It has to be the HC. I know players play the game, but IMO the players chosen by the coach are done so because the coach see's his vision being able to be done by those players he chooses. Same goes for the assistants he chooses. IMO there is a single key...this is not putting down the input of the players, but that input can be just as easily be a destructive force as a positive one.
I have a feeling that if Fish were still here we would have his type players doing his thing, bet he would have gotten rid of Greg Zuerlin as well. I remember everyone getting on Gregs' case while Fisher was here, but really Fisher was just abusing his leg because it was his only chance at points, and IMO that severely hurt Gregs' performance. His coaching brought in wrong players, and abused the good ones. McVay shows what importance a real HC can be....IMO the key to a solid team.