Speculation: When Does Bruno Get The Boot?

[Bringer of Jollity]

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Unserious hockey club.

 

[Predsanddead24]

It is possible Trotz is, in some small way, ok with this. Not looking like a mushy middle team at all this year. Then next year we rebound to what we should have been + a top of the draft talent (who will probably bust, and we lost 3 talented young players along the way, but I digress).

Trotz did say he wasn’t sure if the free agent additions would work and there is truth that our prospect pool is largely in tact. So I do think there is still a chance to come out of this season in an ok place. But as you note I don’t trust our ability to evaluate and develop young talent so that’s sort of a fatal flaw with the plan.

 

[wmupreds]

It is possible Trotz is, in some small way, ok with this. Not looking like a mushy middle team at all this year. Then next year we rebound to what we should have been + a top of the draft talent (who will probably bust, and we lost 3 talented young players along the way, but I digress).

I could see that, the problem is the players seem kinda on the verge of a mutiny which kind of has to be addressed

 

[glenngineer]

Trotz did say he wasn’t sure if the free agent additions would work and there is truth that our prospect pool is largely in tact. So I do think there is still a chance to come out of this season in an ok place. But as you note I don’t trust our ability to evaluate and develop young talent so that’s sort of a fatal flaw with the plan.

What talent pool though?

Svechkov, ZLH, Pars, Evangelista and Novak are already here. None of the current D make me go, I can't wait to watch him play. We have Kemell and Ufko in Milwaukee and these are the ones that are available to us right now. I have some hope for Svechkov and ZLH.

Coming down the pike is Wood, Molendyk, Surin and Gibson and possibly Stiga.

None of these are blue-chip prospects outside of maybe Molendyk because of his exceptional skating.

There are a couple of others that might turn into middle 6 types but no one in this list is top line talent. I think Molendyk and Gibson can turn into a top pair for us. Beyond that, I'm not terribly excited because as we've seen with all the other young talent to funnel through our system, we are able to develop them to a point and when inserted into the big club, there isn't much there.

I'd love to think that Svechkov keeps developing and turns into a solid two way 2C and that Surin possesses something we've never had and can be a 1C and that's false hope. He probably tops out at a 2C too, which still leaves us looking for a 1C.

You'd think after 25 years of having a team we'd have had a true 1C by this point. I get they are hard to come by. Outside of that, we've never drafted a top 3 forward. How is that even remotely possible? 25 freaking years. You don't need a top 5 pick to find these guys. Yes, it's harder to do but many teams have done it, yet we're lucky to get a top 6 forward out of a draft. That's shocking and disappointing all at the same time.

Oh well, I hope we get trashed tomorrow evening and we go on the road and go for losing 10 in a row.

 

[Enoch]

 

[Kat Predator]

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We're also 32nd in goal differential at -27.

We suck.

 

[101st_fan]

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Depending on loser points to stay tied with the Hawks is depressing.

 

[ShagDaddy]

 

[Roman Yoshi]

I can't be at the game tomorrow night but can someone please chuck a jersey on the ice or show up with paper bags on their head?

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

I just really don't get this. Unless the decision is being stalled while getting the next coach in place, what's the point in prolonging the inevitable. If even Bruno expects it just make the change already. Even if we're negotiating with a replacement, is having Richards or whoever interim for a game going to be the end of the world?

 

[Legionnaire11]

Sounds like a guy who doesn't care and expects to be fired. Not a very inspiring leader.

 

[101st_fan]

I can't be at the game tomorrow night but can someone please chuck a jersey on the ice or show up with paper bags on their head?

Nope. Not tossing a good sweater for a sttuggling coach.

This is probably the most aware perspective of anyone in the organization. He knows that almost every coach gets let go at some point. All he can do is focus on Tuesday's game. If he gets fired is a Trotz decsion.

The difference in Bruno's statement and reported body language compared to the Henry statements on behalf of others is quite stark.

 

[nine_inch_fang]

Brunette definitely sounds beat down and dejected. Maybe it's enough to instill some humility and inspire him to make some changes to his approach.

