Kings Trounce Lifeless Blackhawks
With a couple weeks left in the regular season, the Chicago Blackhawks arrived at an organizational epiphany: it’s time to see what some of the kids can do.
Dominik Kubalik, Calvin de Haan, Erik Gustafsson, Tyler Johnson and Henrik Borgstrom were the scratches on Tuesday night. Lukas Reichel, Alec Regula and Alex Vlasic were active.
It’s really hard to win a hockey game if you can’t generate any offense. And the Blackhawks are being reminded of that in almost every game recently. Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Kings came into the United Center fighting for playoff position and the Hawks never showed up.
It took the Blackhawks 10:10 to put a shot on net in the first period. The Kings out-shot the Hawks 14-6 in the first, scoring twice. Former Blackhawks prospect Phillip Danault set up Trevor Moore for the first goal and scored the second, just as a painful reminder of what could have been.
The Kings let the Hawks hang around, though. Their inability to score a third goal kept the door open for Chicago go crawl back into the game and there was a brief glimpse of hope late in the second. Taylor Raddysh scored his third goal as a member of the Hawks to cut the lead in half.
A little hope, right?
The Kings scored 33 seconds later to push the lead back to two.
LA out-shot the Hawks 13-5 in the second period. Collin Delia wasn’t great, but he was getting absolutely nothing from his skaters.
Jordan Spence made it 4-1 in favor of the visitors five minutes into the third and the Hawks appeared to leave it in neutral. The Hawks got three power plays in the first 12 minutes of the third and generated absolutely nothing. Reichel had a couple really good chances in the middle of the third but couldn’t quite finish. The same can’t be said for most of the other skaters in red.
At this point, you have to honestly wonder if Derek King even wants to come back if this is what he’ll have to work with next year…
After successfully killing a penalty, the Hawks were able to find the back of the net a second time with 3:18 left in regulation. Philipp Kurashev made a terrific play; he lost his stick but kicked the puck ahead to Raddysh, who set up Patrick Kane for the goal.
Kane now has 30 points in his last 18 games, which is remarkable considering how brutal the Hawks’ offense has been lately.
Blake Lizotte scored his second of the night with 96 seconds left on the clock to reach the over for those financially interested in such things. The Kings were now up 5-2.
Reese Johnson decided to throw some hands with 80 seconds left in regulation and he was awarded the final minute in the penalty box as his teammates limped to the finish line. As Eddie Olczyk said on the broadcast, you like to see the energy but at that stage in the game it was a waste.
Each side was credited with nine shots on net in the third period. The final shot count was 36-20 in favor of the Kings.
As the Hawks at least dressed some younger players in this one, the amount of ice time they received left a lot to be desired — again.
Regula actually got 17:22 and some time on both special teams. He was credited with two shots on net, two takeaways, one hit, one blocked shot and received four penalty minutes.
Vlasic got 13:57 — none of which came on special teams. He was the only defenseman to not skate on the penalty kill in the game and had the lowest ice time on the blue line.
Reichel put two shots on net in 15:17. He got plenty of power play action (4:21) but didn’t attempt a single faceoff.
Jonathan Toews led the Hawks at the dot (again), winning 11 of 15.
Reese Johnson was credited with eight hits in 12:10.
Raddysh, Kane and Seth Jones were the only Blackhawks skaters credited with more than two shots on net; they were each credited with just three.
Raddysh had another strong game, though. He looks like a player. He was also credited with eight hits in the game. And had a team-leading two points. But… he only got 13:10 of ice time?
king doing his best impression of a guy who does not want the hawks head coaching job after this season.
On the positive side we have Raddysh with 2 more points tonight ,iff he continues to play good maybe we can get a third round pick in a trade .
Sacarsm.
About all they can do at this point is find out who they want to keep around. Obviously how they play defense, transition game, forecheck etc. all has to be part of what a new coach is brought in to try install as they go through the youth movement in the next few years.
Who’s surprised? Really. HC King has been clueless all year long. His “loyalty to veterans” even ones who shouldn’t even be here is ridiculous. His supreme caution with rookies is just stupid. Add in his TOI distribution. He just isn’t meant to be a NHL HC. The team was just bad. The line combos were an example of HC King trying something…anything. Because he doesn’t know. The best line has been DeBrincat-Strome-Kane. Everything after that has been a crap shoot. Toews and Raddysh with someone on the LW would be nice. Dach and Reichel have to slot in somewhere. Kurashev? Not sold that he’s an NHL player. Lafferty is no Hagel. He’s a 3rd line guy. Apparently, so is Kubalik. This team is just a motley assortment. Stan Bowman’s schizophrenic design. The 4th line is good.
