Todd McLellan and the Reverse Sweep Narrative
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Eagle Fang
Less Defending, More Offending
- Oct 12, 2005
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Say what you will, but when a team gets reversed swept like that culminating with a humiliating defeat on home ice, everyone is to blame including the mascot and parking attendants.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
The Sharks scored 0-1-1 goals in the final 3 games without Vlasic and were outscored 12-2. Its tough to blame that choke on a defensive d-man getting hurt.
It was just another example of a core that came up small year after year in the biggest moments, and that wasn’t only with TM as the coach.
It was just another example of a core that came up small year after year in the biggest moments, and that wasn’t only with TM as the coach.
Brownie to Pancakes
Registered User
I guess. Burns was trash in that series before and after pickles got hurt though, and Irwin scored in game 7
Lol burns was a -1 in their 7-2 win in game 2
Lol burns was a -1 in their 7-2 win in game 2
Axl Rhoadz
Binky distributor
- Apr 5, 2011
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I question a lot of TMac's decisions and tempers flare when there is a loss or negative consequence stemming from one of them, but it would be hard to argue right now, especially in a convincing manner to Blake & Co., that he is a bad coach that deserves to be canned. The team has been playing well overall, has been competitive for a couple of seasons now, and even opposing players from other teams have voiced their frustrations playing against our 1-3-1 system. Todd is a diplomatic and political coach and can make decisions based on that, but overall he hasn't proven to be incompetent.
As for the reverse sweep, I don't see how it factors in anything at all really. It was unfortunate for the Sharks organization and fingers can be pointed all around, but you can hardly lay that entirely at Todd's feet. Sure, the buck stops with him and Doug Wilson, but you can dunk on literally anyone involved with that situation and it has little meaning in anything going on today.
As for the reverse sweep, I don't see how it factors in anything at all really. It was unfortunate for the Sharks organization and fingers can be pointed all around, but you can hardly lay that entirely at Todd's feet. Sure, the buck stops with him and Doug Wilson, but you can dunk on literally anyone involved with that situation and it has little meaning in anything going on today.
I think I remember reading that he was accused of being too trigger happy with calling TO's and opting for speed and skill over playing the vets in OT.
Would explain a few things.
Would explain a few things.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
Okay, since this is the third time I'm saying in no uncertain terms "it's not JUST the reverse sweep," let me give you some more
2009--117 point first place team in the entire league, choked out to the ducks 4-2 in the first round.
2010--113 point first place team in the WC, absolutely smoked the first two rounds 4-2 and 4-1...then got SWEPT in the WCF to the Hawks whose other opponents took at least two games off them.
2011--105 point first place team in the pacific, cut through an injured LA and beat Detroit 4-3 before getting smoked again in the WCF 4-1 to vancouver.
2012--96 point team, stickgate etc--won the first game vs. STL then lost four straight to be out in the first round.
2013--shortened season, 3rd in pacific, no longer 'favorites' really, just straight lost to us in the 2nd round.
2014--we all know this one, but i can't mention it
2015--cranked out of the playoffs altogether
off to Edmonton!
2016--garbage team
2017--103 points and 2nd in pacific! Hey! Went up 2-0 in the 2nd round and lost.
from there, he missed the playoffs again until last year--up 3-2 in the series and losing.
The reverse sweep was just the culmination of years of being the favorite and failing...and much like we've seen here, in many of those series, they absolutely collapsed after some key moment, often while leading a series.
So yeah, it's fair to question decision making, including roster and in game adjustments, because he has made a habit at every stop of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. in every single one of those, media and HF had SOME version of "wow the sharks look unstoppable" until they weren't.
Look, I hope more than anything this is the team that he helps--and helps him--get over the hump. But there's no need for all the copium about his past.
2009--117 point first place team in the entire league, choked out to the ducks 4-2 in the first round.
2010--113 point first place team in the WC, absolutely smoked the first two rounds 4-2 and 4-1...then got SWEPT in the WCF to the Hawks whose other opponents took at least two games off them.
