Speculation: Forecasting the Head Coaching position for 2013-2014

[EspenK]

I think this hits the nail on the head really. We've seen little to no teaching for our forwards. The scheming on the ice has been terrible. Decision making has been questionable (Brass is the worst center for FO % on the team and is worse than half the wings too). Richards has seemingly been as inconsistent as the team performance on the ice.

If there is one thing I expect JD to mandate down is to work hard and play hard every day and every night, win or lose.




That would be a godsend. I just can't believe something so good would happen to the jackets. On the other hand, how good is Tippett even at developing players? Turris and Mueller both failed pretty hard with him and his system (very good system coach), though Turris has now gone on to do quite well with Ottawa.


What about Paul Jerrad, Joey Mullen, or John Stevens?

I don't think we have a clue as to the coaching staff's teaching or lack thereof. What we do know is the players haven't learned how to score. The rest of your criticism of the coaching is more justifiable.

As to Tippett and the young guys, who knows? Mueller had injury issues and Turris was a contract issue although his numbers weren't very good. Both seem to be doing ok now so at least they weren't irreparably damaged by his coaching.

And the Jackets seem to be playing hard on a fairly consistent basis so effort isn't the issue.

As to which coach is right for this team, I think the addition of some guys who can put the puck in the net is a much more important issue.

 

[Sore Loser]

I don't think we have a clue as to the coaching staff's teaching or lack thereof. What we do know is the players haven't learned how to score.

This is something I never understood. Guys are drafted highly because of their scoring capability/potential ... Why should it fall on the shoulders of the coaches to help these kids score at the next level? Rick Nash developed with the Jackets, and he's one of the top power forwards in the game. Sidney Crosby came into the NHL with a completely depleted Pittsburgh Penguins team; as did Alex Ovechkin in Washington.

Great players are great players because they play hard. I don't care if the coaches don't know how to shoot a puck, I care that they know how to motivate a kid, and get them to play to their full potential.

Another thing that's hurt this team (and it's been beaten to death) is the fact that they never get the top tier of talent at the draft. This is something that's starting to change, with the selection of Ryan Murray, and the high pick we'll have this year. It's always been "be just good enough to not draft in the top-3" ... So, instead of securing guys like Ovechkin/Malkin, we're selecting guys like Alex Picard, Gilbert Brule, Derick Brassard, etc ... guys who come with good skill, but big question marks ... be it injury concerns, playstyle, etc. To me, this falls less on the coaches, and more on the GM/scouting department. For a GM to consistently assemble a team that remains exactly where it is in the standings, without making serious changes, is preposterous. The one thing GMSH did do was to trade the only player other than Rick Nash that appears to be turning into something away, in exchange for a disgruntled party boy who wanted to go play elsewhere.

Hopefully the new management gets it down. I feel this is where our franchise has struggled so much over its entire existence. Coaches come and go, but successful teams remain successful through it all.

 

[EspenK]

This is something I never understood. Guys are drafted highly because of their scoring capability/potential ... Why should it fall on the shoulders of the coaches to help these kids score at the next level?

I wasn't implying it was on the coaches. I was just saying they haven't learned how to put it in the back of the net on a consistent basis.

 

[Sore Loser]

I wasn't implying it was on the coaches. I was just saying they haven't learned how to put it in the back of the net on a consistent basis.

I guess my post came off aggressive - wasn't meant to be aggressive towards you!

I just have never understood the thought that it's up to the coach to develop their skills.

 

[KeithBWhittington]

I guess my post came off aggressive - wasn't meant to be aggressive towards you!

I just have never understood the thought that it's up to the coach to develop their skills.

I think its fair to say that coaching can "polish" skills, but cannot teach them. Certainly there is something to say for not getting the "top talent" at these drafts, but one thing coaching can do is "meld" these guys into a cohesive unit, be it through granting or taking away ice time, smartly pairing up players with history or chemistry, and managing egos in the room along with the team's leadership group.

Just looking at those three things, and couple that with the lack of consistent, effective, team leadership, its easy to see why these coaches are failing when they come here.

