We had a chance to get Peter Laviolette tonight before the game.
Lavy complained that he was beginning to sweat in his warmups as I grilled him over Chris Pronger.
So did Randy Miller, Dave Isaac and Anthony SanFilippo. We want to know what he FEELS inside at this point.
Does he feel he has to proceed as if Pronger is not coming back, just like in 2006 when he got the bad news on Erik Cole?
Did GM Paul Holmgren say to him, 'Are you comfortable with this defense or do you want me to make a deal now?'
These are conversation I know for a fact that Bob Clarke often had with coach Ken Hitchcock. Lavy says he has a close relationship with Holmgren but doesn't cross the line from coach to GM in terms of asking for trades.
Here's the transcript:
Q -Did you lose Cole that one year for a long time?
“He broke his neck. Shortly after the Olympic break he broke it and we didn’t get him back until the Final. Game 6.
Q- Prepare that season as if he’s not coming back?
“They said he wouldn’t be back. But when they said that I don’t know if they took into account that we would be in the final june 18 and juen 20. wventually players heal and get healthy.
Q- Pronger/no pronger
“I'm not sure exactly what that means. We don’t change our game. We don’t change a game base don fact st. lopuis is not in for them. We have a style and an identity and we go out and play it. we may rely on others more. We’ve recalled some guys from our minor league affiliatet who have filled in admirably. It is what it is. We dindt have ‘em 2 games ago or 4 games ago and we don’t have him tonight. I don’t know when we will.
“there is still an expectation we will get him back at some point. I don’t think there is any answer for that. there’s no answers. We’re playing the game tonight and I’m not worried what happens on feb. 3. we’ve got a good team in that locker room and I believe we can win.
“I don’t know what it means when do we prepare now for life without chris pronger. I don’t know when were getting him back. We didn’t have him the last road trip or anaheim but we’re fine.
Q- High minutes for your defense?
“you don’t see any of our defenseman playing 32 miknute s. once in a while because of overtime and just a ridiculous amount of penalties we’ve taken we’ve gotten a defenseman up to 28.
Q- Didnt carle have 29 recently?
“well, maybe. On a regular basis, a consistent basis, no they are typically under 25. matty carle could play 34 or 35 if we wanted to. He’s a young guy. There are lots of players in the league who play 30 minutes on defense. we just chosen not to do that.
Q- But you got 2 rookies.
“I had two rookies the last two games and we won 2 games.
Q- Can you increase their minutes?
“I don’t need to do anything. I don’t know where you’re going with this. We’re winning games. I don’t know how the game is gonna go. I don’t know whether they’ll get two minutes or 20 minutes. They’ve filled in admirably. Our big guys have stepped up. They’ve done a nice job.
Q - Do you feel for pronger?
“Everyone feels bad for him. First and foremost, I hope he gets healthy for life. It’s never any fun. You guys know this. You’ve had an injury. You;ve had something that’s bugged you or nagging you It sucks. I hope he gets healthy first and foremost and feels good. Period.
Q- Getting more out your rookie d-men than you thought?
“With regard to those guys, it’s kinda like the Couturier line. And matt read. These guys have never really had an opportunity in the NHL like they do now. So, what you do know is given them opportunity and watch to see how they respond. So far they have responded well. Bourdon has been called on a little more than Marshall and they both have played well. Bourdon has looked good. He’s heads up. He’s physical He’s done a nice job. You guys see that as well. Opportunity is one thing. What you do with opportunity is another. Both those guys have come up and done what we’ve asked.
Q- Homer ask you whether you needed something; how you felt?
“Those conversations don’t necessarily take place like that because they are not announcements that are made. I’m in there every day, living it with Paul and he coaches and players and injuries happen every time.
“You may not know what an injury is three weeks ago. Or be sure of what it is. Somebody may have a sore finger. You wait a day and practice and he plays another game and something is not right. There’s no real announcements.
Every day there is a list that is sent and shows the injuries and what is going on and reports of what players are feeling. That conversation never took place.
Q- Let me turn it around about being comfortable.
“I am extremely comfortable with the players in that room tonight. To feel that we can go out and big a big win. Just like I was with the Pegnuins. Just like I was going into Buffalo.
Q- That’s coach speak
“That’s not coach speak. How did we do those games?
Q- You won.
“You’re bringing me down but I feel good.
Q- If you felt you didn’t have it, would you say you need an upgrade.
Paul and I have a great relationship. We talk almost every day. I am not the general manager, I am the coach but we talk every day. There is always conversations. That being said, I want to be clear, that team in there, just beat the Penguins just jumped up to first and man, I sure would like to extend that lead tonight. And I believe they can do that. That team in there tonight.
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