2011--105 point first place team in the pacific, cut through an injured LA and beat Detroit 4-3 before getting smoked again in the WCF 4-1 to vancouver.
2012--96 point team, stickgate etc--won the first game vs. STL then lost four straight to be out in the first round.
2013--shortened season, 3rd in pacific, no longer 'favorites' really, just straight lost to us in the 2nd round.
2014--we all know this one, but i can't mention it
2015--cranked out of the playoffs altogether
off to Edmonton!
2016--garbage team
2017--103 points and 2nd in pacific! Hey! Went up 2-0 in the 2nd round and lost.
from there, he missed the playoffs again until last year--up 3-2 in the series and losing.
The reverse sweep was just the culmination of years of being the favorite and failing...and much like we've seen here, in many of those series, they absolutely collapsed after some key moment, often while leading a series.
So yeah, it's fair to question decision making, including roster and in game adjustments, because he has made a habit at every stop of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. in every single one of those, media and HF had SOME version of "wow the sharks look unstoppable" until they weren't.
Look, I hope more than anything this is the team that he helps--and helps him--get over the hump. But there's no need for all the copium about his past.
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Just off the top of my head, but I'm pretty sure TM is now the second coach to lose a game 7 for the Kings, joining Andy Murray.
Surf Nutz
Hockey Remote Viewer With A Frozen Finger
Seems like this could be a first shoe post and the next one will be dropped in about a month , with the colors reversed.
Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
bland
Registered User
- Jul 1, 2004
- 8,240
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Unless you are actually requesting that MacLellan be fired and replaced RIGHT NOW, what exactly is the point of this complaining?
Just wait and see what he does with a much more competent but still largely inexperienced team next month. Is the point to "I told you so" in an enviornment that no one is really expecting otherwise? These guys could very well win a round, maybe two. Or the bottom could drop out early, lots of things could happen with this group so let's just let it play out. They are rolling now, credit that where it's due.
And yeah, should the Kings win the Conference I think its a damn good bet that MacLellan gets the Adams.
Just wait and see what he does with a much more competent but still largely inexperienced team next month. Is the point to "I told you so" in an enviornment that no one is really expecting otherwise? These guys could very well win a round, maybe two. Or the bottom could drop out early, lots of things could happen with this group so let's just let it play out. They are rolling now, credit that where it's due.
And yeah, should the Kings win the Conference I think its a damn good bet that MacLellan gets the Adams.
Herby
How could Blake have known?
The coach of the year is voted on before the end of the playoffs.
But he absolutely should be in contention either way. I think he should have won it last year. AmazIng coaching job with all the injuries on D.
Nasti
Registered User
The Vlasic excuse is what Sharks fans keep clinging to. In reality, Kopitar was owning him even before he got hurt and the Kings were already up 2-0 in Game 5 when he left. The Sharks scored 2 goals in the final three games of that series. The comeback was happening either way.
Also, Burns was playing forward that year.
Nasti
Registered User
They got swept by Detroit in 2000.
Brownie to Pancakes
Registered User
We're passionate about the team, and while acknowledging the fine position we're in, feel that some things could be even better. It isn't difficult to comprehend. Humping the status quo is the most mundane soulless tedious posture out there.
DAkings20
Kings can't score
Axl Rhoadz
Binky distributor
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Sol
Smile
- Jun 30, 2017
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It’s funny to see this argument because there’s a lot of interesting implications.
So if we’re to blame this on the shoulders of Vlasic or say that the core came up short when they’ve pretty much been stellar outside of the playoffs is a bit heavily loaded.
If we give you the fact that the players heavily dictate how good a team is then why would you equate the Kings success this year to Todd? Because I can easily say the Kings are a better team in spite of Todd’s massive shortcomings. From his terrible control of the tempo of the game to his horrendous roster management. I can easily make that argument to support the fact that the Kings are such a talented team that they make Todd look much better than he is.
