Coach Discussion: Warsofsky

[Yummyshark]

Warsofsky is doing a solid job IMO - just compare the vibes and locker room in SJ to Chicago, night and day difference, and a lot of that is on the coach. This team also overachieved given what is an atrocious roster - Sharks have only 3 or 4 guys that would be second liners / second pair on any decent team this season (zero first liners / top pair) and the worst goalie tandem seen in decades. Meanwhile Chicago has overall better talent (Donato, Bedard, Pickles 2, Teravainen, Bertuzzi, Knight, Mikeyev, Nazar) and yet stand a very good chance of out-tanking the Sharks. This isn't even talking about the development of some of the young players too, which has seemed pretty good.

Who knows if he will translate when better talent arrives, but I'd be shocked if he were replaced this off season, even if "S-tier" candidates become available.

 

[matt trick]

I think we could hire Carle right now- San Jose is likely the most attractive option, with Chicago in the second position. However, I think Warsofsky has done an admirable job. With Blackwood, Granlund, Zetterlund, Ceci, and Walman the team was significantly better than last year, even if the record will finish with a modest improvement. More importantly Smith, Eklund, and Muk have all shown significant improvements. The vibes are good, and we'll be getting our third (or four) straight top 5 picks. His system (and clever acquisitions by Grier) allowed for Walman and Granlund to be converted into first round picks.

Other than Celebrini going from 1C to franchise C next year, and Askarov being league-average as a rookie, not sure how the team takes a big step. Hopefully we can add 3 long-term pieces in the summer (two top four dmen, one top 6 forward).

The way contracts are structured, I think next year will be another rebuild year with Wennberg, Ferraro, Liljigren, Thrun, Delly, and Grundstrom moved on, but I do think it'll be the last one. In such a scenario, I think the way to measure Warso's success is continued growth because we'll still be bottom 3 in talent. The following year will shift to a performance based analysis.

 

[coooldude]

Cross post from a different thread: here are three POV's from players/coaches who like Warso, and why they did. For completeness, I'd love the other POV (are there three players who would go on record on why they didn't like him? probably not on the record... but I'd like to know the other side of this).

tl;dr / didn't pay:

• Seems to be good at communicating to individuals differently depending on what they need and coaching them how to be leaders (Noesen) -- as in, some players need the old school tough message and some need softer hands / more strengths-based
• Seems to be good at development and helping players play into their strengths to get them up into the NHL (Noesen, Chatfield, Kochetkov)
• Minor mentions of his "system" but I can't tell from this if the players see it as differentiated vs other coaches' systems and my thesis remains: most coaches are probably fungible and not differentiated on the systems they try to install, may be variably effective in keeping players to that system.

 

[vortexx]

Warsofsky was on Spittin' Chiclets talking about the World Championships, Smith, Celebrini, and some Sharks offseason talk.

Some notes on the Sharks offseason talk, they asked him what he thinks the Sharks could look to add this summer and Warso mentions we look good down the middle, Celebrini 1C, Smith 2C, Wennberg 3C. Says the backend definitely needs to improve and they need to add to that group. Getting a guy to that can run the powerplay is important.


Interview with Warso starts at the 1:42:12 mark

 

[Red Light Lover]

In that interview, when they're talking about Jumbo being great to have around, Warsofsky mentions a 23yo Russian who skipped the optional practice. I'm paraphrasing but did anyone else catch that? Was he talking about Gushchin?

 

[Yummyshark]

In that interview, when they're talking about Jumbo being great to have around, Warsofsky mentions a 23yo Russian who skipped the optional practice. I'm paraphrasing but did anyone else catch that? Was he talking about Gushchin?

Gushchin, Muk, Ask all fit age wise but the latter two don't seem to be it. Kovs is too old but if not for that he would be my guess. So most likely Gush. You could tell Warso instantly regretted mentioning that haha.

 

[vortexx]

In that interview, when they're talking about Jumbo being great to have around, Warsofsky mentions a 23yo Russian who skipped the optional practice. I'm paraphrasing but did anyone else catch that? Was he talking about Gushchin?

