Crunch Time

This says it all from Lindsay's article today:

The loss added another chapter to the franchise's history of postseason heartaches. In each of its last four playoff series losses, it has held a two-game lead: up 2-0 vs. Chicago in 2002; up 3-1 vs. Rochester in 2004 and ahead 2-0 vs. Manitoba in 2006.  Most of these players had nothing to do with those tumbles. This one will be on their resumes, and perhaps in their heads, forever.

What I find interesting is there is one common denominator who was present for each of these playoff collapses:  ROSS YATES

Should he stay or should he go?

Slapshot:

Should he stay or should he go?

 He's got to go ! The reason that teams lose a series after being up 3 games to 1 is simply because of coaching. Toronto made the necessary adjustments and ripped this series from the guys. Meanwhile Yates went away from what made this team successful,( although I believe that Konopka was directing this team - kinda spoke volumes when Yates asked Konopka about the whole family time thing) and tried to do God knows what and then didn't adjust to the adjustments that Toronto made which ultimately took a 3-1 series lead and turned it into a season ending choke job. This group of players obviously has the talent and heart, they deserve a better leader at the top to take them to the next level.

YATES MUST GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep in mind, though, that Columbus' main concern is NOT whether we win or lose down here, but if Yates can prepare players to move up to the NHL (on a full-time basis, that is, not as fill-ins when the ever-increasingly fragile Blue Jackets fall apart in the last few weeks of the season).

Also, don't forget, if Yates goes, Konopka goes.....that won't change what Columbus' plans are, but fans' opinions may be different based on that fact alone.

As for me....well, if it keeps Konopka around, then Yates should probably stay.  It was, after all, Yates' first foray into the postseason as a head coach, and maybe he learned a few things (like, don't change your strategy completely based on your opponent; he's not the first AHL coach I've seen make that mistake).  But CBJ will do whatever they feel like, and unfortunately, it probably won't work out for the best....

I have never played hockey or coached hockey but having these two working together it seemed to help our team alot.  Do you ever remember any professional  team where the captain was able to work together with the coach to get to the same goal.  Remember they are a team and both are trying ti win the Calder Cup.  Say what you want but when your coach has enough respect for the captain of your team to help make decisions you will earn the respect of the other players on the team.  One can not win with out the others help.  I am very proud of this TEAM and what they have done.  I read alot of blogs from the newspapers today and am ashamed of some  people in the Syracuse area that put our team and coach down.  I would assume most of the people writing these have never played hockey and have no idea what it takes to play the game.  I have brought my son to meet alot of the players and they ALWAYS put the kids on a pedestal.  I will always be a crunch fan but will always remember the year 2008 where yeah we could have won but we didn't, and you know thats ok we know you did your best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It would be ok with me if we had to lose Z and Yates in exchange for a really good head coach.  I like Z, but he's replacable.  Everyone is.

I'm not convinced he'll be here in the fall anyway.  He will take the best deal possible.  Sure he has loyalty to the team, but he also has loyalty to himself.  He needs to make as much money as he can in the years he has left. 

Z would be tough to replace, not numbers wise, but leadership wise. It's hard to just go out and grab someone just like that. Last time I checked, Z wasn't in the blue jackets plans anyways, so does it matter? He's probably gone anyways...yates has to go. he can take columbus with him.

As for konopka saying he'd leave if yates didn't come back, Z also said he would score and the crunch would beat the marlies in game 7, and did that happen?

 What did you want him to say? "Were going up to Toronto and lose by a goal, have a nice summer".  Zenon cannot be replaced and remember Howard loves his brand of hockey he has to have some pull.As for Yates  i believe  he will get another deal , i would hope that the Crunch's performance warrants that contrary to popular belief he did have something to do with that.

Zenon is not as disposable as you may think.  Do you remember how horrible this team played in the beginning, how they looked like they'd never played with eachother even after 10-15 games?  Well turns out some of the players didn't want to play with eachother and Z wouldn't stand for it.  I remember something along the lines of him dropping the gloves with Methot because Marc didn't want to play w/ Plekhanov.  I applaud that move.  He woke Methot up real quick and both he and Plekhanov played well together the last half of the year.  He reminded the guys that this isn't high school where you get to choose your friends, this is your life 3/4 of the year and these guys are your brothers.