Speculation: Who should be the new head coach of the Washington Capitals?

[g00n]

Keenan isn't seeking an NHL job, according to the Twitters. Can't post link from phone, but it's on Vingan's timeline.

Impossible! I'm told he's been begging for an NHL job and everyone just hates him. Has to be sour grapes.

 

[RandyHolt]

Ted seemed too busy letting the season play out over getting a head start on his restructuring plan.

Wayne could have been named weeks or months ago, for starters.

I wanted Oates and McPhee gone as soon as we were eliminated. I know Ted had an allegiance to George after 17 years, but he will likely set the obvious plan to use Ovi to land us a cup back one more year by getting such a slow start on the changes. We may well end up with a coach we didn't want, who will be replaced a year from now for a slightly better candidate.

Ovi isn't getting any younger. GET MOVING!!!

 

[NobodyBeatsTheWiz]

Wrong thread. Delete.

 

[Roughing]

Totally sucks. Best candidate off the board. Lavs would have worked wonders here. Is this joke of a franchise doing something? Anything? Interviewing? Are they gonna wait until the cup gets handed out before taking action?

 

[895]

Laviolette was not the best candidate at all.

Look at his body of work with the Canes which are pretty much a less talented Capitals. They sucked. He would bring the same results here.

 

[g00n]

Laviolette was not the best candidate at all.

Look at his body of work with the Canes which are pretty much a less talented Capitals. They sucked. He would bring the same results here.

Yeah, screw this. Look at the way he's holding that Cup. Pass.

 

[Fallschirmyager]

I guess, you'll be ready for it then...

I'm already having to stifle the flow as best I can. I'm very not happy with the way TL has been handling this fustercluck. I will however give them full opportunity to get the ship righted before verbally give both barrels.

 

[Chukcha]

omg... we sucked again... the fish rots from the head down. Ted's indecision will lead us to GMGM and Oates again as the best candidates available.

 

[OldHat]

You cannot condemn both hiring a coach before a GM and missing out on a coach that is hired by someone else before the GM you want is even able to be interviewed.

 

[Bure]

Haven't posted in a while but want to say they f'd up not hiring Lavi.

 

[usiel]

Haven't posted in a while but want to say they f'd up not hiring Lavi.

Well, imho, the more important thing for me is the GM and they should have some vision based on looking at this team and should get some say in the Coach. Sure the caps have hired a coach before a GM but don't think that is ideal.

 

[Ridley Simon]

Meh

On Lavi. Let's see what happens with the new hires before we regret the ones that got away.

Patience is now in order, people. It took Ted forever to can George....what makes you think he will move with alacrity now?

 

[ryan519*]

tortorella might not be terrible..could kick this team's ass into gear

idk maybe im the only one that feels like the caps need something like this when they're playing like **** or without any effort, instead of oates's no yelling soft ass approach to everything


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biZlEtaXbw8

"if you're not gonna be stiff, you're not gonna play, im warning you all" i like that ****. i get the feeling he wouldnt stand for any half assed play and would bench anyone in a heartbeat

 

[usiel]

tortorella might not be terrible..could kick this team's ass into gear

idk maybe im the only one that feels like the caps need something like this when they're playing like **** or without any effort, instead of oates's no yelling soft ass approach to everything


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biZlEtaXbw8

"if you're not gonna be stiff, you're not gonna play, im warning you all" i like that ****. i get the feeling he wouldnt stand for any half assed play and would bench anyone in a heartbeat

Man I would run away like a 10th level Paladin when a Pit Fiend/Torts shows up on the battlefield.

 

[PucktotheHead]

I don't know. While I am not sure how successful Torts would be here, the Caps/Pens rivalry would be fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S8WN-xtJJQ

 

[RandyHolt]

I want a coach that will get our highest paid players to give the effort of our lowest paid. That will cure most all that ails this team, if we can bolster LD.

 

[BobRouse]

RH,

Lets say this is one of those wacky comedy movies like Mr Deeds.

By some stroke of luck YOU have been named head coach and GM of the Caps.

How would you go from here? What players would you try and move? What style would we play? Who would be your "go to" players (every coach has these)?

 

[HunterSThompson]

I don't know what you are laughing at. If a guy like Benning is Ted's number one choice, but he cannot hire him until the Bruins are eliminated, then how can you complain about missing out on Lavi and hiring a coach before a GM.

