That's a good question and makes me wish we had better insight into the organization. Even national reporters don't have much these days.
Give me some names, then. Who out there is going to command respect out of what likely will be a veteran team - or at least the veteran core - either through their presence or knowledge of the game?
Here's the thing, up until this season they at least got into the postseason. So I feel very confident saying no one on that team and no one in this forum thought that they would lose five successive playoff series. I'm sure that was a surprise to the players and management as well as the fans. But here we are. I think the finality of this era coming to an end is hitting the players. I personally thought the writing on the wall was before last year's trade deadline, before that however there were blatant gaffes with our defense, or goaltending and occasionally with our star players. But if you asked me after the capitals series of 2018 if we would lose five consecutive playoff series, I would have probably said no. But now that we're on the outside looking in, it's rather apparent that we are done.
Why? He hasn't shown he can win anything of significance in the new NHL. It's pretty clear the Flames were carried by Tkachuk and Gaudreau last year.
And I'll even take Torts, even though I am no fan and he would wear out his welcome fast. But he would have done better with this team than Sully. He would have benched vets who played like shit without a second thought. Rust may have spent time in the press box. We would have had better results. Our big three won this year despite Sully, not because of him. Time to go.
Bottom six does matter, saying it doesn't is stupid! And I never said Sid was done, but over the years his play will diminish. And it will undoubtedly be a law of diminishing returns. As it would be for any player even a superstar. Letang had a pretty bad season. At least in the defense of end of the ice. And he's only likely to get worse, I doubt he'll improve at age 36 or 37.
Bruce Boudreau. In a heartbeat. Not a long term solution, but there's nothing long term about this team, the GM, or the soon to be diminished STH base.
yes, and they will undoubtedly be worse. I can't believe you want to subject yourself to that, you must sincerely be a glutton for punishment. And I feel bad for those players being on a sinking ship. If you were on the Titanic you'd probably salute the musicians and go down with this ship wouldn't you?
Hopefully like Sakic he plays in Colorado in his remaining years, that would be awesome!!!!!!! They get an all-time great and we get a few quality assets for our trouble. Seems like a win-win to me. And if he's playing with Nate McKinnon he may very well get to 100 points. But he sure is hell aint getting it here.
We got three cups with this core. One more than Mario. No one promises you tomorrow. Things could have gone better, but they also could have gone way worse. Just about every team fanbase would trade their last 30 years with ours in a heartbeat. All franchises make chokingly bad decisions. We are not exempt.
Cooper was already Tampa's coach. Bednar was an assistant coach in the AHL. And I have never had an interest in Berube.
Boudreau hasn't won a playoff series since the 2014-15 season and has made it to the conference finals once in his career.
If absolutely everything went right then yea maybe we get 4-5 cups. But we got 3, which is still great and a huge accomplishment. Look at McDavid/Draisaitl, year 8 and still haven't won a game past the second round. Bad management is a killer for a team, no matter how good the players. All things considered it was a wildly successful era.
I’d probably go with a college guy. Pecknold has earned a shot in the NHL, even before winning the national championship.
So he and Sully have something in common to chat about while they're cleaning out the office.
