Or the captain can take some of the blame, say he needs to be better, and take some heat of the other players while earning some respect from his peers at the same time. Everyone moves on and the question is answered.
Instead he deflects the question and the blame, raising more questions - specifically about leadership quality.
But he didn't need to be better. His goalies and GM needed to be better. He gave the most honest answer he could, that he can only do so much, and that hockey is a team game.
Quote:
Originally Posted by masterandy
That's where the issue lies...they have a formidable enough team capable of making the playoffs. It just didn't happen. Too many injuries, players didn't play up to their capability. Management is one thing, but you also have to believe in yourself. They didn't believe they can win as a team, that's the biggest and most concerning issue.
4th last in possession isn't really 'good enough' to make the playoffs. They had a few injuries sure, but again, 'believing' in yourself isn't going to magically make you a better, more skilled hockey club. The onus is on the GM to improve a lousy team. Again, a captain can only do so much to 'inspire' the team, but since intangibles can't really be measured in anyway, they are nearly useless in fan discussion (not to say that locker room issues CANNOT negatively effect teams, but their ability to do so can't really be measured, besides, it is doubtful that the most perfect situation for them would have significantly helped them become a 'good enough' team)
Last edited by svat: 03-30-2012 at 02:19 AM.
Reason: awkward wording fixed
I liked it. I don't think it's too unreasonable to ask a player when things went wrong, why they haven't been playing well, or questioning a Captain's leadership abilities given how poorly they've played in a vital part of the season.
I thought the question to Gus was a low blow though.
Does Phaneuf make trades? Does Phaneuf play in net? Again, there is only so much one player can do. To me, leadership should be leading by example, and he had a pretty good season. A captain can only tell his boys to '****en get it goin eh' so many times, eventually help needs to come from the outside, in the form of better players.
The only problem I see with this is that Phaneuf is e captain of a team that was competing and was looking to be a lock for a playoff spot. The team fell apart and it is one of the responsibilities of the captain to keep that from happening.
4th last in possession isn't really 'good enough' to make the playoffs. They had a few injuries sure, but again, 'believing' in yourself isn't going to magically make you a better, more skilled hockey club. The onus is on the GM to improve a lousy team. Again, a captain can only do so much to 'inspire' the team, but since intangibles can't really be measured in anyway, they are nearly useless in fan discussion (not to say that locker room issues CANNOT negatively effect teams, but their ability to do so can't really be measured, besides, it is doubtful that the most perfect situation for them wouldn't have helped them become a 'good enough' team)
Really? cause I swear they were fighting for a playoff spot 25 games ago. Let's face it, they stop believing they could do it. They were fine the first 50 games. Don't tell anyone they weren't "good enough".
Lol at people saying that was not professional, Should the press baby the Leafs ask soft questions. I say bravo and the funny thing is not one player was accountable and said I have to be better they all passed the buck or I don't know. Think Burke is going to fix this in the offseason IMO the Leafs are going to nosedive even worst next year. Because they cannot get their feelings hurt. That team is in serious trouble from management down to the players. The hole team **** the bed and failed at a epic level time to sleep in those dirty sheets.
I liked parts of the interview but I don't like how he went after Schenn, Gardiner and Kessel.
Schenn is a hard-working guy who is pure class, he has been playing bad but he at least tries every game and is one of the few players who actually stands up for his teammates. He has taken accountability before and has said before that he is sorry for the fans. He's a young player, why is he being brought into the fire to answer these questions?
Jake Gardiner, he has played great and has been one of the only players who has actually looked good in the Leafs terrible 20+ stretch of games. He has exceeded all expectations this year and is just a rookie. Why the HELL is he being asked those questions?
Kessel? He's not a spotlight/camera guy and he's been the team's best player all year. He set new career highs and played the best hockey of his career. It is far from his fault, sure he shares some of the blame for not scoring much in these recent struggles but he is still the team's MVP by a mile.
Phaneuf I can understand because he is the captain and plays lazy sometimes.
Even Gustavsson, that question was pretty retarded.
Players like Connolly, Armstrong, MacArthur need to be questioned. The so called veterans and leaders on this team. These are the guys that should be put in the hot seat to answer these questions
Definitely entertaining to see that, and probably cathartic for Leafs fans. The only part I thought was overboard was the Schenn interview which got a little ridiculous. Schenn doesn't set the damn ticket prices there, and the reporter tried way too hard to get him to apologize for his team. Uncomfortable.
Best part was easily Kessel. "I dunno, haha!" That was ****ing hilarious!
Lol at people saying that was not professional, Should the press baby the Leafs ask soft questions. I say bravo and the funny thing is not one player was accountable and said I have to be better they all passed the buck or I don't know. Think Burke is going to fix this in the offseason IMO the Leafs are going to nosedive even worst next year. Because they cannot get their feelings hurt. That team is in serious trouble from management down to the players. The hole team **** the bed and failed at a epic level time to sleep in those dirty sheets.
Bravo? For what? To even call that **** journalism would be disrespectful to ****. All of his questions were meant to anger or embarrass the players. If he truly wanted answers, he could have easily phrased everything differently. His "piece" is so horribly biased as well, and he does everything in his power to paint the team in a negative light.
