Coaching is a serious problem.

Habs13

Registered User
Dec 30, 2004
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Montreal
My initial guess is that it's the growing pains of having to deal with increased expectations of management, coaching, the fans, and even themselves.

They want to play meaningful games and know that these games right here and now determines if they do and so are afraid to make mistakes which just leads to playing tentative hockey.

Coaching certainly has a part to play in helping deal with those nerves but it's just one of many factors at play.
Great response.

So, based on that - wouldn't the solution be as simple as to call the guys together and say something to take the pressure off? Hell, use the Laine injury as a scapegoat even. Due to the key injuries we've suffered as a team this far, this isn't our year. So let's gonout there and have fun, do our best and come back stronger next year. Something like that?!

I think you're bang on about the mounting pressure from everywhere causing them to overthink everything. You see it every time Xhekaj is on the ice. Hesitation. Make the hit!? Don't!? Too late, the play has moved on. Just an example. There are many!

We can see mounting frustration too. It's going to boil over soon.

I want to see the front office bring in assistant coaches and start installing a proper system into these guys, because these Smarty concepts are not working.
 
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eklund the clown

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Dec 28, 2010
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Sorry to say but Marty was good for the tank but it appears that maybe that's as far as this goes.He had no coaching experience when hired and he hired no experienced coaches to help him out.We are at the bottom of the NHL yet again in a year that we were suppose to show improvement.It's been the total opposite .None of our players have shown this except for Caufield . It's time for Marty to go. As much as i was hoping he was the answer he's not.
 

BLONG7

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Oct 30, 2002
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Sorry to say but Marty was good for the tank but it appears that maybe that's as far as this goes.He had no coaching experience when hired and he hired no experienced coaches to help him out.We are at the bottom of the NHL yet again in a year that we were suppose to show improvement.It's been the total opposite .None of our players have shown this except for Caufield . It's time for Marty to go. As much as i was hoping he was the answer he's not.
Somewhat agree..............that said, it's way too early for that.
I would rather they hire an Associate coach, to handle a ton of the X and O's of the game, and form a defensive gameplan based on the type of personnel they have at this point.
There is some talent there, to work with, and I am of the belief that better days are ahead, can MSL still be here? Possibly. That will be on him.
 
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Ezpz

No mad pls
Apr 16, 2013
15,273
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I really do think they could fire MSL before Christmas. I think if Montgomery becomes available, it's an easy upgrade over MSL. It just depends if Boston starts playing decently or if they fall apart.
He's got plenty of assistant experience it wouldn't shock me if he were signed on as an "associate coach" after Boston cans him. They won't let Marty go in season.
 

teamfirst

Registered User
Oct 28, 2016
3,755
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Matheson, Hutson, Barron
Heineman, Newhook, Dach, Slafkovsky

Who are the others? Are we counting Caufield and Guhle since they were extended by the current administration and clearly part of the core?

You're right my bad, so it will take longer......maybe not
 

HuGo Sham

MR. CLEAN-up ©Runner77
Apr 7, 2010
28,585
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Montreal
he just re-upped for 3 years, we're 12 games into the season with some key injuries and Dach not 100%
Aside from the dumb in the mix comment, they did potentially expect some regression.
That being said, St Louis gives off too much of that smarter than everyone vibe and has already admitted to being a terrible delegator with his staff.
Best case scenario is they find him an experienced tactician soon - but if the year is a total disaster he might get flushed. Not before the end of this season imo.
Personally, I don't see him surviving beyond the 5 year mark with the Habs.
Few coaches ever make it to year 5
 

Gaylord Q Tinkledink

Registered User
Apr 29, 2018
33,104
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Just get the players to play positional d instead of this hybrid bullshit he tries.

Guaranteed things would be easier and look better
Players won't get confused as f*** on the ice.

PP just get someone to go in front and tell them if they're not battling for a loose puck, just stand there.

