cw said:TML fan said:"Because I want them to" is not a valid answer to my question.
I don't think that's the answer I've given. The coach, the management, the fans and some of the other players on the team have wanted a better effort.
I actually think you avoided the question altogether but that was the closest I could get to an actual response.
Again, where's the motivation? Those guys are all under contract. At least one of them probably won't be on the team next year. They've basically been told that the team will be non-competitive for the next several years. So, other than millions and millions of dollars, what is keeping them coming to the rink every day? What are they playing for? Everyone is playing for the name on the back of their jerseys at this point. They're playing for contracts, playing for jobs, or just playing out the string.
You say you know that they aren't robots but you expect a robotic level of competitiveness from them when you can't deny the fact that there is nothing left to play for.
So, while its all well and good for you, the coach, the fans, the players etc to "want" things out of them, there is actually no reason for them to provide any of it.