Proposal: Who would be YOUR hire as the new Head coach?

[Levitate]

Paul Maurice is my pipe dream hire for NYR. I'm convinced he's the best coach in the sport. Understands playoff and winning hockey to a tee. No easy ice defensively. Every play is hard gapped and highly-contested. Offensive players have freedom to create and they forecheck with force. Team full of nail guns with skill who will beat you up and take your lunch money. His system fits their personnel perfectly. Always a treat to listen to him speak as well. He's decisively out-coached Jon Cooper since arriving in Florida IMO.

Maurice spent years with the tag that he couldn't get it done when it mattered in the playoffs.

Good on him that it's happening now but always interesting to see how these narratives go.

I doubt that Cooper gets fired...not yet anyways

 

[McRanger92]

Don't really see what makes DeBoer a better candidate than Sullivan besides him having significantly better rosters in recent years with Dallas and Vegas. The Lightning also aren't firing Cooper that seems like wishcasting. Bednar neither with the Avs. Someone has to lose in both those series because of how the league sets up the playoff bracket.

 

[will1066]

Grandma: I choose Ben Richards
Richard Dawson: Ben Richards is a Runner. You have to pick a Stalker
Grandma: I can choose anyone I want, and I choose Ben Richards. That boy is one mean motherf***er

 

[toNYRico]

Maurice spent years with the tag that he couldn't get it done when it mattered in the playoffs.

Good on him that it's happening now but always interesting to see how these narratives go.

I doubt that Cooper gets fired...not yet anyways

So did Trotz. That doesn't mean their system and style of play don't work. Both eventually got it done. I see DeBoer in that same category. His teams are always knocking at the door. Has Maurice ever had a roster as talented as these Florida teams?

 

[toNYRico]

Don't really see what makes DeBoer a better candidate than Sullivan besides him having significantly better rosters in recent years with Dallas and Vegas. The Lightning also aren't firing Cooper that seems like wishcasting. Bednar neither with the Avs. Someone has to lose in both those series because of how the league sets up the playoff bracket.

What is Sullivan's track record of success with young players other than sticking Guentzel and Rust with Crosby? DeBoer's record is more impressive to me and his teams are always strong in possession and structured defensively. Sullivan's Pens this season were 32nd in high-danger chances against. DeBoer is too good of a coach not to win a Cup.

 

[McRanger92]

What is Sullivan's track record of success with young players other than sticking Guentzel and Rust with Crosby? DeBoer's record is more impressive to me and his teams are always strong in possession and structured defensively. DeBoer is too good of a coach not to win a Cup.

Sullivan hasnt really had any. i think he gladly wouldve played them over the Jeff carter's and Danton Heinen's of the world though.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Sullivan hasnt really had any. i think he gladly wouldve played them over the Jeff carter's and Danton Heinen's of the world though.

Has he had many to play?

 

[toNYRico]

Per CSA:

Unless Sullivan is bringing in Torts to run the defense, I really don't see the appeal here. Two Cups with prime Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Kessel, etc. should not be used as an argument in favor of hiring him. If it is, then zero series wins since 2018 speaks louder.

 

[McRanger92]

Per CSA:

View attachment 1025665

Unless Sullivan is bringing in Torts to run the defense, I really don't see the appeal here. Two Cups with prime Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Kessel, etc. should not be used as an argument in favor of hiring him. If it is, then zero series wins since 2018 speaks louder.

Id like to see those numbers over a longer term like 3-4 years. This season felt like an outlier for the Rangers defensively. Not that they've been great in past years but more middle of the pack. Even Igor couldnt make them look good this year.

 

[toNYRico]

Id like to see those numbers over a longer term like 3-4 years. This season felt like an outlier for the Rangers defensively. Not that they've been great in past years but more middle of the pack. Even Igor couldnt make them look good this year.

I'm not worried anymore about what the Rangers did defensively this season. They canned the two men primarily responsible (Lavi + Housley). I'm worried they view the guy who led a worse defensive team as the solution.