Defensively, how about bringing up Mitchell and sit McCabe. More offense from the blue line. Just a thought.
Goaltending? No comment. One of these guys may be a backup next year. Or…neither. It’s just where the team is at.
I’m not mathematician but usually you tank when you actually have more than one draft pick, but what do I know?
I give this current version of the Hawks credit for one thing for sure. No NHL team gets routinely outplayed,outskated,and dominated on their home ice like they do. At some point when you are getting outshot 11 to 1 and losing every 50/50 puck battle,don’t you get a little angry and embarrassed and jack up your play a bit? I have never seen a deader bench with very little face to face instruction from coaches and other than an odd temper tantrum for missing a prime scoring chance,very little anger or disgust from players on the bench. Its like a bunch of strangers got together for an open skate or a rat hockey game. Dark times for a once very proud franchise. Even young Cody in between periods marveled on how all the Hawks on the ice were on the wrong side of the bodies and their checks in the defensive zone saying that it is just basic hockey and they are not attempting to play correctly. These last 10 games or so promise to be rough.
@Seth Jones – I hope that some team offers us a nice package for him. I just don’t want this guy to drop dead on the ice having to play 30 minutes a night.
@Vlasic and Regula – even with a couple of mistakes, they were both significantly better than McCabe, Stillman, DeHaan, C Jones, and Gustafson.
@Lafferty – great skating and grit, hands of stone and an IQ to match.
@Dach – finally obliterated someone! Better last night!
@Reichel – there is no way this kid is a winger. What a way to try to get him tenderized.
@King – The Clown Show continues!
@Entwhistle, Katschouck, Raddysh – there is hope for our Hawks.
Facepalm… says it all.
Let Vlasic and Regula play, regardless of the mistakes. At least there is a chance of improvement with these guys. McCabe?… Not so much.
As painful as it is losing these games it is good for the lottery but it is painful
Particularly because there seems to be no leadership on or off the ice – Toews and Kane look disinterested at best and King is incompetent at best
Kurashev with a couple of very nice plays to Raddysh who scored on one and set up Kane on the other
Raddysh continues to make Hagel trade look good
Do we keep one or two of our goalies to tank for next year or try to find a decent goalie? – I think the former – Lank on a short deal and Soderblom is probably all you want back there
I guess the math changes if they should win the #1 or #2 pick this year because then there is no point in tanking – CBJ will have our 2023 pick anyway
So maybe Lank’s future in CHI depends on which way the ping pong balls fall
Finally, it may appear there is some communication between the GM and Head Coach. It sure took a while, but this allows KD and whoever to assess the mess that StanBo left behind and what we actually have as players. This is what is needed to move forward. People should not be concerned about if we or lose, it doesn’t matter, what matters is to determine who stays and who goes. Some of these players will be back next year, you can’t trade the entire trade away. The only unknown is if we really got the right answer at GM, if not this could be a 5 to 7 year rebuild instead of 3 to 5. So far, I’m optimistic with the trades to date and will look forward to over the summer months to see what the Hawks do. It will be interesting to see what type of a position Hossa will have in the organization when that is official.
This group needs a Mike Keenan type coach not a drinking buddy. Never ready to start the game, looks more like a visitation for a funeral. No life behind the bench and definitely none on the ice, pathetic!!
We’ll fans ,this is what happens when good players retire and others get traded and some want out ! You rebuild and they come and go and it’s sort of like a turnstile ! Everyone blames the coach and the management ! The second season is out of reach so the club brings in new players to try out and see who works and who doesn’t ! It’s a long process that takes many many years ! I read all the comments and likely some of the comments are from fans that have never played the game and their remarks are not justified ! If you got all the answers then put on some skates and get a PTO with the Hawks and go for it , POPS 4
We’re seeing how low the Hawks can go-of the various teams that have hit the lower rung the hope factor could be the lowest with the Hawks. The Kings have a future, Senators, Canucks, NJ and even the Canadiens there is hope. (Arizona might be close with the Hawks)
Putting the off the ice stuff aside, who is in a deeper hole that the Hawks? They have two aging icons, and a number 1 d-man, who unfortunately was purchased as the ship is sinking. Good player, wrong time. The player with the most heart, and example of how to play is gone-yes for some capital.
They might have a goalie but you never know at that position.