One can only hope.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

I'm not sure what the holdup is here on Brunette's part. The way he wanted the team to play simply doesn't work. Ok. He played pro hockey for 20 years and moved around a lot under a lot of different coaches. He was an Assistant coach under Quenneville and Ruff. He has Todd Richards on his staff who likewise has decades of playing and coaching experience and won a Stanley Cup on Jon Cooper's staff. They've got the 3rd winningest coach in NHL history sitting upstairs. These guys have seen every system in the book. They don't have to adhere to something that isn't working.

 

[nine_inch_fang]

I'm not sure what the holdup is here on Brunette's part. The way he wanted the team to play simply doesn't work. Ok. He played pro hockey for 20 years and moved around a lot under a lot of different coaches. He was an Assistant coach under Quenneville and Ruff. He has Todd Richards on his staff who likewise has decades of playing and coaching experience and won a Stanley Cup on Jon Cooper's staff. They've got the 3rd winningest coach in NHL history sitting upstairs. These guys have seen every system in the book. They don't have to adhere to something that isn't working.

Pure hubris?

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

I still don't get it. The issues many of us were upset about last year, are still here this year. They are even worse. We have waived more young talent. The star talent we brought in has actually led to a worse team....

What are we looking for here?

By all measures, Bruno is failing:
- Team morale
- Team discipline
- Wins
- Player evaluation
- Getting the most out of your players

We suck

I'll also highlight the success of the players who have been let go this season (I guess that can fit under player eval and getting the most...). That is just as telling as the overall record. Scary this guy is still employed.

 

[Predsanddead24]

Here’s the video of Bruno’s comments. I don’t really see a look of disappointment. To me it comes off as annoyed at the question and then he says the correct statement that you can’t worry about getting fired as a coach because that just how it goes in the league. At least from any clip I’ve seen I don’t see any indication he thinks what he’s doing is wrong and he’s always been one to throw the players under the bus his whole tenure here rather than take any responsibility for the teams or individual players struggles.

 

[Armourboy]

I'm not sure what the holdup is here on Brunette's part. The way he wanted the team to play simply doesn't work. Ok. He played pro hockey for 20 years and moved around a lot under a lot of different coaches. He was an Assistant coach under Quenneville and Ruff. He has Todd Richards on his staff who likewise has decades of playing and coaching experience and won a Stanley Cup on Jon Cooper's staff. They've got the 3rd winningest coach in NHL history sitting upstairs. These guys have seen every system in the book. They don't have to adhere to something that isn't working.

I think that is what blows my mind about this the most, this isn't even really a case of execution, its just flat out not working. So if its not working why would you not try something different? You can only change out players so much.

I mean why not just go back to basic hockey for a bit. Dmen are there to defend, keep the puck in play if you can, shoot the puck if you have an open lane and traffic in front of the net. Forwards should basically be digging pucks out and someone should always be battling in front of the net.

I mean what is the worst that can happen? You not score? You aren't doing that even with all of these defenders driving the net and trying to make plays. At least you might keep the games 0-0 and give yourself a shot late with a wacky bounce instead of being out of it by the 2nd period.

 

[Kat Predator]

Here’s the video of Bruno’s comments. I don’t really see a look of disappointment. To me it comes off as annoyed at the question and then he says the correct statement that you can’t worry about getting fired as a coach because that just how it goes in the league. At least from any clip I’ve seen I don’t see any indication he thinks what he’s doing is wrong and he’s always been one to throw the players under the bus his whole tenure here rather than take any responsibility for the teams or individual players struggles.

Just a bunch of non-answer coach-speak answers.

There does seem to be some nonchalance or fatalism here, which does come off as: if we keep pounding this square peg into this round hole, something will break. Unfortunately, systemic dysfunction cannot be completely sloughed off on the players.

 

[ShagDaddy]

I think that is what blows my mind about this the most, this isn't even really a case of execution, its just flat out not working. So if its not working why would you not try something different? You can only change out players so much.

