yup, it all starts at the top imho. its the wrong mix of players with the wrong coach. It is apparent now that guys like Edler, Tanev, Beagle kept this team from being real bad. Guys willing to block shots, win board battles and provide some leadership. Losing those guys was like pulling the lynchpin on the grenade. They pulled the bandaid and exposed this team for what it really is. I might throw sutter in that list just because he was a competent 3c that could kill penalties and win draws, although a little expensive.
Schenn threw a big hit today, rattled the other guy. The play seemed so unusual, a Canuck player drilling a guy and separating him from the puck. Our top two lines cant do that. Our defence in general is soft. We really only have 2 top 4 d men. The rest would be bottom pairing d guys at best on good teams. A bunch of guys on the perimeter in the O zone with only the smallest guys willing to the dirty areas.
The poster above (i think @khay) brought up an excellent comparison- this team is like the oilers of the 2010s. So true. The scary part is that without a clear plan and a very shrewd management team we are likely to be stuck in this buffalo style purgatory for years.
8 years in, its time for a change and a change in direction.