The analyses of the Capitals’ second-round loss in seven games to the Rangers was common, all right, but reflected no wisdom.
The analysts largely repeated the self-serving nonsense promulgated by “hockey people,” that the Caps finally had learned the right way to play hockey under Dale Hunter, who stepped down on Monday. His team scored a total of 29 goals in 14 playoff games with its most talented offensive player, Alex Ovechkin, on the bench more than ever before in his career.
This was the right way not to make the conference final, scoring 13 goals against the Rangers? As opposed to all those wrong ways the Caps had failed to get past the second round under Bruce Boudreau, when they played with personality and were perhaps the league’s most entertaining team?
Let’s ignore the fact that perhaps better goaltending, not the team’s style, might have been the issue in a 2009 seven-game second-round loss to ultimate Cup champion Pittsburgh. Clearly the Caps were playing the wrong way in scoring 22 goals against the Penguins.
Let’s forget the fact that Boudreau’s 2009-10 team that won the Presidents’ Trophy with 121 points lost a seven-game, first-round series to the Canadiens only because of heroics by Montreal netminder Jaroslav Halak, who then repeated his miracle-working the very next round in a seven-game ouster of the Penguins.
The Caps lost Game 5 of the 2010 first round 2-1 after taking a 3-1 series lead despite a 68-58 edge in attempts. They lost Game 6, 4-1, despite a 94-47 edge in attempts. They lost Game 7, 2-1, despite a 94-38 advantage in attempts.
But they did not know the right way to play. Did not know the right way to lose.
Now, of course they do.
* If Patrick Roy becomes coach of the Canadiens, Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin likely would inquire about Alexander Radulov, the Nashville winger who is an impending restricted free agent, and who won the Memorial Cup playing for Roy’s QMJHL Quebec Ramparts in 2005-06.
Radulov, who does not fit the model as designed by Predators’ coach Barry Trotz, recorded 152 points (61 goals, 91 assists) playing for Roy in what was the Montreal legend’s first year behind the bench.
Bob Hartley is a most worthy candidate for the job in Montreal, as he should be in Washington, as well.
* The failure of the NHLPA office to communicate with the rank-and-file it represented was a primary reason the union fractured during the latter stages of the 2004-05 lockout and became ripe for the picking by league hardliners and enemies within.
That wasn’t an error of omission, rather enforced confidentiality was a central ingredient of then-executive director Bob Goodenow’s leadership style.
That approach had worked to the benefit of the athletes for more than a decade, but when the players were given neither advance notice that Goodenow had put a 24-percent rollback on the table to the owners in December 2004 nor asked for their input into the precedent-setting maneuver, the absence of communication became a debilitating dynamic within the union.
That mistake will not be repeated under Don Fehr, who directed the MLBPA under a big tent theory that he has brought to the NHLPA.
Fehr, who according to several sources is enmeshed in the process of financial fact-finding regarding the league and individual franchises, repeated his invitation for players to participate in bargaining sessions via a memo he sent to the PA members on Wednesday after the NHL gave official and required notice of its intent to “terminate and/or modify” the current CBA upon its expiration at midnight Sept. 15.
“As I’ve said on many occasions, all Players are encouraged to attend as many of these bargaining sessions as possible,” Fehr wrote. “In fact, there’s no better way to send a message to the League that Players are engaged in the process of bargaining for a fair new contract.”
Several agents have told Slap Shots they expect significant player attendance at the bargaining sessions that likely will commence in some form in July.
It would have been mighty interesting last time around to have been able to see on which side of the table a number of players would have chosen to sat, especially those Flyers in the employ of Ed Snider.
* Lest it be forgotten, but the Rangers’ return to respectability following the lockout after seven previous seasons as a league laughingstock was accomplished under the cool hand of Gentleman Tom Renney, dismissed this week by the Oilers.
This, too: If Chris Drury had not ruined his knees and ravaged his body with a relentless work ethic and disregard of his health after his arrival on Broadway, No. 23 would have been both the quintessential Black-and-Blueshirt and perfect leader for this year’s team.
Drury was a Big Moment Kid before Brad Richards became one. In fact, other than their relative health, the fundamental difference as Rangers between Richards and Drury is that one began his career in Tampa and one did not.
larry.brooks@nypost.com