I thought a regression was very possible this season. A lot of unlikely comeback wins last season, a lot of unsustainable production from a mediocre D, too many defensive issues and not enough appropriate new help added. But this is a collapse, not a regression, despite less roster turnover than last year. When you get solid veteran character types like Copp and Compher making negative public comments or simply not putting in enough effort on a backcheck like last night, it's just another sign of a huge problem in the coach-player dynamic, if more evidence was even needed.
SY had this problem in TB, missing the playoffs two years in a row after reaching Game 7 of the Conference final, and fired Boucher 31 games into the second of those two seasons. There were only 17 games left that year and he was replaced by interim co-head coaches who didn't have any solutions either. It might be tempting to go the same route this season, interim replacement(s) and take what comes out of it. The way they've drafted in the first round, a higher Draft pick than expected could be interesting. NJ lucked into Jack Hughes by dropping 25 points from the previous year.
