As the Edmonton Oilers continue to struggle on the ice, the coaching staff is facing mounting pressure to make changes to the lineup. One player who has come under scrutiny is Evan Bouchard, who has been struggling to find his footing in the NHL.
While some may argue that Bouchard should be given more time to prove himself in a top 6 role, others believe that the coaching staff needs to take a harder line and bench players who are not performing up to expectations.
The reality is that in professional sports, there is little room for sentimentality. Players are paid to perform, and if they are not living up to their potential, then they need to be held accountable. This means being benched, even if it may hurt their feelings or bruise their egos.
The coaching staff of the Edmonton Oilers need to be willing to make tough decisions and put the team’s needs above individual players’ feelings. This may mean benching high-minute players like Bouchard, who are struggling to find their form, and giving other players a chance to step up and prove themselves. If they make a big mistake they should be held accountable.
At the end of the day, the success of the team should be the top priority, and sometimes that means making unpopular decisions. While it may be difficult to bench an offensive player like Bouchard, it is important to remember that this is a business, and the team needs to do whatever it takes to win.
In the long run, tough decisions like this can pay off, as players who are given a wake-up call may come back stronger and more determined than ever. It may be a hard pill to swallow, but sometimes the best thing a coach can do is put aside their emotions and do what is best for the team.