Caps forward Brooks Laich has often been credited with captain-like qualities. That’s obviously not likely to happen here in Washington as long as Alex Ovechkin is around. But just because you’re not wearing the “C” doesn’t mean you can’t take on a leadership role and send a message to your teammates, too. Laich had a refreshingly honest, blunt conversation with reporters after Tuesday’s practice at Kettler Iceplex as he tried to hash out what’s gone wrong over the last month with just 10 standings points earned since Nov. 19. There are obvious on-ice, x’s-and-o’s reasons, of course. But some of it, according to Laich, also has to do with approach.
“Game days are sacred. They are sacred times,” Laich said. “We don’t ask a lot of our players around here. I think we have it pretty good. I think the organization treats us as men, gives us days off, gives us rest. They aren’t down our throats every single day. As players we have to have more respect – more respect for the game, more respect for our coaches, do a better job, put a better foot forward and rely on each other to get ourselves out of this.”
An occasional criticism of the Caps by the national media holds that Bruce Boudreau can be too much a players’ coach. He has an edge, to be sure. This isn’t someone afraid to yell and scream to get his point across. But Boudreau is also reluctant to drive his players into the ground. He just doesn’t see the point and thinks it does more harm than good. A decent number of NHL coaches don’t possess that gene, though. A losing streak like the current 0-4-2 slide wouldn’t generate much mercy from a guy like Brent Sutter in Calgary.
Few are suggesting that Boudreau should be shown the door – though AOL FanHouse’s A.J. Perez did ask Boudreau about his job security on Tuesday and he didn’t react well, calling it “a dumb question.” To be honest, a team with the fourth-most points in the NHL probably should show its head coach some patience and that’s never been a problem for George McPhee or Ted Leonsis in the past. You do get the sense, though, that the Caps players realize if the losing goes on too much longer they are putting not just their coach, but themselves in jeopardy. A sense of urgency must prevail or forces beyond their control will determine their fate.
“If you don’t see it after six losses when are you going to see? What’s it going to take? Sixteen [losses]? Twenty?” Laich said. “Winning teams stay together, losing teams don’t. And if we don’t start winning changes are going to be made. Players are going to be moved out of here. It doesn’t matter what your name is – you could be moved. And I think everybody in this locker room wants to stay here. So we have to start winning if we want to stay here.”
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