His agenda is clear as day. Why else do you think he included the clip of the equipment manager being on the ice? His implication was that the team is SO lazy that only the manager showed up to practice on time! Yeah! Not even the coach showed up on time! Just the equipment manager! Please.
Since I live in the States now, I don't have access to CTV so I don't know if this guy is a journalist or what. If he is, that was a shameful display.
Bravo? For what? To even call that **** journalism would be disrespectful to ****. All of his questions were meant to anger or embarrass the players. If he truly wanted answers, he could have easily phrased everything differently. His "piece" is so horribly biased as well, and he does everything in his power to paint the team in a negative light.
His agenda is clear as day. Why else do you think he included the clip of the equipment manager being on the ice? His implication was that the team is SO lazy that only the manager showed up to practice on time! Yeah! Not even the coach showed up on time! Just the equipment manager! Please.
Since I live in the States now, I don't have access to CTV so I don't know if this guy is a journalist or what. If he is, that was a shameful display.
Toronto media LOVES TO COMPLAIN about the Leafs. They thrive on it, it's easy ratings....no different than TMZ following Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears out to "the clubs". It's pathetic.
Unrealistic expectations, it's that simple.
Look at the players, look at the players on the other teams, adjust your expectations.
This isn't Burke's fault, look at those before him.
Burke's guilty of over-promising. The media are parasites, they sit back and wait to pounce. Pretty cowardly and heartless and unfair.
The players should give a big "eff you" to some of these guys - but that's JUST WHAT THEY WANT...another sound bite.
Bravo? For what? To even call that **** journalism would be disrespectful to ****. All of his questions were meant to anger or embarrass the players. If he truly wanted answers, he could have easily phrased everything differently. His "piece" is so horribly biased as well, and he does everything in his power to paint the team in a negative light.
His agenda is clear as day. Why else do you think he included the clip of the equipment manager being on the ice? His implication was that the team is SO lazy that only the manager showed up to practice on time! Yeah! Not even the coach showed up on time! Just the equipment manager! Please.
Since I live in the States now, I don't have access to CTV so I don't know if this guy is a journalist or what. If he is, that was a shameful display.
I imagine though that those were the questions that, in their heart, a LOT of Leaf fans wanted asked.
The question on Gus was over the line though.
Toronto media LOVES TO COMPLAIN about the Leafs. They thrive on it, it's easy ratings....no different than TMZ following Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears out to "the clubs". It's pathetic.
Unrealistic expectations, it's that simple.
Look at the players, look at the players on the other teams, adjust your expectations.
This isn't Burke's fault, look at those before him.
Burke's guilty of over-promising. The media are parasites, they sit back and wait to pounce. Pretty cowardly and heartless and unfair.
The players should give a big "eff you" to some of these guys - but that's JUST WHAT THEY WANT...another sound bite.
Making the playoffs with a team that hasnt made it in 7 years that spends to the cap is unrealistic?
I imagine though that those were the questions that, in their heart, a LOT of Leaf fans wanted asked.
The question on Gus was over the line though.
I understand that. However, if he was looking for actual answers, he knows that his approach was not going to work. On top of that, he was doing everything he possibly could to turn the audience against the Leafs.
But seriously, his questions?
Q. Are you a good captain?
A. No. I am a terrible one.
Q. How do you think the people who pay $450 to watch you play feel?
A. I think they are really happy. Thanks for asking.
Q. So you might be traded. Feels good?
A. Absolutely. Thanks!
Great journalism. Really thought-provoking questions.
Really? cause I swear they were fighting for a playoff spot 25 games ago. Let's face it, they stop believing they could do it. They were fine the first 50 games. Don't tell anyone they weren't "good enough".
No, they were clinging on to a playoff spot, riding percentages. They did drop in puck possession as well, as I believe they were around 20-22 in the league at the midway point, but still, you shouldn't expect to keep a playoff spot when you are riding shooting percentages (see: minny this year). I'll tell everyone who can get past a third of a years standings as not being a good indicator of how good a team is in general that they weren't good enough.
The only problem I see with this is that Phaneuf is e captain of a team that was competing and was looking to be a lock for a playoff spot. The team fell apart and it is one of the responsibilities of the captain to keep that from happening.
They weren't really a lock at all, you can look to my previous posts in this thread as to why not. Their goaltending did take a large dip, and their possession numbers dropped too (which is an indicator that they started playing poorly to a larger extent later in the season, but again, from the start, they never played well), but they predictably fell apart.
Having poor special teams also didn't help the Leafs either, which is a coaching, management, player and luck issue.
As someone pointed out early in this thread, the reason the Leafs are in this situation (being called out by fans and even reporters) is due to the unrealistic expectations of the Leafs media and fanbase. They just aren't a good team.
It's not like these guys aren't trying. Hockey just isn't working out for the Leafs right now, these are all stupid questions to ask.
Those of you whining about the players would only have accepted "I suck" as an answer from the players. They're obviously trying their hardest, it just fell apart for them. It's not like Gustavsson wants to let in bad goal after bad goal and then be out of a job next year. Kessel would like to score 60 goals and will his team into the playoffs.
This journalist either takes hockey far too seriously or was just trying to get a rise out of the players for ratings. If I was a player I'd respond to all those questions by saying "I'm trying my hardest to play for the team and as a team, it just isn't working", and when he undoubtedly pestered me for a more controversial answer, I'd tell him to go **** himself.
Please.
