I have started to notice something in Tocchet's comments. I like them because he is reserved in his praise but a little concerned over his "tired team" and "stacked schedule" statements.
What he says aren't condemning things or the major part of his media scrums but he is inserting tired as a reason for not having success and the media has taken up the travel torch which adds to the fans not looking too hard at the construction of the group or lack of depth. Well maybe not too much because he does have a better bottom six in years playing fairly well.
Benching Kuz for bad defence, Kuz was one of 3 forwards and not the center. Stats show his giveaways are 11th on the team.
Tocchet is going to lose him because he is trying to make a ballerina into Tarzan. He is playing Kuz 4th line minutes.
What is seen in the market may not be what is happening behind doors but maybe looking to his past coaching could offer some insight.
With Arizona there were some players that either voiced or rumours were flying around of them wanting out of the team, some moved on most likely due to publicity others didn't have that option. Some of these had to do with the chaotic turmoil surrounding that team but some maybe not. Some may have exposed coach/player relationships of one Alpha dominating another or trying to.
Keller was rumored to ask for a trade.
OEL was very vocal about one.
Crouse watched a lot until he was gone
Strome got traded just as he started to bloom for a grittier center
Duclair for Panik, a grinder
Dvorak, why? Internal trade request?
There were trades in Arizona just because the team was crap but while Tocchet was there the grinders or "board guys" got more ice time than the skilled guys. A lot of point producers improved after they left.
Hey, What do I know? Pure Speculation! But I did post last year once Tocchet was hired that Kuzmenko, OEL and would not thrive under him. OEL never demanded a trade because he didn't like his team mates, neither did Keller. I also posted I thought Miller and Tocchet would not get along, so far I am wrong about that but 2 out 3 ain't bad.
Good players that move on are usually because GM's don't want a player that doesn't want to be there on their teams. I am sure Zadorov will be traded after it came out he wants out too. But what about the stuff never heard by fans. Even some media keep quiet now.
Tocchet sounds okay and the constant rhetoric of "structure" makes people think he is doing something none of the other 3 coaches knew how to do.
