The Martin St Louis Thread

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I don't think MSL's ego can co exist with an experienced coach on the bench with him.

Roger Grillo..

That's the guy they hired as a consultant

 

[Tyson]

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Roger Grillo..

That's the guy they hired as a consultant

Does Grillo travel with the team? Is he at every game? I have no idea.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

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Does Grillo travel with the team? Is he at every game? I have no idea.

Didn't see, but he's never coached in the NHL.

It's also a bit of a nepotism hire as he was the assistant coach in Vermont when MSL played there.

He(Grillo) coached in thr NCAA and is/was part of US Hockey.

 

[Tyson]

Didn't see, but he's never coached in the NHL.

It's also a bit of a nepotism hire as he was the assistant coach in Vermont when MSL played there.

He(Grillo) coached in thr NCAA and is/was part of US Hockey.

Whatever he is, whoever he is...he ain't making much of a difference

 

[Sorinth]

Great response.

So, based on that - wouldn't the solution be as simple as to call the guys together and say something to take the pressure off? Hell, use the Laine injury as a scapegoat even. Due to the key injuries we've suffered as a team this far, this isn't our year. So let's gonout there and have fun, do our best and come back stronger next year. Something like that?!

I think you're bang on about the mounting pressure from everywhere causing them to overthink everything. You see it every time Xhekaj is on the ice. Hesitation. Make the hit!? Don't!? Too late, the play has moved on. Just an example. There are many!

We can see mounting frustration too. It's going to boil over soon.

I want to see the front office bring in assistant coaches and start installing a proper system into these guys, because these Smarty concepts are not working.

So couple things, telling the players that you are throwing in the towel on the season would be a terrible decision. It's guaranteed to turn the room against management regardless of whether you blame it on Laine's injury or not. On top of which even if it "worked", the players still need to figure out how to win when the games matter or we will just see the same thing again next year.

The other thing is that I'm sure that we have been telling the guys to relax go out there play your game, have fun, etc... In fact it's exactly what Xhekaj said MSL told him after the whole brouhaha where he said he wasn't a rookie anymore.

I don't see changing the system as much of an option either, it's just going to lead to more of the same. And most "systems" coaches also tend to bench/scratch players for not following the system which doesn't seem like the type of thing we want to do with all our young guys. I'd also point out other teams use the same system as we do, so not sure why you would think it isn't a proper system. On top of which since you seem to acknowledge that the problem is hesitation/handling the pressure that points to it not being a system issue because no matter what system you use if guys are holding their sticks too tight and second guessing themselves then they are going to struggle and look bad while they do it.

When we faced a similar situation in the past Carboneau took the guys out bowling which kind of goes to show that there isn't really a solution. It's just something that the guys need to play through and figure out. In many ways a nice long road trip would be nice, unfortunately that's not in the cards.

 

[Nevins]

I don't think MSL's ego can co exist with an experienced coach on the bench with him.

I think you are right

 

[Tyson]

I think you are right

 

[Team_Spirit]

Would Marty seek his advice though?

https://x.com/i/web/status/1853206899552096476

 

[Nevins]

 

[McGees]

Whoa we are picking 3rd overall right now?
F yeah!
Tank train is fuelling up pretty soon.

 

[ORRFForever]

Posters were upset at the coaches prior to MSL because they insisted players (like Caufield) play a 200 foot game. In comes MSL and he gives the fans what they asked for - he let the players loose. He gave you exactly what you wanted.

Now the fans want MSL gone.

 

[salbutera]

Posters were upset at the coaches prior to MSL because they insisted players (like Caufield) play a 200 foot game. In comes MSL and he gives the fans what they asked for - he let the players loose. Now the fans want MSL gone. He gave you exactly what you wanted.

Fandom in general expected “rebuilding” = draft McDavid and make a run for the Cup in 2-3 years…. It took Edm 9-years post McDavid draft to accomplish that goal and they had a plethora of other 1OA picks as well

Development is simply not linear, maturity timelines have a great deal of variation

 

[ORRFForever]

Fandom in general expected “rebuilding” = draft McDavid and make a run for the Cup in 2-3 years…. It took Edm 9-years post McDavid draft to accomplish that goal and they had a plethora of other 1OA picks as well

Development is simply not linear, maturity timelines have a great deal of variation

Another coach will come in, force the players to play a 200 foot game and those same posters will be saying they want to let the players loose, again.

 

[The Real Timo]

Roger Grillo..

That's the guy they hired as a consultant

... and not allowed behind the bench.

Posters were upset at the coaches prior to MSL because they insisted players (like Caufield) play a 200 foot game. In comes MSL and he gives the fans what they asked for - he let the players loose. He gave you exactly what you wanted.

Now the fans want MSL gone.

Can they play a 200 foot loose game? There gotta be concepts for that

 

[Heffyhoof]

Posters were upset at the coaches prior to MSL because they insisted players (like Caufield) play a 200 foot game. In comes MSL and he gives the fans what they asked for - he let the players loose. He gave you exactly what you wanted.

Now the fans want MSL gone.