1) The Sharks got reverse swept, Edmonton sucked under todd. Who’s responsible here? Why should Todd get the glory of the Kings success when TMacs supporters seem keen to minimize his catastrophic failures elsewhere.
2. The real point of my argument is that I find it extremely dishonest to suggest that the Kings are winning due to Todd, And if that is the case, I would love for someone to give me their honest opinion on the importance of a coach in terms of a teams success. Give me a percentage. I’d say 70 percent is the team, and 30 percent is the coach.
3. Kings are a much better team talent wise than they have ever been. Any middling coach would probably be able to replicate the Kings success or in fact possible do better because Todd does a terrible job changing the pace of the game. You see him get out coached regularly.
Conclusion. Todd is a mediocre coach at best that instills a decent formation to game and where he loses is the fact that he has shown many times that he’s a mental midget. He can draw up a plan but adapting has never been a part of his skillset.
Credit goes to the players and Todd’s only bright side is the fact that his formation works. Where he fails is roster management, game control, and mental fortitude. His entire resume has been built upon the fact he regularly gets outcoached when it matters because he’s proven to be weak mentally and inability to be adaptive has given fuel to some of the most catastrophic failures in playoff history.
Let’s stop pretending he’s suddenly stopped being a mental midget. He’s a mediocre coach at best being carried by a great team. His terrible roster management is being overlooked because despite all the mind numbing deployments he makes, the kings seem to win in spite of his mistakes.
So if we’re to blame this on the shoulders of Vlasic or say that the core came up short when they’ve pretty much been stellar outside of the playoffs is a bit heavily loaded.
If we give you the fact that the players heavily dictate how good a team is then why would you equate the Kings success this year to Todd? Because I can easily say the Kings are a better team in spite of Todd’s massive shortcomings. From his terrible control of the tempo of the game to his horrendous roster management. I can easily make that argument to support the fact that the Kings are such a talented team that they make Todd look much better than he is.
1) The Sharks got reverse swept, Edmonton sucked under todd. Who’s responsible here? Why should Todd get the glory of the Kings success when TMacs supporters seem keen to minimize his catastrophic failures elsewhere.
2. The real point of my argument is that I find it extremely dishonest to suggest that the Kings are winning due to Todd, And if that is the case, I would love for someone to give me their honest opinion on the importance of a coach in terms of a teams success. Give me a percentage. I’d say 70 percent is the team, and 30 percent is the coach.
3. Kings are a much better team talent wise than they have ever been. Any middling coach would probably be able to replicate the Kings success or in fact possible do better because Todd does a terrible job changing the pace of the game. You see him get out coached regularly.
Conclusion. Todd is a mediocre coach at best that instills a decent formation to game and where he loses is the fact that he has shown many times that he’s a mental midget. He can draw up a plan but adapting has never been a part of his skillset.
Credit goes to the players and Todd’s only bright side is the fact that his formation works. Where he fails is roster management, game control, and mental fortitude. His entire resume has been built upon the fact he regularly gets outcoached when it matters because he’s proven to be weak mentally and inability to be adaptive has given fuel to some of the most catastrophic failures in playoff history.
Let’s stop pretending he’s suddenly stopped being a mental midget. He’s a mediocre coach at best being carried by a great team. His terrible roster management is being overlooked because despite all the mind numbing deployments he makes, the kings seem to win in spite of his mistakes.
Brownie to Pancakes
Registered User
If Todd put Iafallo in nets and the kings miraculously won 18-15 on a sextuple hat trick from Kaliyev you would call it a great goaltending decision because they went 1-0 and have no problem when AK is benched the next game.
Axl Rhoadz
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Axl Rhoadz
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mysterman2
Registered User
just be honest...if the Kings face Edmonton in the first rd, and even with a healthy doughty/arvidson; Is there anyone in hockey that is going to give the coaching edge to TMac? Great job in regular season and the points speak for themselves. But when it gets to crunch time- is there anyone going to give TMac the nod in any series for a coaching edge?
