We torch two grim losses to San Jose and Calgary, call out the sleepwalk starts, and lay out fixes the coaches and front office can make now. The finishes aren’t there, the hunger isn’t there, and the clock is ticking on a core that was supposed to contend.

• why Celebrini brilliance can’t excuse a home loss
• Calgary no-show and the danger of “we’ll be fine”
• leadership admitting complacency and why that’s fatal
• veterans generating chances but failing to finish
• Lafrenière, Kakko, Cooley ceilings and usage
• fourth-line energy versus top-six responsibility
• shooting percentages due to regress but urgency required
• short-term fixes: move Mika to wing, test Laf with Panarin
• call-ups versus placeholders and ice-time as leverage
• GM trust issues and the cost of holding prospects too long
• trade for a true star if you can’t draft one
• fans, tickets, and belief when culture slips