This team's struggled with the same issues going back through the entirety of last season. If you thought we were some powerhouse because Sid, Geno, and Phil tore it up for a few weeks to start 2018 that's on you. All they did was mask glaring issues that won't/can't be addressed mid-season.
Ride it out and work this summer. No time to change it now, just hope the big guns carry a seriously flawed team again like last season. Plain and simple, this playoff is on the shoulders of 87, 71, 81 and 30.
Didn’t disagree with you on all points. I’m just talking about the theory that this team is just “easing” into the playoffs, poised to kick on the afterburners once the puck drops in the postseason, doesn’t hold water for me based on what I have seen.
It is structure issues, mental mistakes, inability to capitalize at key times, soft goals given up, etc.
The idea that this stuff goes on for weeks leading into the playoffs, and all the bad habits that can develop along with it, and that they have the ability to just shift into playoff mode at any given time just seems unlikely.
Do I hope they do? Absolutely. But I think that they will get bounced early and JR will have some work to do this offseason.