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While Nazem Kadri was recently suspended three games for arriving late to a practice, too many players are getting a free ride with no consequences. Lupul has not scored a goal since Dec. 29 and has gone 16 games without a point. Kessel, Bozak and van Riemsdyk, who were on the ice for three of San Jose’s goals on Thursday, are all in the bottom-five in the NHL’s plus-minus category.

Why has Horachek not made any of them a healthy scratch? Why has he not significantly taken away their ice time? Why is he even still playing them on the power play?

For a team that is undergoing a rebuild and will probably be without many of its core players next season, now is the time to start sending the proper messages that results — not reputation — will determine a player’s role.

“There’s always those considerations,” said Horachek, when asked why he has not sat any of the team’s stars. “We are using other guys on the power play. Yes, we can take more time … but we also are pretty short-handed right now so you’re always relying on the fact that you’re going to get the most out of your guys.”

At this point in the season, it’s wishful thinking that players are suddenly going to snap out of this and start playing the way Horachek — and former head coach Randy Carlyle — had been prodding them to play. Especially since some of the players will not even acknowledge that there is a problem with their effort.

“I think for us, more often than not the problem has been between the ears,” said van Riemsdyk. “When you’re not playing smart, you have to run around a lot more. It seems like you’re not working as hard maybe, but you’re just in a bad spot because you’re turning pucks over and giving pucks away in our own end.”

“What are you saying, guys aren’t trying to give everything they can give?” said Kessel, who is on pace for his worst offensive season as a Leaf. “We’re professionals … obviously it hasn’t been great, but no one’s not trying. If you’re saying that, you’re lost.”

Maybe it is unfair to suggest that Kessel does not want to win or that he is not trying. But right now, based on his play and those around him, others appear to be trying harder and deserve his ice time.