Latendresse benched again

[Steveorama]

Do you honestly think Sutter would have left Phaneuf or Fraser on the bench the entire tournament last year if they weren't performing the way he wanted? Development in junior should always be the #1 priority.

Yes, I do.
If they were loafing in practise or not finishing their checks in games, they would have been riding the pine, believe me.
But those two guys have a reputation for hard work.
I'm not sure Guillaume has the same reputation.

 

[Alberta Yote]

What an UNDEFEATED idiot this Sutter is

fixed

 

[HfxMoose]

What an idiot this Sutter is

a 4-0 idiot!

 

[Roughneck]

What an idiot this Sutter is

I'm sure Hockey Canada and their first place Group A finish agrees with you.

 

[Roughneck]

Do you honestly think Sutter would have left Phaneuf or Fraser on the bench the entire tournament last year if they weren't performing the way he wanted?

Yes. With the depth on defense Canada had the last 2 years, Sutter would have benched Phaneuf if he wasn't pulling his weight, but trying to create perspective with an ineffective Latendresse to the best junior defenseman in the world is really, REALLY grasping at straws. Or even an energy line player. Because Latendresse is in no way cut out for a speedy energy role. His job was to create offense and he didn't, his game is pretty one dimensional in that respect.

Development in junior should always be the #1 priority.

Not at the World Juniors. That is why leading scorers for teams are reduced to 4th line energy roles.

 

[deandebean]

I'm sure Hockey Canada and their first place Group A finish agrees with you.

This debate is bordering on the East vs West type. Calgarians and Westerners defend what the Sutters have done, Eastern Canada (still not fixed on ONtario, but the Maritimes and Quebec have taken sides here) for the player aforementioned.

I see, said the blind man. We should just close this thread unless there are any new info on the subject.

 

[loudi94]

Yes, I do.
If they were loafing in practise or not finishing their checks in games, they would have been riding the pine, believe me.
But those two guys have a reputation for hard work.
I'm not sure Guillaume has the same reputation.

I don't believe you. They would have had opportunities galore to work themselves out of their "funk" because of their reputation and because he has to coach them in Red Deer. Who's going to pick up the pieces for Latendresse? No one has said that Latendresse has been loafing in practice and his play in the round robin has been minimal. The only thing that is evident is that he's seen 0 PP time when his strength as a scorer coincides with Canada's weakness on the PP. Surely having him in front of the net on the PP wouldn't be the worst decision in the world.

 

[ZombieMatt]

Let me premise this by saying that if anybody buys in the GL hype, it's me, because I was one of the biggest pre-draft day proponents of it.

But he has not played well when given the chance, and he is sitting as a result of it. It has nothing to do with where he is from, and everything to do with the job he has done on the ice.

Brent Sutter IS as good of a coach as TSN says. There is a reason he has more consecutive wins than any other Team Canada WJC coach in history (I got this piece of information from the Hockey Canada folks in the Media Centre, so I apologize if it is inaccurate, but considering the source, I highly doubt that's the case). Sutter coaches by a very simple philosophy. If you screw up or play poorly, you don't play.

Andrew Cogliano and Ryan O'Marra have also felt this wrath. And when they came back from their period of benching, they played very well. GL did not. He was given his chance to bounce back and failed to do it. A coach in a single-elimination tournament (which this event now is) simply cannot put players on the ice that have not shown him that they're on their game.

 

[deandebean]

I don't believe you. They would have had opportunities galore to work themselves out of their "funk" because of their reputation and because he has to coach them in Red Deer. Who's going to pick up the pieces for Latendresse? No one has said that Latendresse has been loafing in practice and his play in the round robin has been minimal. The only thing that is evident is that he's seen 0 PP time when his strength as a scorer coincides with Canada's weakness on the PP. Surely having him in front of the net on the PP wouldn't be the worst decision in the world.

The only part I saw in practice is him gunning a shot past Pogge on a one timer. Something that's missing on this team.

 

[deandebean]

Let me premise this by saying that if anybody buys in the GL hype, it's me, because I was one of the biggest pre-draft day proponents of it.

But he has not played well when given the chance, and he is sitting as a result of it. It has nothing to do with where he is from, and everything to do with the job he has done on the ice.