The ‘Hope’ factor may be the lowest for any team in the league. Not much Grade A talent or possible talent. So I wouldn’t lose any sleep over the nuts and bolts for the next couple of years. Enjoy the spring.
Those “trans” performers had better energy than the hawks players.
Well the Kings played against the Queens. Perfect performance for the night.
Same issues, same comments.
Goose- u r cancelled!!!!
@POPS4 – Did you forget to get your Tim Hortons this morning? Why so ornery? It’s just a message board. We’re all having fun and venting about our beloved team. Sometimes we go off topic or take it a bit too far, but overall, I can tell that these are good guys and gals on this message board. Plus, you don’t need to own skates to see and smell manure on ice!
The Goose is on the Loose!
As always – best message board in sports, well at least in the USA!
I look forward to seeing what the young players who stay around look like with a new coach and new ideas with some new blood the next couple of years. King basically tried unsuccessfully to tweak what wasn’t working with Colliton. Don’t see an established coach taking this team right now but a Nhl ready assistant,ooking to add to his resume, who could come in with committed enthusiasm to see this rebuild through. That was reason I often mention Kettler but there are others out there who look at this as an opportunity as well who could be good fits. Unlike Bowman who it appeared tried to push a raw coach who wasn’t ready to coach in Nhl for his own glory.
Getting harder to see Toews and Kane wanying to stay around as this season goes on, see what brings, might not take too long to get a better frrl if a trade around the draft is to happen.
@Ian – I agree with you 100% on your 9:25AM post! We need an up and coming assistant who is ready to take the reigns and put his stamp on it. And, not some re-tread assistant, but one who has seen success first hand, has pedigree, is well respected, and has a plan. One, who knows what types of players will fit into his system, and not using our square pegs to fit his round holes. I don’t care if it’s Lalonde, Halpern, or Zettler, but we need to incorporate the TB system. I also agree that Kane and Toews’ body-language and lethargic play speak volumes! They will both be out of here at season’s end! I think they will be the ones that ask out! Wow, and I don’t even own ice-skates any more and yet I am able to have an intelligent opinion on hockey!
I enjoyed the broadcast despite the result. It will be a tough go for Vosters being the new voice of the Hawks during a rebuild. I already miss Foley. Time rolls on, I guess I better get used to it…
That game was really bad. Reichel looks uninterested in engaging physically, I suspect this changes when he matures physically, but he doesn’t look like he has any business playing at the NHL level right now.
Liked what I saw in Regula despite some obvious mistakes, his instincts look good and he made some nice individual plays in his own end and was not afraid to handle the puck in transition or in the O zone. Hope to see more of him going forward.
None of the forwards looked like they had any chemistry, which doesn’t surprise me since King keeps shuffling up the lines like it was the preseason, which in some way I guess it is.
Looking forward to hearing Foley Thursday, but I will lament that it will be the last time doing so. I really enjoy hearing his calls over the years and if I am being truthful, his calls made an unbearable season a little more palatable.
One thing to add…
I was watching Raddysh play away from the puck and I am certain that if we get this guy a real centerman who can pass, Raddysh will score 40 goals. The kids just gets it!
Vlasic and Regula – 1st pairing
Phillips and Seth Jones – 2nd pairing
Mitchell and Murphy – 3rd pairing
Get to the red line, dump the puck into the corner and go for a change. That’s the offense for your Chicago Blackhawks!! I’m not a Hockey guru but that’s definitely not a recipe for success and if that’s what they’re being coached to do then it’s all over but the crying.
Very very very disappointed in Toews play and effort. Captain really?
Let the kids play regardless of mistakes. The last 10 games must be used to evaluate what the team future may look like.
Hope to see more from Reichel in remaining games. Thus far he has been pretty weak. Dach’s game is not evolving and that should concern Hawk’s management. Vlasic and Regula must be played.
Foyle was awesome last night, pretty snarky but truthful. Going to miss his calls.
Wraparound – call me shortsighted by I would be ecstatic if the Hawks won the lottery and took Shane Wright. I’d rather have the bird in hand in 2022 than try to go the Buffalo route next season.
Tank the entire season hoping for Bedard and not win the lottery ( granted Eichel was nice consolation prize for Buffalo, they were soooooo disappointed about not getting McDavid the organization could not get over its tanking failed).
You just never know with the lottery. Things change so drastically year to year.
If the Hawks win the lottery and the Wild get to the Conference Final, we get picks 1 and say 29, to me it’s way better than waiting for 2 second rounder and multiple thirds.
