What happened to other NHL teams when internal turmoil was resolved?
The Ugly: Erik Karlsson and Mike Hoffman (2018)
The Good: Evander Kane vs. Dustin Byfuglien (The Infamous Tracksuit Incident of 2015)
“I tried to help. He wouldn’t listen back then, so no one had time for him,” Antropov said, describing Kane’s behaviour as a young player.
What we do know is that Kane missed the following game against the Canucks, was placed on injured reserve, and was traded to the Buffalo Sabres less than a week later.
Montreal had just lost in the playoffs to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes and the team appeared ready to contend. However, losing their fourth-leading scorer for essentially a fifth-round pick was a setback. The other piece in the trade, defenceman Janne Niinimaa, played only 41 more NHL games before heading to Europe.
Hey Blue Bombers, what’s going on?
Since 2019, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers winning the west has been inevitable. After a loss this week to the Calgary Stampeders, the Bombers have now dropped to 0-4 to start the season.
Many may point to injuries to stars Kenny Lawler and Dalton Schoen for the teams’ early struggles, but I don’t believe that tells the whole story. Even before both stars went down something just seemed off with this usually dominant roster on both sides of the ball.
Offensive struggles
The Bombers offence has been like a well-oiled machine in years past. Every player’s skillset was used as a piece that perfectly fit offensive coordinator’s Paul LaPolice in 2019 and Buck Pierce’s puzzle ever since.
A nasty, physical offensive line paved the way for the likes of talented backs Andrew Harris and then Brady Oliveria to rack up yards on the ground. When defenses would respond by stacking the box to stop the run, good luck covering Lawler, or Schoen one on one down the field.
When the Bombers needed a big second down conversion and Lawler and or Schoen were doubled it was Nick Demski’s time to shine.
A savvy route runner, Demski has been incredible working the intermediate parts of the field and coming up with tough contested catches when the Bombers need him most.
This year the Bomber’s offence that has made moving the ball look effortless in years past, looks disjointed and moving the sticks consistently seems nearly impossible at times.
The Bombers run game they used to wear down opponents’ game after game has dissipated. Despite Oliveria missing only one game the Bombers rank 5th in the league in rushing with an average of 78.5 yards per game. That’s a far cry from their 139 per game they averaged last year.
Yes, losing Lawler in week one is bound to hurt, but the team managed to get by without him for almost the entire season last year. In two full games with Demski and Schoen healthy the passing attack was a far cry from its usual self. A team that finished the year second in passing last year averaging 278 yards per game, is dead last in the league with 229 per game.
In the clip above Collaros drops back to pass and throws the ball to Schoen running an out route from the slot. Schoen clearly has a step on his defender but doesn’t go the the ball and attack it for a sure touchdown. He instead waits for the ball to hit him in the numbers, allowing the play to be broken up.
With Montreal sending pressure, Collaros steps up and throws a perfect pass to Schoen streaking up the seam. What looks to be a sure touchdown falls right out of the hands of Schoen.
Desperately needing a big play with the game on the line against the Lions, Collaros calls Demski’s number like he’s done so many times before. Collaros throws a perfect pass to a wide open Demski but the ball slips right through his hands.
Plays like this and the Schoen mishaps above never seemed to happen in the past. Collaros and his star receivers were almost always on the same page, especially when the team needed it most. That offensive line that’s been a brick wall for Zach Collaros for years has shown some cracks early on and Collaros has looked sped up because of it.
In the past Collaros has been very underrated in his ability to get away from free rushers and extend plays, driving defensive lineman crazy in the process. This year Collaros hasn’t been able to show off his Houdini impression while under duress and it’s reflected on the scoreboard.
With the game on the line against Ottawa, Collaros has no time to step up in the pocket and deliver the go ahead score.
Even against a B.C. Lions team that has struggled to get to the quarterback Collaros goes down. Despite only being sacked once in this particular game, the Lions were able to impact the pocket enough to make Collaros uncomfortable.
Even when Collaros isn’t sacked he’s been impacted. Montreal sends five at Collaros with a backer end twist. Shawn Lemon (Usually an edge rusher but lined up at inside backer) loops outside and has a free run at Collaros. With Schoen wide open for a touchdown, Collaros under throws the ball with Lemon in his face, allowing safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy to under cut the route for an interception in the endzone.
Defence
Jackson Jeffcoat’s retirement has affected this defence even more than expected. A front four that wreaked havoc and terrified quarterbacks on every drop back just isn’t the same. Wille Jefferson is still good, but isn’t his usual unblockable self.
The team that could get home rushing just four and cause absolute chaos with their pressure package is no more. Line stunts, five, six man pressures the Bombers are trying it all but no one’s getting home. Look at the difference from just a year ago.
The Bombers defence terrorizing the Lions in the Western Final last year. All five rushers explode of the ball either collapsing the pocket or straight up beating the lineman in front of them. Despite Vernon Adams Jr being one of the best scramblers in the league he has no where to escape to and goes down.
In comparison in week 3 the Bombers send six at Adams. There’s very little penetration in the interior of the line which allows Adams to step up under pressure and uncork a bomb to Alexander Hollins downfield. Adams didn’t have that long to throw the ball most of the time against the Bombers when they only sent four rushers last year.
The lack of pass rush and loss of Demerio Houston has exposed this secondary. Having to cover for much longer than usual, the secondary has given up far too many big plays. A team that was number one against the pass last year only giving up 210 yards a game, has given up a league high 1105 yards through the air this year. Receivers aren’t just winning more tough contested catches against this secondary their running scot-free down the field against them.
Last season the Bombers secondary capitalized off of the play of the front four. With a defensive tackle in Adams face early in his drop, he’s forced to gets rid of the ball earlier than he’d like. Demerio Houston Jumps the route for a beautiful interception.
This year Adams has time to pump fake, step up in the pocket and deliver a deep ball to a wide open Hollins rather comfortably.
The Bombers miscommunicate a switch leaving Justin Hardy wide open in the endzone.
In 2023 the Bombers backers and d line were suffocating against the run. Finishing with a league best 88.8 yards a game. This year opposing running backs have been able to break big chunk runs against the Bombers front seven as they’re giving up the fourth most rushing yards in the league with 94.5 a game.
Chunk runs like this one by Bralon Addison are much more prevalent this year.
An extra 5.7 yards a game may seem like nothing, but not being able to stop the run when you need to get the ball back in order to win is a big problem.
Father time is unmatched and eventually in sports every team’s reign of dominance ends. Will this be the year the Bombers finally fall off? Or will they pull a 2011 B.C. Lions and completely turn things around? Only time will tell.