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Part 1. Who Needs a Trade? Who Needs a New Coach? Rumors. |
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Yesterday was another example that once the Turkey is digested the stomaches get tight. We saw Boudreau and Maurice, two very high profile experienced guys fall on their swords for their teams. Neither firing was all that unexpected, but you get a sense that both coaches may not have to wait too long for work.
And according to my sources...this is just the beginning of what could be the biggest coaches shuffle/major player shuffle we have seen in some time...and most of it could happen in the next 15 days. The psychology of it all really is pretty fascinating to me.
There are some obvious teams in panic mode right now...
So who needs a coaching change and who needs a trade?
#1 In the East, the Islanders are now front and center. There are only so many years you can sit at the bottom of a Conference and have everything be acceptable. Only so many years you can say "our young nucleus will mature and eventually take over." I will never forget talking to one of the most famous scouts in our sport who told me this about young players..."For the most part players who dominate their leagues prior to coming to the NHL will eventually dominate in the NHL. How long that takes can vary widely, but as long as they are handled correctly and put into systems where their youth isn't exposed and their confidence given a chance to flourish they will dominate here as they did as kids."
The Islanders showed us early they could do play at an energy level that allowed their young players to display the dominance we knew of them before Garth Snow picked them. And then...they stopped playing that way. The second effort was gone.
I admire much of what the Islanders have done when it comes to their progressive ways. Garth Snow as a GM was a progressive move. Hiring young relatively unknown names to coach was a progressive move. I was even in favor of the committee they formed to help make decisions and I spoke out harshly against those who called it foolish...the more I have gotten to know how these teams work the more I have learned the incredible hypocrisy prevalent in that early criticism...
Why? Because almost every team is run by a a committee of sorts. It may be masked as "we let the hockey people make the hockey decisions," and some teams do indeed do that for the most part but not always and the big decisions...the ones that matter are all determined by a large group and the owner is very involved.
So I liked and respected the Islanders for their openly progressive ways. And, as much as 1980 will forever haunt the kid in me, I have actually grown to truly admire Islanders fans. You have some serious fans here who are DYING for something to believe in. They deserve NO BLAME for the attendance drop. The one year the Isles recently made the playoffs I sat in that building for a game against the Sabres and it was as electric as any building I have ever sat in.
Many of the paying fans in that building grew up in the era in which I grew up. When the Islanders won 4 Cups and were almost unbeatable...Those are the fans who are dying here.
Progressively running a team is always important and I am all for it. However losing the balance completely of old school hockey, Al Arbour hockey, is what has happened on the Island. The culture is in need of a change behind the bench. The Isles don't need to trade Okposo. The Isles need to hire a hockey "lifer." A guy who has seen the AHL and the NHL and knows the difference. Bruce Boudreau would be perfect for the NY Islanders right now. Absolutely ideal.
Yes he is a predictable type of guy to bring in. Yes it is a retread. Yes it is a guy who was just fired because his players in Washington tuned him out. But remember...it took a long time for the Caps players to tune him out.
And the Caps players are older now. The Islanders players are not. The Islanders players need a real kick in the ass. A guy with stories which will show these players how much more experienced he is than they are. A guy who can work with Tavares for what he is...A hockey player.
I don't think Garth Snow needs to be fired, but if he doesn't realize the opportunity with Boudreau or at least bringing in this kind of coach for these kids....something is wrong in his balance between progressive management and honest, hard working hockey.
My next blogs will focus on Calgary, Anaheim and Columbus...
Rumor update....
The Ducks are NOT shopping Bobby Ryan. However teams are VERY interested in Bobby and sources continue to tell me something could go down. Columbus, Toronto, Minnesota, and Philadelphia all would love a shot.
The other player to look for...Alex Semin. Is he a Dale Hunter type player? Many are whispering that Hunter will force a bold move to wake up the Caps at some point here...Semin is the overwhelming favorite to be moved. Look to Detroit and LA.
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