I mean why not just go back to basic hockey for a bit. Dmen are there to defend, keep the puck in play if you can, shoot the puck if you have an open lane and traffic in front of the net. Forwards should basically be digging pucks out and someone should always be battling in front of the net.

I mean what is the worst that can happen? You not score? You aren't doing that even with all of these defenders driving the net and trying to make plays. At least you might keep the games 0-0 and give yourself a shot late with a wacky bounce instead of being out of it by the 2nd period.

Implement the neutral zone trap!!!

 

[Kat Predator]

I'm not sure what the holdup is here on Brunette's part. The way he wanted the team to play simply doesn't work. Ok. He played pro hockey for 20 years and moved around a lot under a lot of different coaches. He was an Assistant coach under Quenneville and Ruff. He has Todd Richards on his staff who likewise has decades of playing and coaching experience and won a Stanley Cup on Jon Cooper's staff. They've got the 3rd winningest coach in NHL history sitting upstairs. These guys have seen every system in the book. They don't have to adhere to something that isn't working.

From the video, he does come off as someone who thinks he's coaching hard and trying everything and fate just keeps serving him bad luck.

I guess we can see that he has been trying different combinations in some sense. Sort of the mad scientist throwing different colored liquids into different glassware to see what happens as quickly as possible. But has he really changed the systems, simplified things, etc.? And some of the mad scientist stunts are laughably/frustratingly/sadly predictable. Such as keeping the veterans together no matter what, playing musical chairs with the youth, not playing certain players who could've helped, and all the rest we've been discussing...

 

[herzausstein]

I have no problem with shuffling lines every now. Sometimes mid game the team needs a wakeup but you eventually go back to the established lines. then there is the rate at which Bruno shuffles lines which doesnt allow for any real evaluation of the lines he is trying.

Inital results can be misleading and tossing players mid game that have no chemistry together might look bad at first but if you give then practices together and a couple games may turn into something great.

 

[Porter Stoutheart]

From the video, he does come off as someone who thinks he's coaching hard and trying everything and fate just keeps serving him bad luck.

I guess we can see that he has been trying different combinations in some sense. Sort of the mad scientist throwing different colored liquids into different glassware to see what happens as quickly as possible. But has he really changed the systems, simplified things, etc.? And some of the mad scientist stunts are laughably/frustratingly/sadly predictable. Such as keeping the veterans together no matter what, playing musical chairs with the youth, not playing certain players who could've helped, and all the rest we've been discussing...

Arguably, although I'm not sure if stats would agree, or it's just Lauzon/Carrier/O'Reilly out or what, maybe the D is a little less aggressive lately, or the hits aren't the biggest thing. A few games some of the youth/vet TOI mix has been slightly improved. But it still seems like the same in-game fallbacks always arise, throw the same guys over the boards in the heat of the moment, fall back on the same things that aren't working. It has taken a very long time in the midst of an awful lot of losses to get even to this point where it almost seems like *maybe* a few minor tweaks might have happened. Although the waters are muddied by the injuries.

But like others are saying, why wouldn't you just do what coaches everywhere the world over have always done in the face of this kind of across-the-board failure? Simplify. Chip pucks out, play for a 0-0 game and hope for a lucky break. *OR*... if we can all agree the season is mathematically lost and you do have several kids knocking on the door, take a chance on them, give them much much more icetime, let them learn from any mistakes they make, and build towards a happier tomorrow. You can't keep coaching forever like the veterans on this team are going to carry you to winning a Stanley Cup based on some innovative balls-out playing style. That ship has sailed. Or it sank at the dock, whichever.

 

[LCPreds]

Do we really even want Bruno to be fired at this point? Or better to ride it out, get the good pick, and replace him in the offseason?

 

[ShagDaddy]

Do we really even want Bruno to be fired at this point? Or better to ride it out, get the good pick, and replace him in the offseason?

I’m of the opinion that this is what’s going to happen. I’ve relegated my expectations to watching Brunette’s line blender and bad hockey for the rest of the season.