Coaching is a serious problem.

[Miller Time]

I don’t think me not talking about him is doing anyone any favours. He was a breath of fresh air when he came in compared to the dinosaurs we had been running with. But even if this team is young and filled with a bunch of has-beens, they’re still capable of playing structured hockey. I don’t care if they lose, it’s how they’re losing that’s concerning. Taking a step back several years into a rebuild shouldn’t be happening. That’s how you build a losing culture.

I don't see a "step back". I see 10 games with ups & downs, which shouldn't be a surprise for the youngest roster in the league playing without their #1 dman and key offseason addition.

Realistic expectations might shift the perspective a bit

 

[Walrus26]

I don't see a "step back". I see 10 games with ups & downs, which shouldn't be a surprise for the youngest roster in the league playing without their #1 dman and key offseason addition.

Realistic expectations might shift the perspective a bit

This is an inherently reasonable view and one that I inherently want to agree with.

However, what I saw last night was a team that either had no clue what it was trying to do or simply didn't give a toss. And not for the first time.

Some of that is on the washed up vets, but the coaching (or the relationship between the squad and the coaches) is usually the root cause of this sort of meltdown in most pro team sports.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Last night was probably his worst coaching display.

Monty didnt have it. Yeah the deflections on the first two goals were tough but he hadn't made a save and you are down 2-0 early.

Either you pull him at 2 and use it as a mini timeout, or you take a timeout and settle.

At goal 3 he absolutely should be out. But no timeout, no pull. Doing a timeout after 4 goals down is too late. Getting one back and not putting Primeau in for period 2 was just as big of an error. Monty let's in an absolute laughter and it's over.

Putting Armia and Newhook out on a 4 on 4 when they shouldn't even be on a line together for the last 4 games? Insults my intelligence as a fan of the game. These two are not a duo. They shouldn't play 5 on 5 together and absolutey should not be out on 4 on 4

Lastly this is more on everyone but Dvorak hasn't made a play this season which wasn't a huge net negative. Time to put his ass on waivers and send a wake up call.

 

[ReHabs]

Lastly this is more on everyone but Dvorak hasn't made a play this season which wasn't a huge net negative. Time to put his ass on waivers and send a wake up call.

A roster move is quite necessary right now, I agree. Hughes needs to shake things up and remind the players they're not in a daycamp but are professional athletes with massive salaries.

 

[Tyson]

Last night was probably his worst coaching display.

Monty didnt have it. Yeah the deflections on the first two goals were tough but he hadn't made a save and you are down 2-0 early.

Either you pull him at 2 and use it as a mini timeout, or you take a timeout and settle.

At goal 3 he absolutely should be out. But no timeout, no pull. Doing a timeout after 4 goals down is too late. Getting one back and not putting Primeau in for period 2 was just as big of an error. Monty let's in an absolute laughter and it's over.

Putting Armia and Newhook out on a 4 on 4 when they shouldn't even be on a line together for the last 4 games? Insults my intelligence as a fan of the game. These two are not a duo. They shouldn't play 5 on 5 together and absolutey should not be out on 4 on 4

Lastly this is more on everyone but Dvorak hasn't made a play this season which wasn't a huge net negative. Time to put his ass on waivers and send a wake up call.

A roster move is quite necessary right now, I agree. Hughes needs to shake things up and remind the players they're not in a daycamp but are professional athletes with massive salaries.

 

[Tyson]

The kids are caught in the middle of being surrounded bu useless vets and inexperienced coaches. This is exactly what has happened over the years with the AHL roster. Coaching and crappy, uncaring vets.
Hughes and Gorton have to shake this roster up, these young players cannot be exposed to this type of coaching and leadership.

Some young player has to step up and lead this team, someone like Slaf or Guhle.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Not a coaching problem. It's a fans/media problem being too premature... expecting us to rise up faster than reality.

Rebuilds and transition years requires patience. In about 5 years time, our fan base will be happy with our team in the playoffs because I think we will be a top 10 team by then. What will our fan base say to other teams that need a rebuild at that point? Their message will be different than it was 3+ years ago. They will say rebuilds are risky and take a lot of time. Human physiology at it's finest.

 

[RationalExpectations]

Not a coaching problem. It's a fans/media problem being too premature... expecting us to rise up faster than reality.

Rebuilds and transition years requires patience. In about 5 years time, our fan base will be happy with our team in the playoffs because I think we will be a top 10 team by then. What will our fan base say to other teams that need a rebuild at that point? Their message will be different than it was 3+ years ago. They will say rebuilds are risky and take a lot of time. Human physiology at it's finest.

As happy as a BUF sabres fan possibly. If you rush a rebuild you will fail, if you are too patient with a rebuild you will fail. When your first line players are in their D+6 to D+8 years and you don't see any result, either the core is not good enough or the rest of the roster needs major shake up (see what TBL did with Coleman Goodrow Hagel..., FLA with Reinhard, Montour, Verhaege, Tkachuk, Bennett...) you can't just say the draft and development will take care of everything, it is completely false.