The Habs PK is 13th because they're not running around trying to be like "I'll take this guy, then switch if he goes into this quadrant and then take this player if another player hasn't taken him and they scored"
 
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HabsAddict

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Feb 27, 2002
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One of the "universal laws" about managing people that is cast in titanium is that a manager needs to adapt to his enviroment and adjust it as needed. Of course he should have a vision...but should also be prepared to modify or abandon it if it fails.

Further...

There is no such thing as macho, bravado and closed mind in pro managent. Just a lot of hard work, common sense and experience.

SmartyMarty...

Needs to lose the Smarty part. Learn and evolve. The "smart" part comes when people recognize that in him, not when he acts like one.

Example....

Scotty Bowman is a coaching God...and never declared it, just proved it.

Let's see...
 

Apoplectic Habs Fan

Registered User
Aug 17, 2002
30,187
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Just get the players to play positional d instead of this hybrid bullshit he tries.

Guaranteed things would be easier and look better
Players won't get confused as f*** on the ice.

PP just get someone to go in front and tell them if they're not battling for a loose puck, just stand there.

The Habs PK is 13th because they're not running around trying to be like "I'll take this guy, then switch if he goes into this quadrant and then take this player if another player hasn't taken him and they scored"

We keep hearing how they are playing the system they want them to play when they contend but why are we playing it when likely 60 percent of the roster wont be here when that time comes

Are they really thinking Suzuki and Slaf are getting anything out of learning this now when it cant actually be implemented because we lack the players?
 

Nevins

Registered User
Jul 12, 2014
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Is it possible to admit that MSL is not a good hockey coach, Period?

I just don't think his system works with our group of players. We're not a particularly strong skating team & we're not a team of high IQ players.

We'd be better off playing either a left-wing lock or a 1-2-2.
I don't think this system works with any group of players, even Elite ...
 

Jeune Poulet

Registered User
Oct 31, 2019
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It's possible to BOTH admit that St-Louis is a lacklustre coach AND that firing him right now would probably be a mistake.

But a lot of people seem incapable of making simple nuances. Probably the same people who graded Hughes' rebuild with an "A" in the poll.
 

Nevins

Registered User
Jul 12, 2014
2,643
2,167
It's possible to BOTH admit that St-Louis is a lacklustre coach AND that firing him right now would probably be a mistake.

But a lot of people seem incapable of making simple nuances. Probably the same people who graded Hughes' rebuild with an "A" in the poll.
It's possible to BOTH admit that St-Louis is a lacklustre coach AND that firing him right now would probably be a mistake.

But a lot of people seem incapable of making simple nuances. Probably the same people who graded Hughes' rebuild with an "A" in the poll.
I didn't see the Habs making the playoffs this year and maybe even next year and that doesn't bother me because we are rebuilding and to have elite talent, the best chances are through the draft. So changing coaches wouldn't do much except that MSL needs to change its attitude and it would be good to hire a high quality assistant because MSL is pitiful as a coach.
 

shenmue16

Registered User
Apr 19, 2023
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I didn't see the Habs making the playoffs this year and maybe even next year and that doesn't bother me because we are rebuilding and to have elite talent, the best chances are through the draft. So changing coaches wouldn't do much except that MSL needs to change its attitude and it would be good to hire a high quality assistant because MSL is pitiful as a coach.
Letowski is fine enough I think. I just don't know how Robidas got his position with virtually no coaching experience.
 
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Gaylord Q Tinkledink

Registered User
Apr 29, 2018
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Hiring a Claude Julien type assistant would be smart.
They had their chance and hired someone who just sits in the press box I think.
Letowski is fine enough I think. I just don't know how Robidas got his position with virtually no coaching experience.
He seems like an idiot like how he was as a player.

Robidas that is.

I'm pretty sure Letowski is just there to look like Matheson and add nothing else
.
 
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Tyson

Registered User
Mar 1, 2007
49,504
71,725
Texas
They had their chance and hired someone who just sits in the press box I think.

He seems like an idiot like how he was as a player.

Robidas that is.

I'm pretty sure Letowski is just there to look like Matheson and add nothing else
.
I don't think MSL's ego can co exist with an experienced coach on the bench with him.
 

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