Follow me on twitter Follow @GunnerStaal
When things go extremely poor for a team it is natural to play the blame game. It is also easy to misconstrue quotes to make them fit a personal agenda.
Much was made about Zach Parise’s quotes about the Americans being "passive". Some people took that as a shot against Dan Bylsma and the systems he had in place. It was a convenient sound byte to fit generic criticism against Bylsma.
Zach Parise did not like the fact that is how his quote was interpreted and he released the following statement via email ( courtesy of Mike Russo of the Star Tribune )
I liked his system, along with each of the other players. His system didn’t have anything to do with why we didn’t win a medal. I wasn't even misquoted, someone just took a response to a different question and made it sound like I was referring to him. I was asked about how we played in a particular game and I said we were passive as a team, not playing a passive system. We seemed slow as a group that particular game. Dan did a great job coaching us and preparing us for all of the games, along with the other coaches. They put in a lot of work and it's unfortunate someone would say different.He always asked for the opinion of the players on different things. And on the ice he let us play and demanded us to work. He was always detailed in his approach and his meetings and like I said earlier we were more than prepared from a scouting standpoint for each game.…
Some people will claim that Parise is just covering his tracks but usually a player who meant his criticism won’t be as detailed with their response after.
Parise doesn't play for Bylsma in the NHL, he plays in the Western Conference, and head coaches are usually different each separate Olympics for Team USA. There wasn't a dire consequence for Parise calling out Bylsma. Parise still went out of his way to clarify.
Parise also called Ray Shero on Sunday to clarify his comments and to make sure that they were not interpreted as a shot against Bylsma.
Bylsma isn’t a perfect coach, never has been never will be, no coach is. Because of that concept there will always be something to criticize, no matter how small it is. Usually the criticism is vague and generic.
The word "adjustments" is the most misused term in hockey. People just toss it out there like some kind of cure-all without any meaning.
— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) February 22, 2014@emanatee you shouldn't be allowed to use the word unless you can cite and reference specific ones that needed made. In real terminology.
— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) February 22, 2014Sorry to those folks whose Bylsma narrative will have to be put on hold due to Parise’s most recent quotes.
Thanks for reading!
Follow me on twitter Follow @GunnerStaal