 

[BLONG7]

Last night was probably his worst coaching display.

Monty didnt have it. Yeah the deflections on the first two goals were tough but he hadn't made a save and you are down 2-0 early.

Either you pull him at 2 and use it as a mini timeout, or you take a timeout and settle.

At goal 3 he absolutely should be out. But no timeout, no pull. Doing a timeout after 4 goals down is too late. Getting one back and not putting Primeau in for period 2 was just as big of an error. Monty let's in an absolute laughter and it's over.

Putting Armia and Newhook out on a 4 on 4 when they shouldn't even be on a line together for the last 4 games? Insults my intelligence as a fan of the game. These two are not a duo. They shouldn't play 5 on 5 together and absolutey should not be out on 4 on 4

Lastly this is more on everyone but Dvorak hasn't made a play this season which wasn't a huge net negative. Time to put his ass on waivers and send a wake up call.

As a fan of MSL..................I absolutely agree with this...he had a real tough night, again, more than Monty.

If the boys upstairs think we will be in the mix, you will see something happen soon, like a trade, or some movement again between Laval and the big club. Something...............as for the coach, they tell me Grillo is suppose to help Marty in his decisions...........yikes, it is not working.

 

[BLONG7]

Not a coaching problem. It's a fans/media problem being too premature... expecting us to rise up faster than reality.

Rebuilds and transition years requires patience. In about 5 years time, our fan base will be happy with our team in the playoffs because I think we will be a top 10 team by then. What will our fan base say to other teams that need a rebuild at that point? Their message will be different than it was 3+ years ago. They will say rebuilds are risky and take a lot of time. Human physiology at it's finest.

Somewhat agree..................that said a good coach knows how a timeout, or a goalie change can help a team. MSL has made some weird decisions recently. Too many.
I think he needs an Associate coach beside him.

 

[sandviper]

Last night was probably his worst coaching display.

Monty didnt have it. Yeah the deflections on the first two goals were tough but he hadn't made a save and you are down 2-0 early.

Either you pull him at 2 and use it as a mini timeout, or you take a timeout and settle.

At goal 3 he absolutely should be out. But no timeout, no pull. Doing a timeout after 4 goals down is too late. Getting one back and not putting Primeau in for period 2 was just as big of an error. Monty let's in an absolute laughter and it's over.

Putting Armia and Newhook out on a 4 on 4 when they shouldn't even be on a line together for the last 4 games? Insults my intelligence as a fan of the game. These two are not a duo. They shouldn't play 5 on 5 together and absolutey should not be out on 4 on 4

Lastly this is more on everyone but Dvorak hasn't made a play this season which wasn't a huge net negative. Time to put his ass on waivers and send a wake up call.

Last night was a shit show but even veteran coaches have stinkers. I think a lot of MSL’s development can benefit from this if he can show he learn from some things in this game; particularly handling such a sudden shift in momentum and settling the team down.

That said, still think a veteran assistant or associate would benefit him.

 

[Egresch]

Our defense personnel is a big issue and Hughes needs to address it. Guhle is the only guy who is reliable defensively. Struble is OKish and Xhekaj is struggling. They relied on Savard, but he just terrible. Should have traded him and kept Kovacevic, but I guess the sentiment of "good vet mentor" was too strong. He regressed heavily during the summer which is concerning to me. He knew he is overweight and did nothing to prolong his career. Slaf dropped 10 lbs during the summer, but Savard needed to do the same. Matheson, Hutson, Barron, Mailloux are all offensive Ds. We should probably consider trading one of Barron/Mailloux. I am scared they will extend Matheson.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

I see this thread has suddenly reached the top of the pile again.

Must’ve been a rough one.

 

[morhilane]

I see this thread has suddenly reached the top of the pile again.

Must’ve been a rough one.

Statistically Habs should have won 5-3.

This was all on the first few minutes of the game with them not showing up on time again and Monty failing at tracking pucks.

Then some of the vets just threw the towel at some point. This team needs a shake up. A trade, waive Dvorak, whatever. Even Suzuki sounded totally out of it post game.

 

[BergevinBurner]

I feel like St.Louis is safe this season, but how the remainder of the season plays out probably decides if he's he to start the next. With (hopefully) Demidov and a full season of Laine next year our offense should be fine, that's why I'd like to see a heavy focus on improving team defense throughout the year.

If we're getting blown out as often in the 2nd half of the year as we are in the first half then I'm not so sure Marty's the guy. We're not going to win many games, let alone the cup, if we're giving up as many scoring chances as we have been through the first 10.

 

[le_sean]

A piss poor critique is a piss poor critique... That it's directed at MSL is irrelevant.

MSL isn't beyond reproach, and, clueless rants about each loss are well deserving of deep reproach.

Pretty simple, no?

So you’ve got nothing to say, got it. You're fine with the lack of accountability, the lack of in-game adjustments and fine with a system where everyone looks like chickens with theirs heads cut off.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Statistically Habs should have won 5-3.

