I expected Mr Ledecky/Malkin to keep their word, and not interfere with the hockey ops, but obviously they cannot like what they see from their President, Alt Gov, General Manager where a decision has to be made about his job status by them.
They spent big money, demanded progress from last season, and clearly are not getting what they paid for with this teams future in New York to be decided by 1/31/18.
No owner is going to discuss their employees so those demanding comments in part time at best, local newspapers are kidding themselves, this team has no media, and the one full time writer employed by another NHL team's newspaper is a joke who works far less than his counterparts.
Garth Snow considers the local media a joke, I agree with him completely given their low coverage budgets, skipping playoff games, and snark on twitter which happened even during the 101, 100 point seasons.
The UFA market on 7/1 did not have a right wing answer, nor did the very limited trade market last summer, the best RW was Okposo, and playoff teams were not kicking down his door.
Here's reality:
Without Seidenberg's (+10) puck-luck earlier goals for a defense third in the NHL in scoring, this team may have only two wins.
In their 16/20 games they entered the third period tied or ahead with 8/20 games lost in regulation late or forced to overtime is too much, it has happened for countless years under this coach.
Capuano when he got his vote of confidence from Snow/players said it's on him for the team not scoring, and has to find the right combinations while the 20 goal/38 million dollar left wing does not play with Tavares, and is even on the 4th line.
In the last seven games they have not scored more than two goals, what he tried failed.
Fair or not that goes on the coach, and his staff, the system, mindset has to change with the voice, even if it's Weight, Cronin or Thompson for the remainder of this season. An outside coach getting more term than the gm could put his successor in a bad spot without his coach.
Chimera cannot score at right wing, it's not his position.
Management's admission that Strome should not be a right wing led to him struggling badly back at center, being moved back to right wing, and now he sat against San Jose.
Prince, Quine, cannot be moved around or sit this much and contribute.
Beauvillier who was playing left wing, said he prefers center, is now is getting
shifts at right wing which is how you completely ruin a prospect or injure him.
They do not have a single player who can play right wing and produce as a top six player, and with Ladd not on the first line the same can be said for the left side.
Casey Cizikas got an enormous contract for his career production.
They scored a grand total of two goals against Anaheim, one against Peter Budaj in 58 minutes, one against Martin Dell in 59 minutes, those goaltenders did not steal the game.
Nielsen's lack of even strength offense is not hurting them because he did not score here in his final fifty games. Okposo was rarely with Tavares last season until the end, and if Parenteau who Toronto let walk after 20 goals hardly cared, his release here should not make this big a difference.
The goaltending has not been the issue when you cannot score, and have this many games close. Berube decided on an NHL salary vs refusing to sign, and risking an AHL paycheck elsewhere last summer.
Bottom line it's time for a change behind the bench for an interim coach, and if necessary Snow to receive his walking papers or he remains in the interim, while the owners look for full time replacements in the summer.
Can't replace a full staff in season nor would one be available who can help.
The schedule will only keep getting worse.
I like Capuano/Snow but it's time for a change in philosophy/perception.
These owners paid for first class, and cannot make the same mistake Charles Wang did with Mike Milbury after his first season where only Butch Goring paid the price because the remaining fans will tune them out permanently.
Garth Snow/Jack Capuano have gotten their chances, a high payroll, a long-tenure, and have tried everything possible, it's time to go interim, and pick a new direction next summer.
