For Ramsay Accountability Isn't Just A Catchphrase

This weekend after a tough loss to the Colorado Avalanche the Thrashers had to pretty much immediately board a plane to go to Long Island to face the NHL cellar dwelling New York Islanders. Head coach Craig Ramsay had more on his mind though than just the team's travel plans. He made the decision to scratch Nic Bergfors and Ben Eager based on their performance during the Avalanche game.

In Atlanta the players are learning that accountability is everything...and this coach is willing to enforce it. This is the second time this season that Bergfors has been given a time out and for Eager it was his first to feel the wrath of the red pen put to the roster.

Bergfors, who had a goal Friday night, still got scratched. The coach stated to the AJC's Chris Vivlamore that he had not battled hard enough for loose pucks and had not worked hard enough in the game. In the past no player who scored one night would be benched the next night because of performance.

Ramsay has shown through both his words and his actions that there will be no slacking on his team, not even one shift. As a fan I have to say it's nice to see..and it's nice hear what he has to say during his pressers, especially if we lose. You no longer hear stuff like "We're just fragile right now" or "I don't know why we weren't ready to play tonight". Now what we hear is "They didn't play hard enough" or "The other team wanted it more than we did and that's not acceptable"

Not only is he telling the press it's not acceptable to lose he's telling his team..and not just with his mouth...he's telling guys who aren't playing hard enough to sit their ass down and watch while a teammate of theirs who is willing to put in the work does.

The effect on the team this year has been remarkable. It took a little while for the team to start to catch on to what Ramsay was teaching, but now they've got it..and it's brought them success which in turn breeds more success. Part of Ramsay's philosophy though, has been accountability to the coaches and to each other in the locker room...and more importantly for the players to police themselves and maintain that accountability.

Ramsay's formula has so far been pretty successful and I'm thinking that the ride is just beginning.