Interim Jets coach Dave Lowry (December 2021, not now)
- Thread starter Guardian17
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Something tells me Huddy had very little say in the defensive scheme they were running. Which is probably why he has stuck around for so long.
FonRiesen
Registered User
For me, I think if he can get us above a WC spot that would speak volumes - let's say above .650 p% the rest of the way.
If they squeak into the playoffs it still might be a positive, (since they've dug themselves into a bit of a hole), but I still believe our roster, if managed well using strategies to maximise our talent, is a championship calibre team. To me 'how' they play is a touch more important than if they lose in game 7 in round 1; if they have missing players like past years, but don't give up against the #1 team, it still might be tempting to keep him if the team is playing with discipline, working hard, etc.
I'd like to see some new voices at the bench even if Lowry stays. Bring in some fresh approaches to the D, some special teams help unless we turn that around big time. Bring in 'his' guys that balance him out, not have a bunch of people that are there because they've always been there...
None
Registered User
- Feb 22, 2012
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Top 3 in the division or win a round for me. And to me I think they also need to be comfortably in a wildcard spot by the trade deadline otherwise they should be sellers. I might adjust my expectations at that point, but I'd be leaning towards replacing Lowry.
If Lowry stays I'm sure he'll get to bring in his own assistants. We might when see a new one this season as Chevy left that open for Lowry.
The team definitely needs to get into the playoffs and show well there.
Along with that it will be about the process for me. Does he have this team playing in a way that maximizes the teams strengths. Are our systems and execution better on special teams and 5 on 5. I expect a new coach bump in terms of effort but having the correct systems and having your players bought in will ensure success post bump.
So process and playoffs for me. If both things are accomplished then bring Dave back.
- Dec 29, 2016
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For me, it's a good showing in the playoffs - which would mean living up to reasonable expectations (which can be hard to define).
We can all peal back the layers to determine why things worked out well (or not) - but in the end, if they can get it done without asking Helle to stand on his head every night, they are likely doing something right.
And I'll give the coach credit for that.
If he doesn't put Wheeler with Scheifele and Connor when Wheeler gets back he's hired.
If we make the playoffs and play hard every game he's got my vote, i liked our game against St. Louis. 
This team has the talent to win the first two rounds. If he can't lead them there, find someone that can.
I don't care how we make the playoffs as long as we do and we are playing well and are healthy when they begin.
Find the right lines and stick to them and let them gel and build chemistry.
At what point to do we take a serious look at Heinola?
I haven't heard complaints about Scheif getting over 21 minutes last game and Ehlers less than 17?
Nobody wants to trade Scheif anymore?
We'd be the scariest team in the league if KC Scheif Ehlers and PLD are all going at the same time.
I do think Ehlers will do well under Lowry.
I don't care how we make the playoffs as long as we do and we are playing well and are healthy when they begin.
Find the right lines and stick to them and let them gel and build chemistry.
At what point to do we take a serious look at Heinola?
I haven't heard complaints about Scheif getting over 21 minutes last game and Ehlers less than 17?
Nobody wants to trade Scheif anymore?
We'd be the scariest team in the league if KC Scheif Ehlers and PLD are all going at the same time.
I do think Ehlers will do well under Lowry.
Gabe Kupari
Registered User
27 did go to the room for a few minutes so there's the difference
Howard Chuck
Registered User
That’s a good point. TNSE could have had this planned for a while and brought Lowry in just for this reason.
Trading Scheifele would be stupid, the only way i would trade him is if he wanted a trade AND we got a #1 center back.
Howard Chuck
Registered User
Jetfaninflorida
Southernmost Jet Fan
I think that due to this, Paul wouldn't make difficult but needed decisions with key players. He is a smart guy. He had to know Wheelers limitations. Everyone in Hockey could see them. He had to see Scheifele's coasting and selfishness. Everyone in Hockey could see it. But he wasn't willing to call them out. Rather, he would keep going back to contorting the team to try to get Wheeler going (KFC+powerplay time), and keeping him and Scheif happy (letting them play together and with KFC) at pretty much all costs. He had to know that there were other, better answers because he is not a complete moron. He just wasn't willing to call out his buddies and make the tough calls. Rather than have to do that, Mr Comfortable would rather retire. BTW, I am happy for him and his family that they have the financial security to do that. But I am not happy that the Jets wasted a very talented '18-'19 roster and beyond on Mr Comfortable, Paul Maurice.
tbcwpg
Moderator
- Jan 25, 2011
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I agree to a point but I don't think he was avoiding calling them out because he wanted to be friends with them. I think he was here for so long and 26 and 55 were so good for him that his default move to get the team going was to get them going. I don't think it was from a "they're going to be mad at me" place.