 

[BrooklynCapsFan]

I don't know what you are laughing at. If a guy like Benning is Ted's number one choice, but he cannot hire him until the Bruins are eliminated, then how can you complain about missing out on Lavi and hiring a coach before a GM.

Have we gotten any confirmation on that from anyone?

The Stars hired Nill away from Detroit last season in the middle of their playoff run.

 

[RandyHolt]

How would you go from here? What players would you try and move? What style would we play? Who would be your "go to" players (every coach has these)?

It's a pickle. Ovi, his style and limitations, and how he is best used WRT to winning a cup and building the team, must addressed head on.

Once that is determined, the rest is easy.

Determining that, is the hardest part.

Would you say you have seen him transitioning to a more complete 2 way player, adding to his existing strengths, hitting energy, dictating pace etc, or more toward a PP specialist?

 

[HunterSThompson]

Have we gotten any confirmation on that from anyone?

The Stars hired Nill away from Detroit last season in the middle of their playoff run.

I believe they have to allow permission to interview at least while they are still playing, so it is probably different for each franchise. I could certainly be wrong, it is known to happen.

Interesting read.

 

[ChibiPooky]

Haven't seen it mentioned yet, so I'll post it. The new buzz is that Mike Babcock's contract may not be renewed and that his relationship with the players "has run its course". If his contract isn't extended, he says he'll take an assistant coach position at Michigan.

Sounds like he wants to stay local, but if he's not extended, IMO Ted has to give him a call, Big Blue notwithstanding.

That's a name I'd hire before the GM. Maybe the only one.

 

[BobRouse]

It's a pickle. Ovi, his style and limitations, and how he is best used WRT to winning a cup and building the team, must addressed head on.

Once that is determined, the rest is easy.

Determining that, is the hardest part.

Would you say you have seen him transitioning to a more complete 2 way player, adding to his existing strengths, hitting energy, dictating pace etc, or more toward a PP specialist?

But lets say that spending to the cap and keeping the team in DC (even tho unlikely to move) is based on good attendance and selling out the arena. Financial factors are a very real thing here.

So as GM/Coach you kinda have to keep that in mind. The owner will be like "OK..if you get rid of OV then you BETTER win right away because if you DON'T and he goes on to have success elsewhere it would ruin the already shaky image of the franchise"

You ..RH..YOUR career will be on the line should you decide to go a complete different direction. If you do then you better sure as hell make sure it works and the stands will be filled due to winning (remember...the Caps were a winning team in the 80s and early 90s and still struggled like heck in the attendance department)

Think about it...Abe coudn't pay Dino. He couldn't trade for Selanne. I'm sure it would have been Poile's job if we paid for Stevens. If your team isn't making money then you can't spend money.


Now with that said...I don't think the last couple years we can really take anything away from the team or players since quite possibly we had the most inept coach in team history who had a completely failed system that he insisted would work.

 

[PucktotheHead]

But lets say that spending to the cap and keeping the team in DC (even tho unlikely to move) is based on good attendance and selling out the arena. Financial factors are a very real thing here.

So as GM/Coach you kinda have to keep that in mind. The owner will be like "OK..if you get rid of OV then you BETTER win right away because if you DON'T and he goes on to have success elsewhere it would ruin the already shaky image of the franchise"

You ..RH..YOUR career will be on the line should you decide to go a complete different direction. If you do then you better sure as hell make sure it works and the stands will be filled due to winning (remember...the Caps were a winning team in the 80s and early 90s and still struggled like heck in the attendance department)

Think about it...Abe coudn't pay Dino. He couldn't trade for Selanne. I'm sure it would have been Poile's job if we paid for Stevens. If your team isn't making money then you can't spend money.


Now with that said...I don't think the last couple years we can really take anything away from the team or players since quite possibly we had the most inept coach in team history who had a completely failed system that he insisted would work.

WTF is this? Moving the team....are you drunk? None of this makes much sense in any context. Maybe I'm drunk.

 

[RandyHolt]

Now with that said...I don't think the last couple years we can really take anything away from the team or players since quite possibly we had the most inept coach in team history who had a completely failed system that he insisted would work.

That's the pickle. Did Ovi stop crushing opponents because Oates wanted him to? Or was it more the league cracking down him, maybe age related, league mandate, maybe doesn't feel like it. What about Nick and back checking? Green seems to not even hustle to get back on breakaways some games.

Are all the flaws in our stars games we saw on Oates? Or are those players ready to sweat for 84 games.

I would like to think they have honed their crafts after all these years and still have performed basic tasks, their strengths, regardless of the coaches sanity.