2014-2015 NHL Thread

[Toppy Vann]

The house cleaning has started in Toronto with the firing of GM Dave Nonis and coach Peter Horachek.

Nonis earned it. Not so sure the coach had a chance to succeed.

Would not be surprised if Nonis turns up in Calgary, with his mentor, Burke.

Now for the players ...

When you give the GM the rope Nonis had and you get 5 wins in 42 games after you fire a Stanley Cup winning coach you do deserve to be fired.

Each of the top core players might have talent but together this core in their team is rotten.

The assistant as HC has likely got fewer wins than Carlyle would have got as he comes across as a deer in the headlights type here.

Let's face it - some of these NHL coaches get so caught up in their 'systems' and line combos and how they want players to play a game that is simple that they do more harm than good. Like soccer (passing and ball control) the essence of hockey is passing and puck control. It isn't rocket science.

[WestCoastJoe]

Nonis earned it. Not so sure the coach had a chance to succeed.

Would not be surprised if Nonis turns up in Calgary, with his mentor, Burke.

Now for the players ...

When you give the GM the rope Nonis had and you get 5 wins in 42 games after you fire a Stanley Cup winning coach you do deserve to be fired.

Each of the top core players might have talent but together this core in their team is rotten.

The assistant as HC has likely got fewer wins than Carlyle would have got as he comes across as a deer in the headlights type here.

Let's face it - some of these NHL coaches get so caught up in their 'systems' and line combos and how they want players to play a game that is simple that they do more harm than good. Like soccer (passing and ball control) the essence of hockey is passing and puck control. It isn't rocket science.

Take away the instincts, take away the confidence, which many coaches do, and your team will lose game after game. Over-coaching. Too much stuff in the head. Ragging on guys. Chemistry and personalities also.

Burke, with all his BS talk of pugnacity and truculence, seems to think it is fine to tell a young guy that he will drive him to the bus stop, that a guy needs more character. That might have worked years ago, but it is a very dangerous formula these days. Burke failed big time in Toronto. I would not mind seeing him fail in Calgary, which does seem to have some good young talent.

Burke acquired Kessel, Phaneuf, Kadri, et cetera. IMO Phaneuf might be very good with the right team. Detroit would probably have been terrific for him.

[TheLionKing]

Toronto's top 3 scorers (Kessel, van Riemsyk and Bozak) had a total of -97. That's all you need to know why the Uncoachables are on the golf course.

[Sir Purrcival]

You know, I have always thought that Nonis was overrated as a GM. What exactly has he accomplished in that role? All he has ever seemed to do is hang on the coat tails of Burke and when he has taken over for Burke when he was summarily canned, he hasn't managed to guide a team to much success on his own merit.

[Toppy Vann]

Nonis earned it. Not so sure the coach had a chance to succeed.

Would not be surprised if Nonis turns up in Calgary, with his mentor, Burke.

Now for the players ...

When you give the GM the rope Nonis had and you get 5 wins in 42 games after you fire a Stanley Cup winning coach you do deserve to be fired.

Each of the top core players might have talent but together this core in their team is rotten.

The assistant as HC has likely got fewer wins than Carlyle would have got as he comes across as a deer in the headlights type here.

Let's face it - some of these NHL coaches get so caught up in their 'systems' and line combos and how they want players to play a game that is simple that they do more harm than good. Like soccer (passing and ball control) the essence of hockey is passing and puck control. It isn't rocket science.

Take away the instincts, take away the confidence, which many coaches do, and your team will lose game after game. Over-coaching. Too much stuff in the head. Ragging on guys. Chemistry and personalities also.

Burke, with all his BS talk of pugnacity and truculence, seems to think it is fine to tell a young guy that he will drive him to the bus stop, that a guy needs more character. That might have worked years ago, but it is a very dangerous formula these days. Burke failed big time in Toronto. I would not mind seeing him fail in Calgary, which does seem to have some good young talent.

Burke acquired Kessel, Phaneuf, Kadri, et cetera. IMO Phaneuf might be very good with the right team. Detroit would probably have been terrific for him.

I think from the roast they did when Burke left Vancouver that the players and everyone know that the Burke bluster is just that. I think he was really liked as he is a straight shooter.

I remember Brendan Morrison telling the story of how he was the mouse on the elephant (Naslund and Bertuzzi) at arbitration. He told that at the roast played on radio and it struck me that he just knew it was Brian's style. But if people know they are in the guy's good books they like him. My sense of it.

But WCJ is right - you can't tell younger players these days - my way or the airport.

In a team where the core underperforms they set the standards and pressures go on others in subtle ways to not rock the boat.

I read where a Leaf player 4th liner? was suggesting it was insane in their room as good play with lower tier players was rewarded by being a healthy scratch the next game (the acting HC was in charge then).

When I listen to some of the speeches these pro coaches make they are honestly head scratchers as they seem unfocused and not in touch.

[TheLionKing]

What a game between Montreal and Ottawa. Both teams combined for 6 goals in a 9 minute span in the 2nd period. Montreal won 4-3

[TheLionKing]

Flames score with 30 seconds left to take game 1. Heartbreaking loss

[sj-roc]

Flames score with 30 seconds left to take game 1. Heartbreaking loss

Why didn't they call a timeout? Did they already use it?

[TheLionKing]

You can only call a time-out when there is a stoppage in play. Calgary had the puck the whole time before they finally scored.

[sj-roc]

You can only call a time-out when there is a stoppage in play. Calgary had the puck the whole time before they finally scored.

I mean just after the goal.

[TheLionKing]

Peter Mrazek was outstanding as Detroit stole the first game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay outshot Detroit 44-14

[KnowItAll]

Peter Mrazek was outstanding as Detroit stole the first game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay outshot Detroit 44-14

then there is scott darling. 42-0

[Toppy Vann]

Ed Willes column is a downer on the 'nucks in playoffs...lol. Sounds so negative I think they should just concede now...lol.

[sj-roc]

Desjardins is drawing heat in some circles after the loss for not giving the Sedins enough ice time, only 16-17mins versus 20 or more as some other teams have given their top lines. His comments since the game indicate he intends to continue rolling all four lines. Sedins for their part aren't complaining, which is the smart reaction, publicly at least. Defensive pairings have also had balanced workloads with every blueliner getting in the 17-23min range.

On paper, the Canucks have the edge in playoff experience among players but the Flames with Hartley, with a Cup win in Colorado (albeit nearly 15 years ago and inheriting a good team, and not a lot of success since then), would have the coaching edge over the NHL rookie behind the Canucks bench. Hartley's top three forwards all got at least 18mins, with three D-men over 26min and two over 29. Will be interesting to see how this storyline evolves.

[TheLionKing]

Canucks take an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Daniel Sedin.