One of the gifts I got for Hitch was a video of his '99 Cup run with the Dallas Stars. Late Christmas Eve, we plugged that in and watched his road to winning the Stanley Cup.
There were a lot of similarities between the jackets and the stars when Hitch first arrived in Dallas. No coverage, modest fan support, and a struggling team. After some shrewd moves by Bob Gainey, the GM, they built a team that was a force to be reckoned with.
Watching the highlights of the 4 series that the stars went through showed me just how much each player was willing to sacrifice and how hungry they were to win. There was bumps and adversity throughout, but they stuck together. It also showed me how far the jackets need to go to get to a reasonable level of competitive level and composure.
The Stars had older players who were competitive and determined to never let anyone take a shift off. Anytime they showed the bench, it was the players who were barking at each other for 'more!', not Hitch. The jackets really lack that vocal, competitive leadership that all successful teams need. More than once, I have heard Hitch comment on the notion that his current team 'just plays hockey' and after watching this DVD, it is more clear as to what he means.
We need help in terms of skill and competitive players, but that doesn't absolve the current roster from their role in elevating the competitive environment that exists. In some ways it was very discouraging watching that DVD and seeing how far we are from where we need to be. At the same time, it is very encouraging because it can be done and Hitch has experience with it. There is no question that Scott needs to help him from his end, but if he steps up, things can change quickly.
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