BlackFrancis
Athletic Supporter Patch Partner
- Dec 14, 2013
- 6,001
- 9,621
With all due respect, and I have a ton of it for you as a poster, I don't understand the hesitancy. I never really loved Kelly all that much as a player, but his playing career has little to do with his eventual success as a coach. If a former player's position/role were reliably predictive of their success coaching an NHL PP, the positions would be populated entirely by QBing defensemen. They're the ones with the most touches, the ones that move the most to change angles. And Kelly played PP in lower levels, while also having perspective as an excellent NHL PKer.career checker chris kelly running the PP is interesting. not good interesting, but interesting nonetheless.
The success of a PP assistant is pretty much entirely constrained by personnel and, to a lesser extent, the head coach. Agile thinking and bilateral respect with the HC can probably make an assistant shine a bit, but even then, you aren't getting far without the horses.
Just poll HFBoards users whether their PP coach is above average or a drooling cretin. I'd guess 80% vote the latter. Our own HC was brought in to fix St. Louis's PP, but a staggering number of Bruins fans believe he needs someone who knows the deep secrets of 5-on-4 lore to right the ship.
If McAvoy could shoot, it would be better. If Marchand's hip improves without him hitting the wall, it will be better. I don't think having Chris Kelly or Marc Savard or Paul Coffey would make much of a difference in the grand scheme.