Internal Problems with M Hockey?

Looks like Red is trying to whatever he can to create some leadership on this team.  Yes there are some high-profile recruits that came in, but some of the older more experienced guys need to step up and show them the way.  Coming from Juniors/USNTDP where you play multiple times a week vs playing two times on a weekend (where teams spend 5 days scouting you) is a different beast.

Best thing that could happen is a player like Lynch or Moffie tear into some of the guys not performing.  

I know the goaltending has been a hot topic, and hasn't been anywhere near where it needs to be... HOWEVER, tonight Michigan gave up 17 shots in the second period, thats bad team play.

They can still pull it together to salvage the season, get hot in the conference tourney, and keep "the streak" alive.

Or they won't.  Maybe this is the year the luck finally runs out.

Glendening is gone, somebody needs to take control of this team. I'm hoping it's Merrill because if it isn't, who else will it be?

Usually I get grumpy when people leave eaely for the NHL, but I might change my mind. If people have mentally checked out and they're supposed to be leaders of the team then they're not doing us or themselves any good.

I don't know. I just can't understand why a team so talented sucks so much other than maybe the whole team just not trying. I don't know

I miss Brownie....

I agree about the leadership assessment; Brown left, and you have guys like Lynch and Moffie who should be clear-cut leaders, but aren't.  We all know AJ's a quiet guy in the room.

Whatever you're doing, Michigan Hockey Gods, do it faster, because I'm terribly worried.

We have yet to win a game on the road, and our only non-loss was that miracle OT tie against Northern. And we've just looked sloppier than usual at the games I've seen at Yost, so I can only imagine how much sloppier we've looked on the road. We've been outscored 17-3 in our last 3 games away from Yost. Gotta bounce back for round 2 vs Ferris.

Merrill, the same guy who was at skeeps on Tuesday neck brace and all, is not the answer to all our problems. Will he contribute to a stronger back line? Sure. But what I see right now is a team not willing to play team defense, meaning forwards back checking and defense cleaning up our own zone first. When you throw in freshman tendys, that's a recipe for disaster. It's gonna take one of the leaders to lay down the gauntlet about team defense first before (if ever) this season will turn around.

*delete, damn double post*

Berenson knows how to handle kids.  I wouldn't be concerned.  We see what has happened with the malcontent Titus Young playing for the Lions.  No player is bigger than the team.

Found the Ferris State broadcast highlights... 

Mel Pearson was assistant coach here for 22 years starting in the '88-'89 season, and in '91 we started our string of appearances in the NCAAs. He was here for every one of the national championships, Frozen Fours, and CCHA championships since Red got here, and to say that he was Red's right-hand man for this sustained period of hockey excellence isn't an overstatement. Last season Mel took over Michigan Tech, and was named CCHA coach of the year after the season was over.

It would not surprise me at all if the loss of Pearson is something that Red, his staff, and the team are still adjusting to.

I don't understand where the offense went either. In the last 6 games, we've scored 2, 1, 1, 3, 1 and 0 goals.

It seems like the D and the goaltending haven't gotten much worse lately, the offense just bottomed out and thus the offense hasn't been able to cover the poor D and suspect goaltending like it was earlier in the season where we were scoring 3+ goals consistently

Hoping to keep my maize sweater maize tonight in BR! Lets gooooo!