Russia, Europe, ECHL to fix their woes.
Ottawa had Andrew Hammond, a few years ago that came in and stole the show, perhaps teams need to consider giving more guys a chance at the AHL level to find a hot hand. It always surprises me when a team wins and the coach changes goalies for the next game. Confidence and momentum are a big part of success in life, so why not go with the hot hand in goal until you lose?
Do Contracts Have Value in Pro Sports?
While we can argue there have been improvements over how players are treated by owners, there are some areas where it would seem the players have too much control over teams.
NBA, has players "opt out" on an annual basis. Players now dictate to teams what teams they will play for, what players they want to play with and have tremendous influence on building teams.
NHL players reach a point where they are no longer producing, fallen out of favor with fans, and cause issues in the locker room among teammates. Yet they hold the no move clause and can't be traded unless and until they agree, often dictating what team or teams they will consider. This leaves the team accepting a trade that may not give the highest and best return. Leaves fans upset and players dealing with drama they don't want to deal with.
Let's talk About A Touchy Subject (Pun Intended)
Milan Lucic has been given a platform through podcasts and many sports and news organizations covering his attempt to get a roster spot on St. Louis Blues. (He was officially released from St. Louis and the AHL)
The conversations make him sound like a hero, seeking help through the NHL player assistance program for substance abuse and rebuilding his family.
The reality is not as rosy, his wife placed a 911 call, the policy arrested and charged him, the Boston Bruins terminated his contract, he entered the player assistance program. His wife refused to testify and the state had no choice but to drop the case.
He didn't acknowledge a problem until he was arrested and lost his job. He didn't seek help until he was facing jail. Let's keep things in perspective.
The people his is giving interview to are not asking any hard questions, Milan and the media are happy to dodge around the facts and talk about the details a generic way that makes him look noble.
picture/data credit to Sportsnet.ca
Coaches need time to implement
The idea that a coach at the professional level has a shelf life of 2-3 years is absurd.
If the players can't follow a game plan they should be traded, if they are un tradeable they should have their contracts terminated.
A coach should have a 5 year term, to build the system he or she wants.
Coaches should also have the guts to juggle lines more frequently. Often they are afraid to mix the lines in fear of a blow out, but after losing 4 or 5 games straight, what do you have to lose?
Insanity is going back to the same lines, thinking something might change.
Treating coaches as disposable gives players an out.