Speculation: Offseason coaching thread: Should they stay or should they go?

[vodeni]

I like Ludvig as much as St. Ivany. His +/- is deflated because he tended to get in the lineup during rough stretches and it was just the opposite for St. Ivany. And 23/24 year old D do tend to get better.

We’ll need both anyway.

I agree, 100%

 

[HandshakeLine]

I don’t think hitting is overrated, so I’m partial to Ludvig. I’d even go as far as to say we need more hitters.

 

[Jacob]

I don’t think hitting is overrated, so I’m partial to Ludvig. I’d even go as far as to say we need more hitters.

Especially when they hit like that.

 

[Gurglesons]

I’d rather we use St Ivany then Ludvig.

Ludvig got rocked in front of the net in my viewings. St Ivany was a big strength there.

 

[PensandCaps]

There's McDavid, Mac, Reinhart, Bedard, Point, Barzal, Suzuki, etc... Canada's weakness is not at Center.
If they lose to USA it's cuz of Sullivan, the D depth and goaltending. Winger depth is probably pretty close between the teams.

They're pretty even on C depth too.

I think USA is pretty easily the best overall roster. I don't think Sullivan is a bad coach in a new atmosphere with different players, I think for a short run he won't grate on players, and get some good performances out of them.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

They're pretty even on C depth too.

I think USA is pretty easily the best overall roster. I don't think Sullivan is a bad coach in a new atmosphere with different players, I think for a short run he won't grate on players, and get some good performances out of them.

I would have taken the coach who just won the President's Trophy and is in the 3rd round, over the guy who hasn't won a round in 7 years.
But yeah, I guess it's possible Sullivan wins again. The roster can just carry him.

 

[Gurglesons]

They're pretty even on C depth too.

I think USA is pretty easily the best overall roster. I don't think Sullivan is a bad coach in a new atmosphere with different players, I think for a short run he won't grate on players, and get some good performances out of them.

Matthew Tkachuk - Auston Matthews - Clayton Keller
J. Hughes - Jake Eichel - Thompson
Robertson - Larkin - Tuch
B. Tkachuk - Miller - Kreider

Hughes - McAvoy
Slavin - Fox
Sanderson - Faber

Otter
Helle

This team is so f***ing stacked.

 

[Gurglesons]

Versus what..

McDavid - Crosby - Bedard
MacKinnon - Point - Reinhart
Verhaeghe - Barzal - Marner
Marchand - Schiefele - Suzuki

Morrissey - Makar
Chychrun - Bouchard
Theodore - Weegar

Hill?
Thompson?
Jarry?

 

[GilbertSeinfeld]

Is that Quinn Hughes, or Luke Hughes, on defense?

 

[Gurglesons]

Is that Quinn Hughes, or Luke Hughes, on defense?

lol.

 

[SEALBound]

Matthew Tkachuk - Auston Matthews - Clayton Keller
J. Hughes - Jake Eichel - Thompson
Robertson - Larkin - Tuch
B. Tkachuk - Miller - Kreider

Hughes - McAvoy
Slavin - Fox
Sanderson - Faber

Otter
Helle

This team is so f***ing stacked.

Versus what..

McDavid - Crosby - Bedard
MacKinnon - Point - Reinhart
Verhaeghe - Barzal - Marner
Marchand - Schiefele - Suzuki

Morrissey - Makar
Chychrun - Bouchard
Theodore - Weegar

Hill?
Thompson?
Jarry?

I think it's gonna come down to goalies and the US has a big edge there. Only hope is that the top 6 for Canada can use brute goal scoring force to carry the team.

 

[Gurglesons]

I think it's gonna come down to goalies and the US has a big edge there. Only hope is that the top 6 for Canada can use brute goal scoring force to carry the team.

USA's defense is also insanely better. Having 3 of the top 5 defensemen in the game is simply unfair and who knows what Sanderson and Faber look like in 2026 after getting another season under their belt.

 

[eXile3]

Lol what? We have the best goaltending and defense out of any of the major national teams and Crosby is going to be old as hell.

I hope you’re right. It’s not like I’m rooting against them.