Craig agree 100%, i have said Wright is a elite game changing prospect if fate were to give them the opportunity to draft him.
If you have Cat and Reichel as skilled wingers, Wright/Strome in the middle, plus Dach/Raddysh who need to learn to effectively take advantage of their size to become top 6 power forwards, while may not be final product, you have a pretty solid foundation to build your top 6 of future around. One or 2 may end up on 3rd line or moved out and replacements brought in but Wright could be a game changer on which to build a top 6 around.
Silly game, but i like the NEW Hawks size, like that they finish the checks, and have some speed and body the Kings d-men in the corners making that first entry pass much harder. Bigger and Faster is obviously good. Hawks have been just to easy to play against over the last five years with so little physicality in their game, just too easy to dump and jump on them. No speed north and south, always east west and waiting and looking sideways not up ice. Reichel still showing me nothing yet from my couch . . . he had a few opportunities to score and sort of didn’t. Would have liked to see him top shelve it. Too small really to play center and he’s in a meat grinder if he’s a forward, no grit to his game, this is the NHL, time and space are a premium. Dach is one guy who i still sort of like but to me . . . could be great trade bait as is Strome. King is not as bad as we think, certainly if he has a younger team, he can put in place a harder style and more physical play and get more responsible results. He’s working with a lot of “leftovers.” We need a goalie! today!
It doesnt take much to rebuild in the NHL 2022, two players can make a difference. CAT looks tired, Seth Jones always looks tired. go hawks
Sorry but it’s sad to think we’re looking for an up and coming “assistant coach” yes bench coaches are the life blood but this team has no “vision or style of play” that shows up every night.
I’m with Emily,s Dad, Get a Mike Keenan/Torts/Trots type of strong disciplinarian in here right away to change this country club open skate type of play with no structure. Start the transformation and learning these last 10 games and sit Toews and Kane. Stop skating Jones and Debrincat these outlandish minutes. This not ready to play games and floating through the motions has to come to an abrupt and hard end.
Torts. Just what we need – a coach that as soon as the team’s talent reaches a chance to jump ship through free agency, they leave quicker than the time it takes to recite Toews’ stat line of all zeros. And then you get to start over again, bringing in talent that asks to be traded.
Sounds like a winning combination to me. But I’ve been wrong before.
I’m not a regular contributor but I enjoy the site and the opinions. Please educate me. I thought Toews and Kane are under contract next year. Hawks still owe them both 6.9 million each. I never see guys with those types of contracts get moved in the NHL. Maybe at the deadline next year but who can afford them in the hard cap world of the NHL? Not even getting into that one of them can’t really play anymore.
How about leave the vets playing in Chicago,let the tank continue, move the top prospects back to Rockford since they are in the playoff or in the playoff race, let them play meaningful games, not garbage games where the coaches, and vet players have mailed it in already.
Windowten, 19 and 88 are under contract next year, if they chose not to go anywhere they won’t. As far trading big caphits, no different than signing a big name free agent to a big caphit, it happens. With ability to retain salary, the Blackhawks can retain up to 5.25m and taking back a bad contract or 3rd team involved to retain half of the half of the salary moving as well, happens regularly too.
If you remember earlier this year before Kane was moved to a line with Cat and Strome. The regular posts here had him having career ending injuries, washed up and seeing his decline. Even saw where he was hurting the team, couldn’t play well enough and should be on ltir rest of season for the good of team. Maybe Toews has a little more left to give yet than people him credit for and can bring back something if he really wants out.
I remember Mike Keenan behind the bench for the Hawks.
Hard Pass.
Getting a guy like Torts or Keenan means you want someone to punish the players for not being what you hope they would be. I have never seen a coach like that maintain long term success and even the short term success tends to be shorter than it should be.
Hard. Pass.
With Rfd not playing until Sat., then playing 4 games in 6 days, plus Reichels 9th game tomorrow, wouldn’t be surprised to see all 3 of Regula, Reichel, Vlassic go to down if Murphy is activated. One Dman may stay for him if he isn’t activated. Reichel could be recalled if they want to him to burn an elc year, that’s an easy problem to have.
Seems Keenan’s time in Chicago was a winning time with a trip to the finals. The players don’t need to like the coach just buy into his system. This ship needs to be righted and soon.
I have to shake my head at King’s comments. He effectively said we weren’t very good before and i decided not to make any meaningful changes. Call me crazy but if it sucked before that might be when you want to make some changes. As it is he’s going to go down without even swinging. Fine by me as he’s clearly in over his head and not long for the job. But i have no idea who he thinks would benefit from that approach/message.