Part of the reason coaching has failed here is the lack of a strong player leadership department. Hopefully, with the guys we have now, that starts to change. But we need a coach that can knock the first two things (handling ice time, chemistry) out of the park, and for some reason, we've never really had that.

 

[JacketsDavid]

Coaches can significantly impact the defensive system/tempo.

But they can't teach a guy to score goals, that is more of a skill. Sometimes different systems puts guys in better positions to potentially score.

 

[JrussJacket]

Brad Larsen

Pretty impressive rookie season for Falcons coach BL. With the CBJ decimated with injuries, he has kept the Falcons at or near the top of the standings. The players really have bought into the system the CBJ want to play and it seems like they would run through a brick wall for him. I wonder if the CBJ brass are considering elevating him to the HC job next year? I know its his first year as a HC but what do you guys think?

 

[Dr. Fire]

Pretty impressive rookie season for Falcons coach BL. With the CBJ decimated with injuries, he has kept the Falcons at or near the top of the standings. The players really have bought into the system the CBJ want to play and it seems like they would run through a brick wall for him. I wonder if the CBJ brass are considering elevating him to the HC job next year? I know its his first year as a HC but what do you guys think?

The biggest problem for Larsen will be our experience with Arneil. I would expect JD to go for a veteran coach who fits the style that JD is looking for. I could see Brad coming up to act as an assistant for a while.

 

[major major]

Pretty impressive rookie season for Falcons coach BL. With the CBJ decimated with injuries, he has kept the Falcons at or near the top of the standings. The players really have bought into the system the CBJ want to play and it seems like they would run through a brick wall for him. I wonder if the CBJ brass are considering elevating him to the HC job next year? I know its his first year as a HC but what do you guys think?

I could get behind Larsen as HC, although we have had a string of young coaches lately. Another young HC to look at is Luke Richardson, who has done just as well as Larsen, but has less talent to work with at Binghamton.

 

[Sore Loser]

The biggest problem for Larsen will be our experience with Arneil. I would expect JD to go for a veteran coach who fits the style that JD is looking for. I could see Brad coming up to act as an assistant for a while.

I agree with this. I don't think one year in the AHL is enough to merit a promotion to an NHL head job. I think we go with someone with a proven track record of developing young talent; someone who is more of a head coach and less of a peer to the kids (think Pat Quinn in Edmonton or Michel Therrien in Pittsburgh). Eventually, when the talent is developed, then you bring in the guy you want to lead them to victory (yet to be seen in Edmonton; Dan Bylsma in Pittsburgh).

 

[redsfanhere*]

What's the problem with richards staying the hc.. if jd and jk goes for something different at yrs end you can bet it will be about experience, it defiently won't be somebody that has been coaching for a yr, he will go after somebody that's been really groomed like {eakins} for the marlies or somebody that has had success at the nhl level....he defiently won't risk this rebuild with a unknown guy looking for experience...jd probaly has already put this together we will see as soon as this season ends.

 

[Legend Killer]

Shawn Simpson(former NHL executive) on the Team 1200 predicted that Jarmo will hire Jacques Martin as head coach. They would have worked together in Ottawa. I think it would be a solid hire for you guys.

 

[Sore Loser]

What's the problem with richards staying the hc.. if jd and jk goes for something different at yrs end you can bet it will be about experience, it defiently won't be somebody that has been coaching for a yr, he will go after somebody that's been really groomed like {eakins} for the marlies or somebody that has had success at the nhl level....he defiently won't risk this rebuild with a unknown guy looking for experience...jd probaly has already put this together we will see as soon as this season ends.

I actually don't feel that Richards has done a bad job at all this year. I think the team's effort has been great, and with better talent on the ice, things could be very different. It's certainly plausible that he stays on, though history does show that new management likes to bring on their own guys.

 

[Sore Loser]

Shawn Simpson(former NHL executive) on the Team 1200 predicted that Jarmo will hire Jacques Martin as head coach. They would have worked together in Ottawa. I think it would be a solid hire for you guys.

