Dear Anaheim Ducks,

Since no one is getting the message through to you, I thought I’d give it a go.

There isn’t going to be yelling and screaming (I only yell at you DURING the games), this is going to be tough love.  It’s time you hear it from the people who care about you the most.

You are terrible.  Awful.  It’s painful to watch.  You deserve to be at the bottom of the Western Conference.

If you’re not sure which player I’m talking to – look to your left, look to your right, and look in the mirror.  It’s all of you.  No one is immune to this love, because you are a team.

You win together, you lose together.

It seems you’ve been forgetting that lately.  Making offhand remarks to the media.  Pointing fingers at one another when no one is looking. You don’t think we see it, when in fact, we do.

You may not read the papers and you may not hear your teammates snide remarks.  We do.  The fans hear it.  It’s plastered on your faces.

You’re playing this game as if you’re the only guy out there on the ice.

When will you learn that you are not alone out there.  You are not running a one man show.  This isn’t about YOU!  Please check the mirror again if you’re unsure who I’m talking to.

This isn’t about point streaks, or shutouts.  It’s not about having the most hits, or having the most blocked shots.

It’s about playing as a unit, a whole.  It’s about trusting the guy who is on your wing, protecting the guy in your net, having faith in your blueline.

Here’s the thing.  I love you.  Yes, I love you.  You’re my team.  You’re the group of guys I cheer for – even when you play the way you have been.  But it’s not just me.  There are thousands of other people out there…JUST LIKE ME.  We are all rooting for you.  We are all standing there behind you, pushing you, waving our flags of pride for you.  We have seen you here before.  We KNOW you can pull out of this.  We KNOW you realize there is more potential waiting to burst through.

When will you realize these things?  When will you realize that you have more to give…to your teammates, to your organization, to your fans, more importantly…to yourselves.

It does not matter how many superstars this locker room can hold.  It doesn’t matter if you play five minutes or 15.  It is irrelevant if it’s your job to score goals, defend against them, or simply remind the team to keep pushing, keep digging for more.

You are a team.

Until you are able to understand that and use that to your advantage, you will continue to suffer.

Playing as a team is your strongest weapon.

You play for the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back.  Remember that.

Most faithful, always,

SK