How is a team this good on paper, playing so badly?? The only significant loss in the offseason was Miller and Stralman (who was already regressing last year) and they added a legit top 4 D in Shattenkirk. This team should be top of the league again. It’s gotta be a mental thing because this team has so much skill throughout the lineup

Because our **** ****ing coach

We're changing our system and there's a decent amount of growing pains. Cooper is adapting our teams structure in an attempt to be a better "playoff team".

Last year we played a run and gun style. Simply put we traded high-danger scoring chances with the other team because our offense and goalie were better than just about every other team in the league. We forced the teams we played into playing high-event hockey which we were the best in the league at. Obviously, this system didn't work too well in the playoffs when we came against a team that refused to change their style.

This year we've reverted back to a system closer to what we played when we made the cup final in 2015. Defense first, dump and chase, cycles, etc. rather than odd man rushes. What made our 2015 team successful is just about every player on our team was competent in their own end and could/would cover for dmen when they pinched. This is why that whole Drouin situation happened with getting sent down. and the trade demand It's a pretty big step away from last year so we're seeing some instances of passes to no one because that's where they would have been last year. Now not all the shortcomings are because of this, but I think it's a pretty big contributor. We've actually played really well the past 5+ games, just the record doesn't show it.

That being said, I'm sure there is more to it then that and I acknowledge it. A lot of fans will point out other flaws or just say stuff like "Fire coop" or "too many shrimps" or stuff like that, but hey I'm no expert or anything, I'm just a guy who watches hockey.

Side note: my unfounded and unrealistic theory is that the Bolts are taking it easy so they can be the team that turns it on down the stretch and carry that momentum into the playoffs. Last year they all but clinched a playoff birth in February, which is a long time without meaningful hockey.

Edit: Another big component is that Vasilevskiy has not been his usual self, he does not look like a Vezina winner.

JEESH Hedman77 .. when you get so salty? .. need to be positive like me.

Soooooo.. we went 2-2 in tough 4 game stretch.. about right .. we .500 team withvsone added OT loss points .. a few comments:

1. Attendance not that bad but a material drop from last year .. particularly on the "good seats" and suites are sparse.. the game Tuesday against Ottawa should be telling and cant be worse than Islanders game... you could get lower level for 50 bucks and in the $20s for upper level.

2. Team not playing too bad. Vaz was awful tonight against Caps

3. Very weak bottom 6

4. KILLORN is beast mode .. if only Cirelli could score like Point although Point not capitalizing either.. we just not scoring this year

Need a 3C ASAP .. maybe a 2C from team out of playoffs.. hey lets trade for JT Miller .. ???????