 

[Levitate]

Per CSA:

View attachment 1025665

Unless Sullivan is bringing in Torts to run the defense, I really don't see the appeal here. Two Cups with prime Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Kessel, etc. should not be used as an argument in favor of hiring him. If it is, then zero series wins since 2018 speaks louder.

I mean, most teams that win a cup do so with star/franchise players. The closest I can think of to a team that won without superstars is the Blues and we also saw that Berube isn't particularly a miracle worker either, he just caught lightning in a bottle that year

The Pens big problems have been that they've continued to tie themselves to their old superstars like Crosby and Malkin and Letang (and Karlsson). They've been trying to squeeze the last bit of juice out of that group and just have nothing on the team

Sullivan is probably guilty of trying to force that group to keep playing a system they just can't anymore though

 

[McRanger92]

I'm not worried anymore about what the Rangers did defensively this season. They canned the two men primarily responsible (Lavi + Housley). I'm worried they view the guy who led a worse defensive team as the solution.

I really think its been a talent issue with Sullivan. Pittsburgh has been Crosby and a bucket of bolts for like 5 years.

 

[toNYRico]

I really think its been a talent issue with Sullivan. Pittsburgh has been Crosby and a bucket of bolts for like 5 years.

I don't think lack of talent is responsible for yielding the most high- and mid-danger chances against. That, to me, seems like a structure, positioning, gapping issue.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I really think its been a talent issue with Sullivan. Pittsburgh has been Crosby and a bucket of bolts for like 5 years.

I think people also forget how close they came to beating us in 2022. If Trouba does not give Sid a concussion do we win?

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I don't think lack of talent is responsible for yielding the most high- and mid-danger chances against. That, to me, seems like a structure, positioning, gapping issue.

It's both.

 

[McRanger92]

I think people also forget how close they came to beating us in 2022. If Trouba does not give Sid a concussion do we win?

No. Mika was able to actually play in Game 6 because Crosby had him in a full nelson the entire series up to that point.

 

[toNYRico]

It's both.

Ok, let's assume the structure piece falls on him and the talent piece falls on Pens management. What's he going to do with our star-studded defense?

 

[McRanger92]

Ok, let's assume the structure piece falls on him and the talent piece falls on Pens management. What's he going to do with our star-studded defense?

Rangers have a much better defense on paper than Pittsburgh. Our forwards have an issue with backchecking.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Rangers have a much better defense on paper than Pittsburgh. Our forwards have an issue with backchecking.

Ask for 2-3 better players?

 

[toNYRico]

Ask for 2-3 better players?

I can't wait until Sullivan uses Carson Soucy and Chad Ruhwedel as his shutdown pair next season.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I can't wait until Sullivan uses Carson Soucy and Chad Ruhwedel as his shutdown pair next season.

Do we have a shutdown pair on the current roster?

 

[toNYRico]

Do we have a shutdown pair on the current roster?

Miller-Fox led the league in xGoals%; you don't have to defend if you have the puck.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Ok, let's assume the structure piece falls on him and the talent piece falls on Pens management. What's he going to do with our star-studded defense?

I would rather not find out.

I’m on the same page with the prospect of hiring him as you are. Him being in charge of a team that was worse defensively than the Rangers is not something that excites me because yeah, he wouldn’t be dealing with a full deck here.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Miller-Fox led the league in xGoals%; you don't have to defend if you have the puck.

Last game I remember them as a pair they were awful in but thats just 1 game. Im a bit old school so I'd prefer a different kind of pair as my shutdown defense.

 

[kovazub94]

Paul Maurice is my pipe dream hire for NYR. I'm convinced he's the best coach in the sport. Understands playoff and winning hockey to a tee. No easy ice defensively. Every play is hard gapped and highly-contested. Offensive players have freedom to create and they forecheck with force. Team full of nail guns with skill who will beat you up and take your lunch money. His system fits their personnel perfectly. Always a treat to listen to him speak as well. He's decisively out-coached Jon Cooper since arriving in Florida IMO.

Paul Maurice has been unmercifully ripped to pieces here up until he about April of '23.