A matter of trust
Jan 5, 2009
Trust is a word often used in describing how team's play within their own concept. You will hear forwards talk about it when they refer to their defensemen and vice versa. Goaltenders will discuss it with regard to the men employed with cleaning out the area in front of their net so they can get what they need to stop pucks. Coaches will always go here when they realize that they need to build it within their group so that they can practice what he is preaching on a consistent basis. Lastly, it's trust that players have to earn when a new coach takes over in mid-stream.
That is what has happened in the last few weeks for Chad LaRose. It hasn't been easy. It's been a learning process whereby the coach has learned to trust this player to the point of where he's playing his best hockey of the season.
The night was December 13t. The Canes were in New York to play the Rangers. In the morning, at Madison Square Garden there was brief conversation on the ice. It's one of those talks a player never wants to have. The coach calls for a one-on-one discussion at center ice. There could be many topics but often for a fourth-line player these chats have one direction. The news was not good for number 59. He was told that would not be needed that night. For a player who had done everything possible just to make a name for himself in this league and had been part of its ultimate success making him a mainstay in the Hurricane lineup for three years, it's quite a jolt.
Now you go from a being in the group to out. The extra conditioning skate that followed and a long afternoon of not preparing to play can be agonizing. LaRose would watch his mates from the press box that night, something he says he never wants to do again. If you don't start to make an honest contribution you will find yourself in more situations like that. He knew that better than anyone. He knew that if the Canes won maybe the group would not change and he would have to sit out again. But on that night, the Canes would lose in the "penalty shot" contest, get out of NYC with one point. LaRose, would suit up for the next game against Montreal and never look back.
Slowly but surely his game would enhance the Canes team concept. His energy has always been welcomed. Over the last couple of seasons LaRose has learned to channel his emotion. He can be an effective catalyst, a guy who can disrupt the other team's flow. But last season he would have a tendency to become unglued. The odd bad penalty would creep in and that was something he worked hard on to overcome. This season he has been true to that ethic. His hits have been purposeful and his discipline intact. Since the stint in the press box he has been more and more a part of what the Canes are accomplishing as a team. Nothing was more evident than his efforts over this past weekend.
On Friday night, it was over 17 minutes against the Blues. Four hits and two shots later LaRose was part of a grinding Cane crew that was able to gut out a 2-1 win. On Saturday, he would emerge on a brand new line. With linemates Matt Cullen and Scott Walker it may have been Carolina's best trio. It might be labeled as a third line but it has the potential to play 'top six" minutes. As a group they have scoring and hustle potential. They can keep opponents on the heels on the forecheck and on the attack put up some numbers. Paul Maurice went this line as a result of bumping Justin Williams up with Rod Brind'Amour and Ray Whitney. The decision paid off in a way the coach never thought. For on this night, the Cullen line would emerge as their best.
A coaching change is a major transition. A team has to learn follow a new leader. Individual players audition for a new eye. What has been done in the past is just that, the past. A new trust must be formed. That trust factor is a two-way street. LaRose is on a course to have a great second half, now that he has done his part while the coach compiles. It hasn't been an easy road for "59" is never has from the time he pro journey started. But as always, he ends up an important part of the Canes team success. The '09 portion of this story should e no different, trust me.
Talk to you on Wednesday!