This was all on the first few minutes of the game with them not showing up on time again and Monty failing at tracking pucks.

Then some of the vets just threw the towel at some point. This team needs a shake up. A trade, waive Dvorak, whatever. Even Suzuki sounded totally out of it post game.

Last year of his deal. Would definitely send a message. They could bring in Beck…

 

[Saundies]

Last night was probably his worst coaching display.

Monty didnt have it. Yeah the deflections on the first two goals were tough but he hadn't made a save and you are down 2-0 early.

Either you pull him at 2 and use it as a mini timeout, or you take a timeout and settle.

At goal 3 he absolutely should be out. But no timeout, no pull. Doing a timeout after 4 goals down is too late. Getting one back and not putting Primeau in for period 2 was just as big of an error. Monty let's in an absolute laughter and it's over.

Putting Armia and Newhook out on a 4 on 4 when they shouldn't even be on a line together for the last 4 games? Insults my intelligence as a fan of the game. These two are not a duo. They shouldn't play 5 on 5 together and absolutey should not be out on 4 on 4

Lastly this is more on everyone but Dvorak hasn't made a play this season which wasn't a huge net negative. Time to put his ass on waivers and send a wake up call.

Perfectly summed up. This game and the Rangers game, I don't care what level you coach, you call a timeout after you get 4 goals scored on you in the first ten minutes. Ideally you call a timeout after the third goal. Two goals you can come back from. Three in 10 minutes? Something needs to be done. At least he actually called one this game unlike against NYR.

I just don't find he has a feel for the game as a coach. It took him way too long to move Slaf up last year (based on merit) and the only reason he did was because of injuries. This game (not that it would have helped) he broke Dach/Nick/Cole up super quick after they've played really well for two games and then all of our lines kind of floundered. Ideally your second line (at this point) is more "Who's going besides Cole/Nick/Whoever" and they play up.

 

[StCaufield]

I’m not on the fire MSL train but if they do then I don’t want a players coach at all

 

[Hannibal]

He wont be the coach when we will be contenders, because he won’t make us contender. Terrible terrible coach. Afraid of his vets, no structur. Nothing.

 

[StCaufield]

The “rebuild takes time” comment is such a cop out answer. I’m not saying this team should be a contender but they’ve regressed. Last year with half of an AHL team there was more compete and like 40 1 goal games. Games like last night are a prime example of how they’ve regressed and how coaching hasn’t gotten any better. Something needs to change

 

[le_sean]

I’m not on the fire MSL train but if they do then I don’t want a players coach at all

Don’t need to fire him. He has value as a communicator. But hire an assistant with loads of experience, which is what they should have done on Day 1 when he was hired. Instead they surrounded a Peewee coach with even more inexperience.

 

[StCaufield]

Don’t need to fire him. He has value as a communicator. But hire an assistant with loads of experience, which is what they should have done on Day 1 when he was hired. Instead they surrounded a Peewee coach with even more inexperience.

Lol he should be the assistant coach

 

[Miller Time]

Suzuki D+8, CC, Dach Newhook D+6, Slaf should be top 6 in his D+3, Guhle Barron Xhekaj D+5, Matheson, Savard seasoned veterans.

Suzuki is top 5-8 from his draft class, career best ppg through first 10 games.

CC, top 5 from his draft class, T-1st in league for goals

Newhook is a top 10 player from his draft class

Dach is coming off a missed season... But quite arguably better than Newhook.

Slaf remains best player from his draft class and is obviously a top 6 player

Guhle is top 1-2 dman from his draft year

Barron still a top 5 dman from his draft class, despite his inconsistent play

Xhekaj was undrafted... Everything we get from him is gravy

If this core does not make the playoff when they are entering their prime maybe it is not the right core.

Suzuki is 25
Slaf is 20

When is our core "entering their prime"?

The teams you mentioned above took time to win the cup (more or less if you look at CHI or PIT once their 1C was drafted) but were quite quickly in the playoffs.

Kings missed PO's 5 of 6 years before cup
Hawks missed 9 of 11 seasons before cup
Bolts missed 5 of 6 before Cooper's 1st season
Pens missed 4 of 5 seasons before Crosby's first finals

So you’ve got nothing to say, got it. You're fine with the lack of accountability, the lack of in-game adjustments and fine with a system where everyone looks like chickens with theirs heads cut off.

Ranting is fine and good... Don't let me interrupt your fun.

The chicken-little schtick just isn't for everyone.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

We are a team that rely on draft to improve. We hasn't got help from the ufa signings or trade except Newhook, Dach, Matheson and Laine (pure). It's gonna take time before the young kids make their mark in this league. All other teams are not that unequipped to meet competition in the nhl. Other teams improved/or retooled and we look static if we compare. If we can get rid of some of the vets and make a trae for a good player or two. It could help a little bit. Demidov is coming next year. He ned real C. Suzuki is not enough.

And what is the system of Habs play? Is someone here can name the system MSL is applying to the team and elaborate with his good and cons?