This may qualify as the most unpopular post of the year on this board

*Puts up umbrella, awaits s*** storm*

 

[EDM]

I could see them letting Richards stay for the second year of his contract. While I am not awed by Richard's coaching ability, he has gotten these guys to play harder than any CBJ team since Year 1. They don't quit on him. That says something in his favor.

 

[major major]

This may qualify as the most unpopular post of the year on this board

*Puts up umbrella, awaits s*** storm*

Duck for cover!

 

[punk_o_holic]

What about Tom Renney? I think he might be a good coach to help out with the young players. But once the young guys develop, I don't he's the right coach to lead them into the playoffs/Cup run.

 

[Viqsi]

I could see them letting Richards stay for the second year of his contract. While I am not awed by Richard's coaching ability, he has gotten these guys to play harder than any CBJ team since Year 1. They don't quit on him. That says something in his favor.

Concur. Say what you will about some of his personnel decisions, but the team's refusing to quit under his guidance.

I'm not sure if that'll be enough to keep him in the end, but it does at least suggest that we can afford to take some time in a coaching search.

 

[Robert]

I could see them letting Richards stay for the second year of his contract. While I am not awed by Richard's coaching ability, he has gotten these guys to play harder than any CBJ team since Year 1. They don't quit on him. That says something in his favor.

I see no reason to consider Richards as anything other than interim head coach in this SHORT NHL season... I know the injury story but I've read that book for 10 years running... (fact is, all teams have injuries)

The question is: who hired Richards...

 

[EDM]

I don't think it is fair to Richards to impugn him because he was hired by Howson. These guys do play hard for him. Unless the plan is to be in the playoffs NEXT YEAR, I could see him finishing out his contract. Young players are learning an important lesson about playing hard under his regime. That said, if he is replaced, I have no problem with that decision either. I am just fairly content with where we are at this point.

 

[punk_o_holic]

I see no reason to consider Richards as anything other than interim head coach in this SHORT NHL season... I know the injury story but I've read that book for 10 years running... (fact is, all teams have injuries)

The question is: who hired Richards...

If Jarmo hires a new coach and tells the new coach, one condition, Richards has to be one of the assistants, would you be against it? Who should get credit for the current PK ranking(10th)? Richards or one of the assistants(is there a guy who focuses only on special teams?)? If Richards, why not have him as a special teams coach(mind you the PP sucks but is that due to lack of offensive players?) Would Richards be willing to be an assistant or would he rather be jobless and then look for a new job on his own?

 

[EspenK]

If Jarmo hires a new coach and tells the new coach, one condition, Richards has to be one of the assistants, would you be against it? Who should get credit for the current PK ranking(10th)? Richards or one of the assistants(is there a guy who focuses only on special teams?)? If Richards, why not have him as a special teams coach(mind you the PP sucks but is that due to lack of offensive players?) Would Richards be willing to be an assistant or would he rather be jobless and then look for a new job on his own?

I think it is Acton.

 

[EspenK]

I think the HC decision will come down to one thing- Do the J's think that Richards and his staff is the right combo to implement the system and attitude they want to establish in Columbus.

So far I agree with those who say Richards has the guys playing at the right intensity level. He can't overcome the LOFT factor which I'm pretty sure the top guys recognize is here.

How they play (not necessarily if they win) in the 2nd half will go a long way to determine if Richards stays or goes imo.

 

[Matt]

I think Richards and his coaches have done a good job. They have been able to keep this team focused even when they have not attained the wins. Both JD and JK will do a fair evaluation before they act one way or another.

 

[RBarRegular]

It seems to me you don't even let him begin the last year of his contract. You either have to give him an extension or fire him. There's no sense letting him be a lame duck coach in the final year of his contract.

IMO, Richards should be the coach going forward. Hard to argue with the fact that he has the team playing with passion, discipline, and hard work. Get the guy some talent to compete with and those three traits will pay off.

That said, pro sports is a business and JD and JK will likely bring in their own guy. And, I have no problem with that. As long as the team starts winning, I'm happy.