Exactly plus you could add a couple juicy categories to wheel now that he is canned!
I agree with both of you here. I think a lot of it was nostalgia but I also think he cared more about maintaining his relationships with his guys then doing what was best for the team in the end. Look no further then his over the top interview about Wheeler last year when the media were justifiably questioning his poor play and usage.
Romang67
BitterSwede
Yeah, the way he kept going back to CSW struck me much more as a "things aren't working, and this was one of the most successful lines I've coached" than the oft repeated "Wheeler is making the decisions".
He was wrong to keep pushing CSW, but I think he did it because it was the best line for the best team Maurice has ever coached. I think it's easy to fall back on that, and not just for Maurice. And I think that's a big reason why coaches have shelf lives.
tbcwpg
Moderator
- Jan 25, 2011
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Yeah I think whatever your preconceptions about Maurice will colour your view about how that worked. I know lots of people thought Wheeler had undue influence and maybe he did but I think ultimately Maurice made the decisions because he thought it was the best way to get the team moving. When the team was really good, that line was also really good, so I can see the thinking that if they're good again, so will the team.
I think these posts about Maurice being afraid to offend Wheeler and Scheifele or that they ran the room are a bit disrespectful to Maurice and just incorrect, really.
kylbaz
Winnipeg <3
I just want to see some accountability. Lazy or careless mistake, send a message and let the team know this isn't Maurice's team anymore. Don't play hard? Minutes cut. The talent on this team is through the roof, if you can't be motivated to play someone else can have your minutes.
Whichever way you want to slice the pie, it doesn't look good for Maurice.
We've seemed to arrive at two different plausible reasons for Maurice's lineup. On one hand we have those who believe that Scheifele/Wheeler ran the room or were buddies with Maurice, so he had to cater to them. On the other hand, some have suggested that he kept defaulting to the CSW line because they were really good a few years ago even though it's been pretty clear for a while now that the line continuously gets caved in.
So ultimately either Maurice completely lost the room or he was too stuck in the past to adjust his lineup to benefit the team. I'm not sure which one is true but both hypotheses highlight why Maurice should've been gone ages ago.
We've seemed to arrive at two different plausible reasons for Maurice's lineup. On one hand we have those who believe that Scheifele/Wheeler ran the room or were buddies with Maurice, so he had to cater to them. On the other hand, some have suggested that he kept defaulting to the CSW line because they were really good a few years ago even though it's been pretty clear for a while now that the line continuously gets caved in.
So ultimately either Maurice completely lost the room or he was too stuck in the past to adjust his lineup to benefit the team. I'm not sure which one is true but both hypotheses highlight why Maurice should've been gone ages ago.
- Dec 29, 2016
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Hard to say what the thoughts were behind the situation -
IMO, he was blinded by the past - he knew the line was once dominant but should have known it was no longer.
I might be OK with going back to that line if we were struggling to generating offense - but we were not and he tore down a line that was doing exactly what the old line used to do.
He had a line in place that was getting it done - so why do you break it up when certain players come back to the line up and are struggling?
It's not too far a stretch to assume he was more concerned with a couple of players that were struggling - and he sacrificed what was working to address that concern.
People will view that decision differently - this is simply my opinion and the major reason I fell of the Maurice cart after being on it since the beginning.
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I don't think this post will age well
I think play style, systems, and consistency in effort. Throw in holding players accountable and I'm sold.
I think that CSW struggled pretty bad analytically, but they seemed to show up in big games more than people realize, and that is a big reason coaches will go back to a line when they are out of answers
CSW was on fire and we were clawing our way back to a playoff spot before the first COVID shutdown. Scheif was hone 1st period of CGY series.
They got the job done against Edmonton once they got to avoid McDavid Drai line. Scheif was gone after Game 1
The issue to me is more how the team wilts when they cant break a defensive system than line combos. Line combos to me are the most overrated aspect of coaching here.
Where Lowry can help us the most is pushing this group to play aggressive away from the puck. Finally flip the script on these big strong trap teams. Make them make plays against us with the puck instead of feeding the other team turnovers.
Maybe I'm out in left field but that is how I feel. I think.
CSW was on fire and we were clawing our way back to a playoff spot before the first COVID shutdown. Scheif was hone 1st period of CGY series.
They got the job done against Edmonton once they got to avoid McDavid Drai line. Scheif was gone after Game 1
The issue to me is more how the team wilts when they cant break a defensive system than line combos. Line combos to me are the most overrated aspect of coaching here.
Where Lowry can help us the most is pushing this group to play aggressive away from the puck. Finally flip the script on these big strong trap teams. Make them make plays against us with the puck instead of feeding the other team turnovers.
Maybe I'm out in left field but that is how I feel. I think.
