A loss to the Dallas Stars, and Washington Capitals head coach Barry Trotz had enough.
The Capitals have won only three times in their last nine games, with their latest loss coming Friday to the Stars by a final score of 4-2. Washington still maintains the first Wild Card spot in the East, and is seven points up on the Ottawa Senators.
But the Capitals aren’t hitting their stride right now, at a time when other teams are doing just that as they enter the playoffs, and Trotz didn’t hold back, as he tries to halt his team’s recent struggles.
“Right now, we’ve got too many passengers,” said Trotz to reporters, as per a video posted by the Capitals.
“You can’t carry another guy on your back. This league is way too good. If there’s a guy next to you not pulling his weight, you can’t carry him. You either get rid of him or give him a shake and tell him to get on the bus and traveling in the right direction.
“I don’t think right now we can say we’re a good hockey team. I can’t say that.”