Emily’s Dad – different era. Different league. Different mentality of players. No salary cap means far fewer kids.
Those days are over. I’ll go on the record that Keenan, Torts, Babcock and others like them are no longer coaches considered for this era of players.
Same thing happened to Parcells and Ditka in the NFL.
Seattle – King has phoned it in. The players have phoned it in. Most fans have phoned it in.
The only entities concerned about the Blackhawks right now are the taxing agencies and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Maybe we can be treated like an expansion team. Then we could be in the finals next year. Problems solved!!
Right now Fleury is #2 in Minnesota-their regular goalie has been lights out before and since 29 arrived. It will be interesting to see if he plays enough to allow the Hawks pick #1, assuming they make it that far.
Craig and Ian – yes I’m all in on Shane Wright if the Hawks were to win the lottery
That’s probably best case scenario
As I said if that were to happen it changes what you might want to do in net because then CBJ has the CHI first pick in 2023 so there’s no point in going for the Tank With Lank – maybe then get a good UFA goalie or trade for one to give the kids a chance to compete
Didn’t see the game. We will find out in July whether KD should have made more deals at the tdl for greater returns. This needs to be nearly a complete start-over with the objective of banking higher round picks and prospects. King’s pipeline at the top while Hawks near the bottom.
How about another home run like the Hagel trade. Raddysh looks like a middle six keeper and two future late 1st rounders coming. Need to make up for Stanbo’s trade disasters: Denault, Kevin Hayes, Forsling, Saad x 3, bringing back concussed Shaw. (Remember Stan trading their 2nd round pick to move up to get Hayes?)
Patience will need to be measured in years.
Kings’ pipeline near the top while Hawks’ near the bottom.
NOTE: We’ll try to correct blatantly wrong revisionist history if/when we can.
The Blackhawks did not trade up to get Kevin Hayes. The pick used to get Hayes was acquired from Atlanta in the salary dump trade that sent Byfuglien, Eager, Sopel and Akim Aliu to the Thrashers. The Blackhawks also received a 2nd round pick from Atlanta in that deal that was used on Justin Holl, who the Blackhawks wasted in the ECHL and is now playing a solid role for the Maple Leafs 12 years later.
If Original6 was referring to Jimmy Hayes (not Kevin), who the Blackhawks didn’t draft…
The Hawks traded a 2nd round pick in the ’10 draft to Toronto to get Jimmy Hayes (again, not Kevin). The Leafs used that pick on Brad Ross (the 43rd overall pick), who never appeared in an NHL game.
If we want to really run it back and whine about coulda shoulda moves… Tyler Toffoli was the 47th pick, Calle Jarnkrok was 51st and Jason Zucker was 59th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. The Blackhawks selected Holl, Kent Simpson and Stephen Johns in the 2nd round that year at 54, 58 and 60 overall, respectively.
@ Silent Spot How about old school Darryl Sutter in Calgary?
@ Noonan96 Fleury and Talbot are currently playing every other game.
Sutter doesn’t have the bad reputation among players that those other coaches have. Yes, old school but with an ability to keep players happy at the same time. The LA Kings players swore by him, but not at him.
I remember the story being told by the old Montreal Canadiens players: They absolutely hated Scotty Bowman every day, except for the days they got their Stanley Cup rings. That’s old school – and it just doesn’t fly with today’s generation of players. It will be interesting to see Sutter’s shelf life in Calgary.
Sorry, I stand corrected. In 2010 the Hawks had the 24th and 30th picks. They traded their 30th for two second round picks, not to move up to 24.
Keenan left a wake of destruction everywhere he went. I remember reading that Larmer left the Hawks as much to get away from Keenan only to have him follow to NY (and win the Cup.) Personally I think Keenan got lucky with the Rangers (probably helped that Messier was there.)
He always came in to a team poised to win, he never built anything from scratch and he always left a franchise worse off than when he arrived. Rangers excepted.
What is a coach like that going to do with a team rebuilding other than destroy young developing players?
Hard.
Pass.
Interesting on Messier as I was fact checking myuself: he was draft4ed in the third round, 48th overall in the 1979.
So the only guy to captain two different franchises to Cup wins was overlooked by every team twice before the Oilers selected him.
I guess DeBrincat lasting to the second round doesn’t seem all that extraordinary anymore…
Silent Spot again is SPOT ON….. LMFAO
Sick of all this ‘modern era’ coach, woke crap.