That's a good catch. I believe he says 22 year old Russian and other than Guschin the only other guy I can think of is Mukhamadullin. But he mentions this was early in the year (season) and Mukh was out with injury early on, so I think it must be Guschin he is talking about.

Edit: It's around the 1:57:54 mark

 

[Jargon]

I haven’t listened to the whole interview yet but I really like Warsofsky. Seems like a really smart guy who really cares about the players — obviously he can do well with a good team. I hope he survives long enough here to see what he can do with a real roster.

 

[Sharksfan66]

That was a fun watch. Warskofsky really seems to have a good mind for the game and I'm excited to see what he'll be able to do with a better roster in the years to come. Glad we have him in the fold.

I didn't love how he talked about the 22 year old kid "from Russia". When unneccary details like that slip out in someone telling a story, I've found that's usually pretty telling. Hopefully someone in the org will work with him on this, because if he can see Askarov, Muk, Cherny, etc. like he sees Smith and Celebrini, he sure seems like the coach who can bring out the best in them all!

 

[rideaucrusher21]

Wars did all you could ask for this season imo. But he needs to be verrry careful about how he talks to and treats his Russian players. If this were a standalone incident, I wouldn’t give it much thought, just hockey talk among some guys. But you combine this with I believe Kovalenko’s comments earlier in the year about how the coach doesn’t like Russian players and it gives me pause. Hopefully it turns out to be nothing

 

[Anomie2029]

He just happen to have a "slip" about a Russian player?.. I'm sure that's just a coincidence.

I really want him to do well, but it's crap like that and persisting with certain players that frustrate the living shit out of me.

 

[BaybayShark]

I always knew Kovalenko was telling the truth

 

[matt trick]

He spoke rather positively about Muk as well. He shouldn’t have said it. However, I think Muk, Cherny, and Askarov will be big parts of the future, and Warso will bring those three along well.

I also wouldn’t be surprised if Koistin is brought back. I know no one wants that, but Warso has spoken positively about him, he knows the system, has some size and some skill. He (and Afanysev) are good roadblocks to put in front of Cherny. I expect Cherny will have a Graf like year where he grabs a spot near the deadline and doesn’t look back. In the meantime, having options for the last top 9 forward ain’t bad (I’m hoping we grab two guys like Marchment, Ehlers, Granny, or Kreider to play with Smith).

 

[Cas]

He spoke rather positively about Muk as well. He shouldn’t have said it. However, I think Muk, Cherny, and Askarov will be big parts of the future, and Warso will bring those three along well.

I also wouldn’t be surprised if Koistin is brought back. I know no one wants that, but Warso has spoken positively about him, he knows the system, has some size and some skill. He (and Afanysev) are good roadblocks to put in front of Cherny.

Kostin has skill? Maybe on practice ice, but he sure doesn't have any in actual games. He's a big plug, not NHL quality.

 

[matt trick]

Kostin has skill? Maybe on practice ice, but he sure doesn't have any in actual games. He's a big plug, not NHL quality.

He’s got skill. He just has no brain.

 

[jMoneyBrah]

Kostin has skill? Maybe on practice ice, but he sure doesn't have any in actual games. He's a big plug, not NHL quality.

Kostin has good enough hands to convince himself he should try to dangle the last defender to drive the net instead of just taking the shot from the middle of the slot. If Kostin just shot the puck or made a pass instead of going for that last dangle he’d have more success. Not, like, an earth shattering amount more, but more.

 

[SJS1991]

I think the context of the “22 year old Russian” is understood not only from the story that it was brought up in but the whole interview.

Specifically the context of the story… he is discussing how Jumbo (a legend, hockey hall of famer type) has never taking an optional. How even though he is retired, it’s like he is on the team and practicing with the boys.

In other parts of the interview, he is talking about needing to drag Mack off the ice. Or how guys at the worlds are asking to be coach hard during a nothing tournament. Or how he as the ECHL coach was putting flares out at 3am in the morning as everyone slept and the driver hit a deer with the bus.

