1 - Team doesn't support one another. Goalie often left on his own, defense get little help from forwards, and forward in puck battles don't have much help. Too many guys trying the win games by themselves.
2 - Coaching. Lack of a solid system that suits the team, lack of accountability, way too easygoing a culture.
3 - Injuries and mind games. Good players out with big injuries and then guys who are back from injury are playing a soft "I don't wanna get injured" style of game.
4 - Scheduling. I mean really...wtf is this shit all year?
5 - Team construction. Having a bazillion LD and one RD (who has an injury history) is silly...especially when also going out last year to get another LD. Lots of copycat forwards. Where's the big punishing guys? Where are the muckers? Too many non-physical skill guys. Can't have Brady be the one to do most of the fighting and physical work, either.
Sad thing is, if #1 was fixed at the beginning of the year, there would've been a good chance to get a wildcard spot even with all the other flaws.