It’s not Crosby I’m worried about. It’s McDavid, MacKinnon, Makar. Plus who knows what kind of player Bedard will be by then.

 

[SomeDude]

The internet says Jansen Harkins is Canadian/American.

Guess who just booked a bottom 6 role for the red white and blue?

 

[HandshakeLine]

Gonna grind some bitches down. Our game? Consider it “gotten to”.

 

[Pens x]

It'll be comical how bad Sully will coach this team when he's distracted by coaching team usa.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Gonna grind some bitches down. Our game? Consider it “gotten to”.

Harksi, you ready to f***in get on that guy? Good, cuz you're goin.

 

[The Great Mighty Poo]

Matthew Tkachuk - Auston Matthews - Clayton Keller
J. Hughes - Jake Eichel - Thompson
Robertson - Larkin - Tuch
B. Tkachuk - Miller - Kreider

Hughes - McAvoy
Slavin - Fox
Sanderson - Faber

Otter
Helle

This team is so f***ing stacked.

Needs more Jansen Harkins and Chad Ruhwedel.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Ruhwedel getting traded for like a 7th four years from now was low-key the funniest moment of the entire season.

 

[Andy99]

Ruhwedel getting traded for like a 7th four years from now was low-key the funniest moment of the entire season.

Nope…the funniest will be when we re-sign him for three more years on July1 lol

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Some news, although it's about WBS...

Friedman said on 32 Thoughts that John Snowden is a top candidate at WBS. Snowden is an assistant coach with Lehigh Valley who previously spent five years in the Maple Leafs organization. He was an assistant coach and later head coach for Newfoundland in the ECHL. He led them to the Kelly Cup title in 2018-19. He was later an assistant for the Marlies for two years in the AHL.

 

[ThosePuckingPenguins]

Some news, although it's about WBS...

Friedman said on 32 Thoughts that John Snowden is a top candidate at WBS. Snowden is an assistant coach with Lehigh Valley who previously spent five years in the Maple Leafs organization. He was an assistant coach and later head coach for Newfoundland in the ECHL. He led them to the Kelly Cup title in 2018-19. He was later an assistant for the Marlies for two years in the AHL.

Not saying he isn’t a good coach because he very well could be but I would like to see some creativity from Dubas beyond “well he used to work under Dubas.” A lot of GM’s hire people they know, he’s not unique but he does tend to swing that way a lot.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Not saying he isn’t a good coach because he very well could be but I would like to see some creativity from Dubas beyond “well he used to work under Dubas.” A lot of GM’s hire people they know, he’s not unique but he does tend to swing that way a lot.

That's valid, but Dubas has received a lot of praise for how he handled the Leafs minor league operations. It was at the NHL level that he received any criticism.

 

[Jacob]

Some news, although it's about WBS...

Friedman said on 32 Thoughts that John Snowden is a top candidate at WBS. Snowden is an assistant coach with Lehigh Valley who previously spent five years in the Maple Leafs organization. He was an assistant coach and later head coach for Newfoundland in the ECHL. He led them to the Kelly Cup title in 2018-19. He was later an assistant for the Marlies for two years in the AHL.

I don’t know much about him but resume-wise he’s got what we’d be looking for. Youngish, head coaching experience (and success) in the ECHL.

I remember he was Ryan Clowe’s assistant in the ECHL but Clowe had to step down mid-season to due lingering PCS symptoms, but the team never missed a beat with Snowden.

Personally I’d value major-junior coaching experience over the ECHL since the ECHL is far from a “developmental” league, it’s more of a “you’re here forever” league.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

I don’t know much about him but resume-wise he’s got what we’d be looking for. Youngish, head coaching experience (and success) in the ECHL.

I remember he was Ryan Clowe’s assistant in the ECHL but Clowe had to step down mid-season to due lingering PCS symptoms, but the team never missed a beat with Snowden.

Personally I’d value major-junior coaching experience over the ECHL since the ECHL is far from a “developmental” league, it’s more of a “you’re here forever” league.

I think he's a classic "solid but unspectacular" candidate. A B or B+. If there isn't a home run hire out there, then someone who knows what Dubas' priorities are in an AHL team and who has had success as a head coach would certainly be a reasonable hire.