Warso clearly values a certain work ethic and if you don’t have that… he likely is going to feel a certain way and that’s probably where the comment is born out of. His disbelief that someone in that 22’s position is taking an optional.

I think he could have made it more unclear and just said we have young guys or some 22 year old that is doing this. Instead of adding the qualifier of “Russian”… won’t help him beat the allegations that Kovalenko put out there.

 

[Hodge]

Kostin should never play another game in the NHL.

 

[sampler]

I am glad to see Warso talking about the D. Pretty obvious that is priority one this offseason. and not just filler like desharnais but someone who can run a PP (namely, likely, a top pair quality guy)....

One high quality Dman added this offseason would instantly transform the roster. Hell, such a player would play nearly half the game, and if Dick steps into the NHL and finds his footing and mukh can take a bigger role and stay healthy, the long term D core would begin to take shape.

It's pretty obvious that the sharks needs basically an entire new defensive core, so its good to hear Warso call it out publicly and put Grier on the seat.

 

[coooldude]

It's pretty obvious that the sharks needs basically an entire new defensive core, so its good to hear Warso call it out publicly and put Grier on the seat.

You have this backwards. Warsofsky works for Grier. If he's saying it publicly, he knows it's Grier's (his boss's) plan and he knows it's okay to say it to the media. This isn't Warsofsky trying to pull a move on his boss. It's also clear as day to all of us that the defense needs to improve so he's not saying anything revolutionary.

 

[Sharksfan66]

I think the context of the “22 year old Russian” is understood not only from the story that it was brought up in but the whole interview.

Specifically the context of the story… he is discussing how Jumbo (a legend, hockey hall of famer type) has never taking an optional. How even though he is retired, it’s like he is on the team and practicing with the boys.

In other parts of the interview, he is talking about needing to drag Mack off the ice. Or how guys at the worlds are asking to be coach hard during a nothing tournament. Or how he as the ECHL coach was putting flares out at 3am in the morning as everyone slept and the driver hit a deer with the bus.

Warso clearly values a certain work ethic and if you don’t have that… he likely is going to feel a certain way and that’s probably where the comment is born out of. His disbelief that someone in that 22’s position is taking an optional.

I think he could have made it more unclear and just said we have young guys or some 22 year old that is doing this. Instead of adding the qualifier of “Russian”… won’t help him beat the allegations that Kovalenko put out there.

I think you framed the context well, but I actually think this makes it worse. What I mean by that is I agree, he was clearly is disbelief over the 22 year old kid's lack of work ethic. And I LIKE that he holds a high standard here. I think that bodes well for our team's future.

BUT the fact that he can't seem to help himself adding "from Russia" as he looks down with pretty obvious disgust is concerning. Like I don't know how to interpret this other than Warso at a gut level sees some connection between being Russian and not working hard.

I'm not saying we should cancel the guy. But I hope GMMG addresses it privately and appropriately with him.

 

[SJS1991]

I think you framed the context well, but I actually think this makes it worse. What I mean by that is I agree, he was clearly is disbelief over the 22 year old kid's lack of work ethic. And I LIKE that he holds a high standard here. I think that bodes well for our team's future.

BUT the fact that he can't seem to help himself adding "from Russia" as he looks down with pretty obvious disgust is concerning. Like I don't know how to interpret this other than Warso at a gut level sees some connection between being Russian and not working hard.

I'm not saying we should cancel the guy. But I hope GMMG addresses it privately and appropriately with him.

Yeah that’s why I said I don’t see him beating the allegations any time soon. But I don’t know, Warso might have experiences with young players from the KHL and MHL and/or the VHL… that maybe he is of the belief they have, on average, a worse work ethic??? Maybe because if they are coming from the KHL they figure they have “made” it and are going from one pro league to another.

Don’t really know… but he is a very young coach and there has only been 1 reported issue (Kovalenko). And it’s not like there aren’t other Russian players or Sharks organizational members that are too.

Going to give him the benefit of the doubt until more evidence pops up and it becomes a clear issue.

 

[Sysreq]

I think it was Danil Gushchin. Probably why they buried him.