It's so nauseating seeing these posts. Which posters? Can you name any or was this some worthless nebulous shot at that scary strawman? It's apparently so prevalent you couldn't even link someone's comment.

 

[Shred]

Letowski is fine enough I think. I just don't know how Robidas got his position with virtually no coaching experience.

He was Director of Player Development with Toronto. Apparently has also been ECHL assistant coach and midget AAA coach.

 

[Shred]

It's also a bit of a nepotism hire as he was the assistant coach in Vermont when MSL played there.

Gorton. Hughes and MSL have been around the NHL so long they are going to have ties with pretty much everyone.

I don’t remember them having specifically close relationships with Robidas, Adam Nicholas, Chris Boucher to name only them who have key roles in the organization though.

 

[Habs]

Posters were upset at the coaches prior to MSL because they insisted players (like Caufield) play a 200 foot game. In comes MSL and he gives the fans what they asked for - he let the players loose. He gave you exactly what you wanted.

Now the fans want MSL gone.

We wanted confused players, with no system, at both ends of the rink? Fans want Cole to score, and the rest of the kids.

 

[RationalExpectations]

Fandom in general expected “rebuilding” = draft McDavid and make a run for the Cup in 2-3 years…. It took Edm 9-years post McDavid draft to accomplish that goal and they had a plethora of other 1OA picks as well

Development is simply not linear, maturity timelines have a great deal of variation

Not at all, when you rebuild you have a very low chance of getting a McDavid. Which team started a rebuild with Suzuki, CC, Dach all drafted 5 years or 3 years before rebuild started ?
How many 5OA did CAR, BOS need to have the teams they have today ? I think trying to emulate EDM and banking on drafting McDavid Draisaitl has a higher chance to finish like BUF

 

[shenmue16]

He was Director of Player Development with Toronto. Apparently has also been ECHL assistant coach and midget AAA coach.

I still have no idea what a "director of player development" does. At least Grillo has been in management positions for 35 years, coached Brown for over a decade. Bunch of "up and comers" they've got behind the bench... translates to "they just stink". They have the entire QMJHL that they could probably pick from and end up with MSL, a decent-ish coach from the OHL, and Robidas.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

Posters were upset at the coaches prior to MSL because they insisted players (like Caufield) play a 200 foot game. In comes MSL and he gives the fans what they asked for - he let the players loose. He gave you exactly what you wanted.

Now the fans want MSL gone.

This might come as shock to you, but the Habs fanbase is huge and there are two sides to every debate and not everyone was on both sides like you claim. Your argument is lazy and disingenuous. I loved the MSL hire, i don’t think he’s doing a particularly great job, but I’m not rushing to fire him. He’s in over his head though, hopefully he will figure it out.

 

[ReHabs]

Posters were upset at the coaches prior to MSL because they insisted players (like Caufield) play a 200 foot game. In comes MSL and he gives the fans what they asked for - he let the players loose. He gave you exactly what you wanted.

Now the fans want MSL gone.

How’s the weather up there on your soapbox?

Expecting better and expecting more is part and parcel of every sports fan’s compulsion. We could demand Jon Cooper and if he doesn’t impress we could demand his replacement. That’s how it works.

There’s no shame in revising one’s opinion, it’s admirable even.

We had Therrien, Julien, and now St Louis.

Therrien got a lot out of Carey Price but little else (all non-Price related stats were mediocre at best), Julien was worse than Therrien across the board, and St Louis has an entirely different circumstance and he’s not living up to expectations either.

We don’t need a team of grinders but defensive stability is just basic common sense for a serious professional sports team.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Marty doesn't know how to teach systems. Why you bring guys with years of experience doing it

I don't think we know that answer yet because our team has too much youth. This is not all on MSL.

This might come as shock to you, but the Habs fanbase is huge and there are two sides to every debate and not everyone was on both sides like you claim. Your argument is lazy and disingenuous. I loved the MSL hire, i don’t think he’s doing a particularly great job, but I’m not rushing to fire him. He’s in over his head though, hopefully he will figure it out.

Think about how MSL didn't want us to trade Monahan and now think about how a player like that is missing on our roster? I do think MSL has a huge challenge on his hands but this is not all on him. This rebuilding roster looks good but it's for the future. Rebuilds are painful when you don't hit on star after star. Takes years to grow and get them in their prime. Look at how long it took the Oilers and they have two of the best players in the NHL. How many coaches did they blame along the way?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Posters were upset at the coaches prior to MSL because they insisted players (like Caufield) play a 200 foot game. In comes MSL and he gives the fans what they asked for - he let the players loose. He gave you exactly what you wanted.

Now the fans want MSL gone.

The coaches prior to MSL were dinosaurs.

If MSL isn’t the guy, so be it. But that doesn’t mean we should go back to Ducharme or Therrien.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

It's so nauseating seeing these posts. Which posters? Can you name any or was this some worthless nebulous shot at that scary strawman? It's apparently so prevalent you couldn't even link someone's comment.

I also love the ‘200 foot game’ comment.

“Grind! Grind! Grind!”

Yeah… let’s go back to THAT.