After yet another disappointing end to a once promising season, the Anaheim Ducks have decided to hold their own players accountable for another early playoff exit.
The Ducks suffered their fourth consecutive loss in a Game 7 on home ice to the Nashville Predators on Wednesday, something the club is finding very difficult to swallow after high expectations.
Despite being the fastest head coach to reach 400 wins, and a sparkling 208-104-40 record, the team elected to relieve Bruce Boudreau of his duties following the heartbreaking loss.
Now GM Bob Murray is deciding to hold his own ultra-talented players accountable for not getting the job done.
"It's the way we go out. It's the way it happens," Murray said Friday, referring to the Ducks' four straight Game 7 eliminations. "Let's face it ... I'd like to know where the heck they were in Games 1 and 2. The players are going to have to answer that in the next four or five days. Where were they? They showed up in Game 7, but where was that passion? That controlled emotion? Where the heck was that? They're going to have to be held accountable too."
"It's on all of us," Murray added. "I'm not pointing a gun. There are lots of people involved in this not going well. We're all held accountable."
Anaheim's core consists of star forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, and they have ben longtime leaders of the team. However their character was called into question following another early playoff exit. Murray boldly stated during his press conference that the players are responsible for winning and losing, and that they are expected to perform.
"There are definite concerns in that area," said Murray, at Anaheim's state of the franchise address . "The core has to be held responsible. They have to be better. Maybe I haven't been hard enough in the last few years, but they're going to hear different words this time."
Perry and Getzlaf had four and five points respectively in the Ducks opening round series versus the Nashville Predators. For his part, Perry was visibly distraught following the team's elimination.
"No (way to explain it), I have nothing for you," said Perry. "It's hard to swallow right now."
This latest disappointment will likely spell further changes to the Ducks roster, which despite talent galore, seems to fall short far too often.
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