'We Need 94 Points

Posted 11:06 AM ET | Comments 10

That quote is from the Predators Head Coach Barry Trotz. 94 points has been his prediction for the past two weeks of the number it will take to make the playoffs in the West. That has been the number ingrained into all the Predator players as they make their push. 94 points. 94 points. 94 points.

Let me throw out why I think this type of talk is a problem. Trotz has used the 94 point mark as the benchmark...as the total he thinks the #8 team will have. Why aim for that? That is like a golfer going into a tournament saying 'I think the cut is going to be -3. I have to get to three under.' No! You need to get to -7 to make sure you aren't squeaking by.

This philosophy, I believe, has back fired in a major way. For the past three weeks or so the Preds have been looking at the number eight spot as the Holy Grail instead of looking past that and aiming higher. We all know the old quote 'It's better to aim and the stars and fail than to aim at the gutter and succeed.'

While I don't think the Preds were aiming for the gutter they certainly were not aiming for the stars. While I know that all the players are 'big boys' and that they can think for themselves it is still the coach who sets the tone and the goals for the team. Trotz has failed miserably in doing this. He has let him team and his fans down but being so shortsighted in his leadership. Perhaps we are seeing why this team has never made it past the first round. (Yes I know the Preds have been facing injuries etc...but every team has excuses. You have to get past that at some point and just play hockey!)

Were they trying to be realistic? Perhaps but faced with what should of been two points last night the Preds failed. Big time. No need to worry though...we only need 94 points so we only need to win 8 of the last 10. No big deal.

Filed Under: predators predjoe kings playoffs 94 points trotz

flannel109

March 14, 2008 1:13 PM ET | Delete
What we need is a new coach. Trotz has gone as far as he can with this team and he's done.

predjoe

March 14, 2008 2:56 PM ET | Delete
While I came close to saying the same thing...we'll see. Wholesale off-season changes could be in store for the Preds.

OneTimer

March 14, 2008 4:52 PM ET | Delete
As some have noted elsewhere, most hockey people outside of our fair town say that Trotz should get coach of the year consideration while a great number here say to boot him. I'm still shocked that people think he should be replaced. Half the coaches in this league couldn't do with this team what he has.

predram

March 14, 2008 8:32 PM ET | Delete
I guess we're blessed to have a much easier schedule than Vancouver or any of the other NW teams so 8/10 is within the realm of possibilities. but if we blow games like last night's game, then that won't happen for sure. I agree somewhat with OneTimer. Although, a lot of coaches couldve done more with the team Trotz had last year.

blueline

March 15, 2008 2:41 AM ET | Delete
On and of off the bandwagon - happens with fans of every NHL team, depending on how the team is playing. Understandable, but not always logical. You make good points regarding the 'aim high' analogy, but a coach is most often between a rock and a hard place. Everyone speculates on what it will take point-wise to reach the playoffs. When asked by the media, Trotz has to respond intelligently to a question most already know the answer to. If he says "110 points, minimum", then he'd be taken for a fool. Now if he somehow implies that he is satisfied with mediocrity, then that's a different message. However, that is not the message he has relayed regarding the 94 point threshold.

sharks1

March 15, 2008 3:17 AM ET | Delete
why dont u all aim for 7th place u will have fun in the play-offs, think of it this way u can beg for a discount cuzz ur team wont make it past the first round again.

Pred26

March 15, 2008 5:47 PM ET | Delete
You know I'm always one of the 1st people to call for Trotz's Head. And that's not going to change. Especially after last year, to have all that talent on one team, and let it all slip away, any other coach would have taken that team deep into the playoffs. The problem with Trotz is that he's a mediocre coach with mediocre ambition, he can't step up then he needs to. Pretty much what you see is what you get an nothing more. Trotz can't inspire this team to play "play off Hockey"... I'm bet is IF Trotz was Det. Coach, he would have been gone a long time ago... Look at lewis...

Scottrod83