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NHL Season 2023-24

#81
MJ5150 said:
I wonder how much longer until the new owners and GM decide Sullivan is the problem. I'm not sure a new coach will make a difference, maybe a jolt of energy for 3-5 games.

-Mike
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I've been very reluctant to join the 'Fire Sullivan' brigade.

On one hand, he's won two Cups, and there have been very few disgruntled players (at least publicly), unlike Tortorella/Babcock/Sutter. And it's refreshing to see a team be loyal to a coach rather than fire him after a bumpy streak. But on the other hand, sometimes a new voice is needed, especially when said coach is so reluctant to change what isn't working. That's been his biggest downfall, sticking with certain players/systems when it's obvious they aren't getting the job done anymore.

I think you're exactly right that a change might light a fire for a brief period, but not long term. And the big question is who would you get to replace him?
 
#82
dwm74 said:
I've been very reluctant to join the 'Fire Sullivan' brigade.

On one hand, he's won two Cups, and there have been very few disgruntled players (at least publicly), unlike Tortorella/Babcock/Sutter. And it's refreshing to see a team be loyal to a coach rather than fire him after a bumpy streak. But on the other hand, sometimes a new voice is needed, especially when said coach is so reluctant to change what isn't working. That's been his biggest downfall, sticking with certain players/systems when it's obvious they aren't getting the job done anymore.

I think you're exactly right that a change might light a fire for a brief period, but not long term. And the big question is who would you get to replace him?
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I hear Mike Babcock is available....
 
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#84
It's kind of unusual in the American sports leagues for ownership to hire a new GM and then the current head coach and coaching staff are kept around. In quite a few cases, the new GM wants to have people they choose as coaches. It surprised me Sullivan survived the ownership change and the GM change both.
But hey, if you look across the river, another pro sports team in town is also hanging on to a head coach who was good many years ago. This very well could be a Pittsburgh thing.
Remember the joke? How many Steeler/Pirate/Penguin fans does it take to change a light bulb?
Five. One to do it and four to talk about how good the light bulb used to be.

-Mike
 
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#85
MJ5150 said:
But hey, if you look across the river, another pro sports team in town is also hanging on to a head coach who was good many years ago. This very well could be a Pittsburgh thing.
Remember the joke? How many Steeler/Pirate/Penguin fans does it take to change a light bulb?
Five. One to do it and four to talk about how good the light bulb used to be.

-Mike
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LOL! So true! I'm guilty of that regarding the Pens, and the Steelers up until these past couple of years.

Looking back on my lifetime as a Steelers fan, there have only been three head coaches since 1969, which is roughly when I became old enough to call myself a fan. In those 54 years, it's only been Noll, Cowher, and Tomlin. (Then there's Chelsea, my Premier League team, went through four different managers in about 14 months.)
 
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#86
OK ...... never thought Dorion would be fired before the coach.

One thing I don't understand in that Dadonov trade affair is why Vegas would make a trade with he Sens and didn't ask a lawyer to check his contract. They say it's Dorion's fault , he didn't mention the "No trade" clause , but don't the teams check the contracts when they do trades ?
Is it still a " I spit on my hand and let's shake it" kinda thing again these days ?
I don't get it.....
 
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#88
The new owner in Ottawa is under the belief that this shouldn't be his problem as it was not told to him prior to purchasing the team. He had no idea of the pending discipline. I suspect that Bettman will adjust the sentence of the first round pick as Sens ownership just paid a billion dollars for the team and rightly or wrongly, they don't want to start their relationship on such a bad note.
The circus has moved on the Ottawa!
Fishheadjoe
 
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#89
Like has been mentioned on an Ottawa blog, the Blackhawks had that sexual abuse scandal and only ended paying a fine, no draft picks were forfeited, and they still got to draft Bedard. Yet this transgression over a minor trade of a 3rd liner necessitates a forfeited pick? I'd have to agree with those Sens fans (and the new owner).
 
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#92
Poor San Jose. Not only did they give TEN goals two games in a row, but one of those teams were the offense-challenged Penguins, who haven't been able to finish too many plays all season long so far.

And the other thing that stinks for the Sharks being so bad this year is there is not another Connor Bedard in next year's draft. No quick turnaround in the Bay Area.
 
#96
Bit of a pyrrhic victory for the Hawks last night. Dominated Bolts, in Tampa (with their mom's in tow, no less, because it's the annual Mom's roadtrip), with Bedard picking up 4 pts and Korchinski his first NHL goal . . . but losing Tinordi, Athanasiou and Taylor Hall to injury during the game. Hall's injury looked especially bad as he'd just come back from an "upper body" (shoulder) injury and seemed to suffer a new knee injury that didn't look good at all (he was clearly in quite a bit of pain). Mrazek had another great performance in net, definitely seemed to frustrate Tampa at times after some grade A opportunities were shut down.
 
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#98
dwm74 said:
Pens go 3 and 0 on their California road trip. They're finally at .500 for the season.

Pretty sad when you feel the need to celebrate a .500 record, but considering what a disastrous start we've had, we'll take it. Oh, how the once mighty have fallen.
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Geez, don't tell Mike Tomlin that! He apparently thinks a winning percentage of .501 or higher is "The Standard". (Hey, .501 ain't no losing season!!!) ;)
 
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