vector209
Registered User
In this case, I really do believe it is the coach. As Tiranis pointed out, teams have wizened up to AV's long-pass system, and once it gets cut off, he seems to be unable to teach the team to adapt. The other problem is that the system is frail - once it fails, it bombs and the Canucks get demoralized for 7+ goals.
It's ridiculous how a team with such skill and depth can't score more than 1 goal per game in the playoffs in their last 2 series. I'd argue that the team is winning on talent and goaltending, in spite of the coaching which has gone stale. AV had his time, and like most coaches, it eventually wears. Even guys like Quenneville and Hitchcock get fired.
I don't know, you might be right, but I've just seen too many coaches fired, only to be replaced and have the team show similar results, or even regress. Look at the Capitals last year. They pretty much remained status quo after Boudreau left.