Ongoing NHL thread - Part deux

[forty_three]

I think you definitely have to adapt and change not only on-ice strategies, but how you handle players both on and off the ice. Those that can adapt are likely to remain employed while those that can't get hired by the Blue Jackets.

We've had Arniel, Noel, MacLean, Richards, Hitch, Torts....

 

[Puck082]

I heard the other day that 23 coaches have been fired since 2013. All but 6 teams have made the playoffs since 2013.

Maybe coaches just don't matter as much as we think?

The Isles continue to win in spite of Fred Flintstone.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

The expectations with Babs were way too high. I'm not talking about only the Toronto area either. I think most people in the area aren't shocked with the record, but people pinning it on the coach are batty. I still don't fully understand why Babcock has the sterling reputation that he does in comparison to a few others and it makes those expectations ridiculous and unobtainable. Coaches can have an impact, but it's so marginal in comparison to what the players do.

Nobody here is pinning anything on anyone. If there's any criticism, it's coming from outside the GTA.

I know Leaf fans get a bad rap, but we aren't any dumber than any other average NHL fan. Nobody thought this team was suddenly going to be surprisingly good with a roster full of players auditioning to play for other teams and a few holdovers from the nightmare that was last season, not to mention two goaltenders who make Eric Fichaud look like a Leaf success story.

What we were mostly hoping to see was some progress out of the younger players that we do have on the big club, along with some idea of how Leaf teams of the future will approach the game under new leadership. So far, I've seen both.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

The Isles continue to win in spite of Fred Flintstone.

View attachment 45170

Please keep benching Strome so we can trade Bozak for him.

 

[Puck082]

Please keep benching Strome so we can trade Bozak for him.

You know what's ridiculous.....Bailey is better than Strome right now.

 

[dash]

My apologies 43, that was quite snarky of me (or Snorky McGigglepants of me), just put it down to a 2-7 record.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

The expectations with Babs were way too high. I'm not talking about only the Toronto area either. I think most people in the area aren't shocked with the record, but people pinning it on the coach are batty. I still don't fully understand why Babcock has the sterling reputation that he does in comparison to a few others and it makes those expectations ridiculous and unobtainable. Coaches can have an impact, but it's so marginal in comparison to what the players do.

Hey. I'm not pinning it on the coach. Quite the opposite. He's a good coach.

My point is that good coach or not you go as far as the players will take you. The group of current Maple Leafs is taking Babcock nowhere. Does he help them grow as a team? We'll see, but that team (or any other) is not going anywhere on the back of it's coach.

Now a bad coach can make a bunch of good players into a bad team, but I don't see a coach making truly bad players into a truly good team.

 

[dash]

Chris Nichols @NicholsOnHockey
Dreger: "Brad Treliving is making his calls and he's listening to those w/ interest." Wideman's, Russell's names are out there. #Flames 1/2

Chris Nichols @NicholsOnHockey
Dreger: “But I don't believe for a second Treliving has any interest in trading Russell." Believe #Flames want to sign/extend him. 2/2

 

[Puck082]

Chris Nichols @NicholsOnHockey
Dreger: "Brad Treliving is making his calls and he's listening to those w/ interest." Wideman's, Russell's names are out there. #Flames 1/2

Chris Nichols @NicholsOnHockey
Dreger: “But I don't believe for a second Treliving has any interest in trading Russell." Believe #Flames want to sign/extend him. 2/2

Russell was one of the few players that stuck out at me last night.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

From 30:

5.As Calgary continues to struggle, GM Brad Treliving holds some sway over the defensive market. There are blueliners available, but few that are overly appetizing. Dennis Wideman’s played very well for them, one of the few who’s been above water during this ugly start.

“I’ve changed my opinion of him,” another GM said last week.

He’s got a no-move clause, but even if he was willing, the problem is his $5.25 million cap hit next season — with an actual salary of $6 million. With so many teams so tight to the ceiling, it’s going to be hard for someone to take it.

6.That leaves us withKris Russell, unrestricted at the end of the year. He’s down with the ship right now, no points at all after 63 the past two seasons. Word is he’d like to stay, and, in a perfect world, the Flames would like to keep him. Look at some of his contemporaries.Andrej Sekerajumped into the market and got $5.5 million. TeammateT.J. Brodiesigned early, for $4.65 million.Chris Tanevsigned early, for $4.45 million.

You could argue Russell may not be a first-pairing player, so let’s look at Mattias Ekholm. Obviously happy in NashVegas, Ekholm took $3.75 million from the Predators. He was to be unrestricted in 2017. Calgary would probably love to get Russell on that, but Ekholm plays six fewer minutes a night. This is an interesting card for the Flames to play — if they want to.

 

[forty_three]

From 30:

5.As Calgary continues to struggle, GM Brad Treliving holds some sway over the defensive market. There are blueliners available, but few that are overly appetizing. Dennis Wideman’s played very well for them, one of the few who’s been above water during this ugly start.

“I’ve changed my opinion of him,” another GM said last week.

He’s got a no-move clause, but even if he was willing, the problem is his $5.25 million cap hit next season — with an actual salary of $6 million. With so many teams so tight to the ceiling, it’s going to be hard for someone to take it.

6.That leaves us withKris Russell, unrestricted at the end of the year. He’s down with the ship right now, no points at all after 63 the past two seasons. Word is he’d like to stay, and, in a perfect world, the Flames would like to keep him. Look at some of his contemporaries.Andrej Sekerajumped into the market and got $5.5 million. TeammateT.J. Brodiesigned early, for $4.65 million.Chris Tanevsigned early, for $4.45 million.

You could argue Russell may not be a first-pairing player, so let’s look at Mattias Ekholm. Obviously happy in NashVegas, Ekholm took $3.75 million from the Predators. He was to be unrestricted in 2017. Calgary would probably love to get Russell on that, but Ekholm plays six fewer minutes a night. This is an interesting card for the Flames to play — if they want to.

/would look good in red. Like his bank account.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

View attachment 45215

/would look good in red. Like his bank account.

Nope. It's comeback time!

 

[forty_three]

Nope. It's comeback time!

View attachment 45218

You can have Giordano.

 

[dash]

View attachment 45215

/would look good in red. Like his bank account.

Man, one little dig at the Blue Jackets and look what happens...



/Trade Wideman, keep Russell

 

[dash]

St. Louis Blues @StLouisBlues
Martin Havlat & Dainius Zubrus have been invited to St. Louis on professional tryouts

 

[jstewismybastardson]

jebus christ ... Russell is -52 on shot attempts ????

 

[jstewismybastardson]

oh never mind ... hes on pace with last years -414

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Rumblings: Coyotes very likely to move

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Kane says of anyone in the NHL, he would like to fight former teammates Andrew Ladd and Blake Wheeler

 

[dash]

I'm just curious, can you criticize Evander Kane without Kane playing the race card?