I read somewhere that their weakness was rush/counter attacks and the way they defended those. It sounds pretty similar to Ruff's system. Of course, otherwise Ruff's and Woodcroft's systems aren't similar.
I'm not gonna worry until their two supposedly leading candidates both take other jobs or bow out of this one...then that'd be a serious red flag, considering we do have the most attractive open job on paper. Until then I think we're kinda holding up the coaching market anyway.
I think Brind’Amour’s problems are going to have more to do with hockey’s version of Jerry Jones screwing up that roster. All those contracts are up and apparently the team doesn’t want to keep Necas? If you don’t want to pay him fine but why leak that? Let’s see what they do on defense letting so many guys get to UFA.
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At least with Sullivan he led the Pens to back-to-back Cups albeit a long time ago to deserve being there for so long.
Agreed, but you can’t give him forever to make a decision. You either want to coach next season or you don’t.
They have quite nice young talents in the prospect pool, but they need some time to adapt and start to feel comfortable. So I think its reasonable to make little but step back, may be even stay in play off hunt but not being contender, develop guys in NHL environment and start to make another push. So 5 years span looks reasonable. Brindamoor is a good coach, they will not find better options easy.
There’s no reason necas should walk but Carolina is going to let him. They do the same shit every year
There are some players they will let go. But still they have Nikishin, Nadeau, Morrow, Grudinin, Lucius, Blake etc some other guys who has talent to pan out later. I dont think they are in troubles in the longer picture.
I am skeptical that group rounds into the cohesive unit the Canes have run for the past few years - especially on defense. Maybe they get goaltending to make up for it but I struggle to see Brind’Amour last five years if they let their current core start to turn over.
Nikishin was the best defenseman outside NHL for 2-3 years already. Morrow is solid puckmover. Grudinin is already playing 18-20 min in KHL regularly as 20 yo, but Im not so sure not in the positive or negative way. Still quite solid defensive prospects. So they should just save Slavin and at least one of Chatfield or Skjei(they have money for two out of Slavin, Skjei, Peshe and Chatfield) and they will have quite solid defense with Morrow and Nikishin for the next five years.May be quite raw for a couple of years, but Devils had very raw defense this year. Step back. Its not like we are very scary about future years.
Nikishin I agree but I’m not sure about the other defense prospects. We will see. They also don’t seem to be doing themselves any favors if they let Necas go.
