GhostofPotvin29
New member
pmrules said:Some pretty telling words from Roman Polak (who, as the article points out, has spent most of his career on a winning team in St. Louis).
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-need-to-bridge-divided-dressing-room/
Take it from no-nonsense defenceman Roman Polak, who had spent his entire NHL career in St. Louis before a trade to Toronto last summer. He didn?t flinch when asked why the Leafs haven?t played with enough defensive structure.
?Because it?s hard work,? Polak said before Wednesday?s 6-2 loss to Washington. ?It?s always tough to do something you know you don?t like to do. I think we have lots of guys that just want to play offence.?
...
All of which brings us back to the million-dollar question: Will the message sent by Carlyle?s firing and a stronger voice for Horachek be enough to accomplish it?
?It?s tough to say,? said Polak. ?I don?t know. As a coach, you can do whatever you want, but the guys have to listen too. It?s not just the coach?s fault; it?s the guys, too, because they have to listen and they have to understand what the coach wants from them.
?If they don?t, it doesn?t matter what kind of coach you have.?
Some new voices are starting to speak up. Will the others hear them?
Kessel was on a winning team in Boston. Phaneuf was on a winning team in Calgary. At least winning as much as the Blues have ever won, neither had missed the playoffs before being traded to the Leafs.