Brent Sutter IS as good of a coach as TSN says. There is a reason he has more consecutive wins than any other Team Canada WJC coach in history (I got this piece of information from the Hockey Canada folks in the Media Centre, so I apologize if it is inaccurate, but considering the source, I highly doubt that's the case). Sutter coaches by a very simple philosophy. If you screw up or play poorly, you don't play.

Andrew Cogliano and Ryan O'Marra have also felt this wrath. And when they came back from their period of benching, they played very well. GL did not. He was given his chance to bounce back and failed to do it. A coach in a single-elimination tournament (which this event now is) simply cannot put players on the ice that have not shown him that they're on their game.

THE question is: why dress him at all, then? There's nothing more humiliating than letting a player on the bench without o-n-e s-h-i-f-t. If he's not needed, then leave him in the stands.

 

[loudi94]

THE question is: why dress him at all, then? There's nothing more humiliating than letting a player on the bench without o-n-e s-h-i-f-t. If he's not needed, then leave him in the stands.

Agreed. It's more humane.

 

[Ice]

Let me premise this by saying that if anybody buys in the GL hype, it's me, because I was one of the biggest pre-draft day proponents of it.

But he has not played well when given the chance, and he is sitting as a result of it. It has nothing to do with where he is from, and everything to do with the job he has done on the ice.

Brent Sutter IS as good of a coach as TSN says. There is a reason he has more consecutive wins than any other Team Canada WJC coach in history (I got this piece of information from the Hockey Canada folks in the Media Centre, so I apologize if it is inaccurate, but considering the source, I highly doubt that's the case). Sutter coaches by a very simple philosophy. If you screw up or play poorly, you don't play.

Andrew Cogliano and Ryan O'Marra have also felt this wrath. And when they came back from their period of benching, they played very well. GL did not. He was given his chance to bounce back and failed to do it. A coach in a single-elimination tournament (which this event now is) simply cannot put players on the ice that have not shown him that they're on their game.

My Grandmother could have went 6-0 with team Canada last year and she's dead. Canada barely hung on to a few games this year in spite of Sutter not because of him. He's an overbearing, theory x, militaristic, demotivating ahole.

 

[ZombieMatt]

THE question is: why dress him at all, then? There's nothing more humiliating than letting a player on the bench without o-n-e s-h-i-f-t. If he's not needed, then leave him in the stands.

I don't understand the whole o-n-e s-h-i-f-t thing.

Sasha Pokulok has not played a single shift in the tournament I don't believe. He still is on the bench.

You keep players on the bench because injuries happen, Sutter may elect to give him another shot.

I don't hear nearly the uproar about Dubnyk not getting a second of ice time. Surely it is a travesty that he didn't get to play in one game, even against Norway.

 

[Roughneck]

THE question is: why dress him at all, then? There's nothing more humiliating than letting a player on the bench without o-n-e s-h-i-f-t. If he's not needed, then leave him in the stands.

Expect to see Latendresse get some early shifts in the next game, if he doesn't get something going, don't expect to see him for the rest of the tourney.

First it was a period (or the latter half of a game) that was a motivating tactic, this time it was the entire game and Brent hopes to light a fire under Latendresse. Darryl's done it, Brent's done it, Brian's done it, sometimes it has worked, sometimes it hasn't, but it is done to motivate the player, sitting on the bench the whole game does that more than sitting in the stands.

 

[ZombieMatt]

My Grandmother could have went 6-0 with team Canada last year and she's dead. Canada barely hung on to a few games this year in spite of Sutter not because of him. He's an overbearing, theory x, militaristic, demotivating ahole.

No, you know what he is? One of the most successful coaches in Team Canada World Junior history.

No, you're deceased grandmother couldn't have coached that team to a gold medal. Highly favoured teams frequently fail to win the event, sometimes even fail to make the championship game. Sutter took a great cast of players and made them play to their capabilities in basically every single game, something you NEVER see in this tournament. Sutter ensured that team destroyed all competition.

You claim they "barely hung on to a few games this year IN SPITE of Sutter."

Okay.

Proof?

Any shred of anything starting to remotely begin to resemble evidence?

It's funny, because every single player that I spoke to on Team Canada, which was around half of the team between formal interviews and a little bit of information discussion) seemed to be firmly behind Coach Sutter and believing 100% in the way he does things. Ironically, it was Ryan O'Marra, one of the players who has been benched, who was the most ostensibly in favour of his style of coaching.

