He pulls Allen, and Chad Johnson gets peppered. He scales back human punching bag Jay Bouwmeester, and another defenseman looks just as bad. Is it the job of an NHL coach to force his players to play hard, not quit and care about the fundamental aspects of the game they have been taught since they started skating on ponds?

Blame the coach if you must, and that’s the way this is headed. That’s what happens in a league that changes coaches like NASCAR changes tires during a pit stop. But understand what that would say. General manager Doug Armstrong hired Yeo to be a public coach-in-waiting under former coach Ken Hitchcock. He stuck with Yeo as other intriguing coaching options came and went. He did not add to last years’ team because he saw this season as the beginning of a long run of postseason appearances and maybe, just maybe, something magic. Would he really scrap that plan so early? That’s how bad this team looks right now. And that’s how few other options a general manager has when he’s spent to the cap on a nucleus that lacks flexibility. Yeo knows the spot he’s in. Blaming this solely on him is as wrong as blaming it solely on Bouwmeester or Allen.