Stars learning a lot goes into keeping 'effort' high on consistent basis

Effort is one of the most controversial words in sports, so it was certainly eye-opening Friday when Dallas Stars coach Jim Montgomery questioned the effort of his players in a 3-1 preseason loss at St. Louis.
Montgomery is in his first year in the NHL after a lengthy collegiate career, and his team was 4-0-1 in the preseason entering the game. So when the Stars struggled early against the Blues and were outshot 14-4 in the first period, Montgomery said his team wasn't ready to play.
"We talk about being good with effort and execution, and if you have no effort, it doesn't matter what you're trying to accomplish or what your game plan is, you're not going to be able to execute," Montgomery said after the game. "That was our poorest performance of the preseason, and we just have to get better. We can't accept having that kind of effort."

That salvo opened the door to a great discussion Saturday on how you manage effort.
The Stars are trying to adjust to Montgomery's system and had a long practice session Thursday trying to cram in information. They then flew the day of the game and were met by a hungry Blues team skating a top-notch lineup.

So there are explanations, but they can't become excuses.
"There are definitely reasons that you can look at," said defenseman Marc Methot. "But there are going be those same reasons at some point during the regular season, so we need to know how to manage them."
Methot, a veteran of 12 NHL seasons, said he understands the captious nature of athletic linguistics, but added that having a strong relationship between the players and coaches goes a long way in keeping everyone on the same page.
"I hate using the word `effort' but I definitely agree with Monty that it wasn't our best effort, so I know what he's talking about," Methot said. "There are a lot of things that go into a game, and a lot of those things can affect your performance. But I definitely think that you can judge a team on how they are focused, how they are performing together and how they are executing their jobs. So yeah, that all goes into effort."
Defenseman John Klingberg said he preferred the word "focus" to the word effort.

"I think we want to be good and we try every game, but sometimes we just aren't as sharp," Klingberg said. "So I think it's more really being focused and really keeping your mind sharp."
But how does a team do that on a consistent basis through 82 games? How does a team keep effort high on a seven-game road trip or with a back-to-back games over two time zones?
"I think it's got to come from the players, for sure," Klingberg said. "We have to communicate with the coaches and know what we're doing, but I think a lot of that is on the players to be sure we're prepared and be sure we're focused."
Methot said there is a balancing game there. He has played in both the Western Conference and Eastern Conference and said that travel fatigue can become a problem in the West. He said a good coaching staff anticipates those problems.
"I've played in both, and there's no question it's harder in the West," he said. "That takes everyone being on the same page, and it does take good coaches who understand the schedule, understand your opponent and understand the game style and can make those adjustments in the games when maybe your team does look weary."

Montgomery said he has talked with NHL coaches and believes he and his coaching staff have a good plan. He also said Friday's game is a good lesson for coaches and players.
"We'll probably have 10 games where you feel like that, so we talked about how we need to get better from this," Montgomery said. "Usually, teams respond really well the next game, so we'll see how we do."
The Stars close out the preseason with a home game against Colorado on Sunday and then start the regular season Thursday against Arizona. Methot said the preseason has already been a success for the relationship between the players and coaching staff, and that this is just another step they can take as a group to improve.
"The good news is it's a chance to learn and grow," Methot said. "I like what Monty did. He was firm in what he was saying, and we definitely got his message. It's a wake-up call for the group, because we are trying to change the culture here, we're trying to be more responsible through all three zones, and we're trying to play a game that is consistent throughout.
"I think we're getting better, and I think Monty has us pointed in the right direction."
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.