Tis a microcosm of a soft society if ever there was one. (said the South Side Chicago Minority who has thrown down many times due to racial slurs.)
If you have to ask, you are part of that soft society.
Given what we see as passing for a Blackhawks coach nowadays, I will take a Keenan or a Torts 10 out of 10 times.
So what if your nose gets a little bloody or your feelings get hurt? (poor little poopy-doopy)
Man up, lace me up, and go get dirty in the corners and in front of the net.
You can put a little ice on your boo-boo and massage your feelings with a beer after the game as you and your teammates laugh about the win.
Sheesh. Modern day society….Good thing the soldiers of Ukraine do not have the modern day thought process that is present in the USA.
Again, if you have to ask………………………
Perimeter, problem is too much of that type of attitude in 2010 is what brought this organization down in the last year.
Perimeter, I am on board with your thoughts on the next coaching staff and general organizational philosophy. Never throw your hands up and succumb to the “Times have Changed” philosophy of building an organization from the ground up. Although give the new Danny Wirtz front office,I fear we are in for a continuation of a soft organization.
TimW, chances of an old time established coach at this point are probably not going happen anyways. I’m all for a tough forward thinking coach like Sutter. He probably has a better relationship with his players than any coach, they love playing for him. He innovates with the times, not only have they all bought into 200 ft game, he uses 3 forward forecheck to create possession for offense. Reinventing his if you have the puck the opponents don’t score philosohy to lead in most defensive categories too. He doesn’t want them going for the crushing body checks and getting caught out of position, rather instilling the finishing of your check to keep constant pressure on the opponents all over the ice. Would love to see that type play from Blackhawks. A Tortorella disaster waiting to blame somebody approach, a hard pass.
My God, the “Soft Organization” narrative, the Hawks were accused of being Soft when they were in the middle of their Cup runs. They were always accused of letting teams run over them, so much so that it was shocking when Keith got suspended for a “cheap” retaliation hit the first time he did it.
Every year the Hawks didn’t make it to the finals the boo birds on this blog and others lamented how the Hawks were always getting out hit by their opponents. They were never tough enough. The three Cups and two conference finals were just a fluke?
This team is lacking talent and bringing in an abusive coach isn’t going to change that. All these old school coaches that are being named here as the “type” the Hawks “need” have one thing in common. They were cruel. They resorted to abuse as motivation. That is akin to using a cattle prod on an animal to get it to perform. It doesn’t work, it is cruel, and there are much better ways to get players to perform. There is no place for it now or then.
Why not bring in a Jon Cooper type coach? Players adore him. The Tamp Organization seems beloved among the NHL and he doesn’t have a reputation for being cruel like the “old school” coaches mentioned here as what the Hawks need. Oh and he has multiple Cup wins and is the longest tenured Coach in the NHL right now. Maybe the Hawks could find someone more like him or at least someone from his coaching tree?
Old school is code for abusive. The Hawks don’t need tough love, they need talent. No coach, old school or new is going to fix that. Fix the talent stream, then find the right guy to develop that talent. Screw the “old school.”
I look around at the successful organizations and I see a bunch of hard-core accountability types. Watch Jon Cooper,s pressers and there is an edge there. You have Darryl Sutter,Craig Berube,Mike Sullivan, Barry Trots, even Dean Evason of the Wild is hard-core. Cassidy from Boston is also tough on the players. Todd McClellan from the Kings is another. Bednar from the Avalanche is on top of players on the bench instructive wise most of the games I would say with that large sample that the “Old School” types are pretty successful right now.
TimW, who said they didn’t want a coach who demanded alot of the team and made them work. Those coaches you name are commended for building relationships with their players and having their players backs at all times. What i see people not wanting are the Torts and Keenan types who do none of those kind of things.
Ian, Besides Torts himself,and Keenan is an old folks home,I don’t think there is anyone near his type out there. Hitchcock and Gallant are close but I think Hitchcock is also done from taking on coaching. Babcock is way too toxic for are current organization. I thought Tippett was kind of weak at the end of his Oiler tenure. I would look at a Lane Lambert or a Kirk Muller type maybe even John Stevens. Whoever it is they are going to need a quality staff with all the youth here and the coaching that they are going to have to do. I just hope it is someone with a solid background and equipped with a system and discipline.
Lane Lambert would be a great choice, not a Muller fan, he’s been associate coach on a couple of occasions, gets passed over for a reason.
King should talk to Gallant about passengers, Gallant believes in distributing ice time to those dressed. He says if you treat them like a passenger and give them 5 or 6 shifts they will act like one.