Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
I think Torts can be a game changer with patience above and buy-in below, but he's an exception.If Jersey blows them out, I suspect Laviolette gets canned.
It won't matter.
Coaches don't matter, with the exception sometimes being short term.
Boston coach has greatest regular season in NHL and gets dumped not too far afterwards.
Coaches don't matter.
Coaches don't matter.
I've pretty much come around on how you feel about coaches. I think it's possible for them to make a difference in a meta that allows for it, but NHL coaches are the most risk-averse people in pro sports.
Torts is the only one left who's gonna say "you play the game I tell you to play or you sit, and I don't care who you are." The rest of them are just going to ride the guys making the money because then it's not their fault when they're looking for their next job.
Same thing with "systems." You're not gonna do anything revolutionary when you're gonna be looking for work next summer.
That's the nature of a job with a 2-3 year life expectancy.