You make make up and fabricate claims as much as you'd like, but when it comes down to it, Brent Sutter is winning games.

 

[loudi94]

I don't understand the whole o-n-e s-h-i-f-t thing.

Sasha Pokulok has not played a single shift in the tournament I don't believe. He still is on the bench.

You keep players on the bench because injuries happen, Sutter may elect to give him another shot.

I don't hear nearly the uproar about Dubnyk not getting a second of ice time. Surely it is a travesty that he didn't get to play in one game, even against Norway.

Pokulok played.
Dubnyk should have played against Norway. He was however clearly chosen to be the backup.

 

[ZombieMatt]

Pokulok played.
Dubnyk should have played against Norway. He was however clearly chosen to be the backup.

Okay, but Pokulok' s total ice time is nearly negligible. I don't recall seeing him on the ice once, but obviously he has gotten some time.

Dubnyk was clearly chosen to be the backup yes. And GL was clearly chosen to be a north-south powerforward who finishes his checks and gets business done in the corners. He hasn't for the most part when he was on the ice, and if he's not filling his role, then Sutter doesn't want him on the ice.

 

[Roughneck]

My Grandmother could have went 6-0 with team Canada last year and she's dead. Canada barely hung on to a few games this year in spite of Sutter not because of him. He's an overbearing, theory x, militaristic, demotivating ahole.

A few games? 5-1 over Finland is barely hanging on? shutting out Norway is barely hanging on? Beating the pre-tournament favorites is barely hanging on?

The United States tied the Swiss, so maybe it had something to do with how Switzerland play that caused a close game and not Sutter's coaching style.

 

[VanNistelrooy]

Sutter is a good coach, but I think he just don't like Latendresse at all. I don't know about the pre-tournament game, but he juste gave him about 5 shifts for each of the 2 and 3 game against Norway and Switzerland.

Against SUI and NOR i think Guillaume played good. He had good scoring chances and he's been energetic across the boards. From what i saw last night against USA, the PP has been anemic, after the Cam Barker wristshot. I think Latendresse would help his teammates putting the puck in the back of the net.

But let's face it, if Brent Sutter doesn't put GL on the ice in preliminary rounds, I don't think GL will see icetime in the Medals rounds. But, Guillaume will have a new friends : Him and Sasha Pokulok will have at least 120 minutes to better know each others

 

[loudi94]

Okay, but Pokulok' s total ice time is nearly negligible. I don't recall seeing him on the ice once, but obviously he has gotten some time.

Dubnyk was clearly chosen to be the backup yes. And GL was clearly chosen to be a north-south powerforward who finishes his checks and gets business done in the corners. He hasn't for the most part when he was on the ice, and if he's not filling his role, then Sutter doesn't want him on the ice.

Honestly I think what this comes down to is consistency. By Sutter and Latendresse. There are guys taking dumb penalties and making mistakes all over the place, yet they get to go back out. Why hasn't Lats been given that same chance? There has to be something else we don't know about. Sutter's the coach and I don't argue with his success, but if they do lose and go 0 for 8 on the PP, I'd like to have the explanation as to why Latendresse didn't get a chance. Of course, win and it's all forgotten apparently.

 

[Ice]

It's funny, because every single player that I spoke to on Team Canada, which was around half of the team between formal interviews and a little bit of information discussion) seemed to be firmly behind Coach Sutter and believing 100% in the way he does things. Ironically, it was Ryan O'Marra, one of the players who has been benched, who was the most ostensibly in favour of his style of coaching.

If was on that team I also would cut my hair, shave and praise the general to get to play. But I would secretly hate him.

 

[baston]

If was on that team I also would cut my hair, shave and praise the general to get to play. But I would secretly hate him.

Hehe so true.

 

[Rise from the Ashes]

what about anthony stewart last year? was he benched?

 

[Sammy*]

My Grandmother could have went 6-0 with team Canada last year and she's dead. Canada barely hung on to a few games this year in spite of Sutter not because of him. He's an overbearing, theory x, militaristic, demotivating ahole.

I seem to recall that many said the US would destry the opposition this year.
I take it that your grandmother could coach them to a record of destroying the opposition?
Btw, could your granny go to a couple of Memorial Cups & win one of them?

 

[Sammy*]

what about anthony stewart last year? was he benched?

I cant recall if he was, but he sure didnt get the ice time he did in the previous year.