Thank you for saying the obvious and something I've been saying for a good while,
I say it again...the problem is with the coaching staff. Its stale, stagnant, uninventive, uninspiring, underwhelming, aggravating and I am tired of the stat of how many times we've made it to the playoffs. This is the worst year in a long time. Getting to 7th or 8th position in the play off picture may put more revenue in the coffers for a couple of games but it will be an embarrassment.

WE NEED A NEW COACH.
- playhockey

Firing Trotz would only guarantee that this team blows for 3-4 years.

It's ok, Carrie-I feel the same about your husband's play this season, too!
- Polecat

Not the most accurate comment. He's not scoring a ton but he's the only veteran that's even trying.

Thank you for saying the obvious and something I've been saying for a good while,
I say it again...the problem is with the coaching staff. Its stale, stagnant, uninventive, uninspiring, underwhelming, aggravating and I am tired of the stat of how many times we've made it to the playoffs. This is the worst year in a long time. Getting to 7th or 8th position in the play off picture may put more revenue in the coffers for a couple of games but it will be an embarrassment.

WE NEED A NEW COACH.
- playhockey

I'll say it again. While D is correct that Trotz needs to sit some vets and increase the kids' ice time, what I'll say again is firing Trotz would be DP's biggest mistake since trading Ronning for the heroin addict.

Firing Trotz would only guarantee that this team blows for 3-4 years.
- PoileRulezzzYo

Really. And what is your support of that argument?

Really. And what is your support of that argument?
- playhockey

I can answer that. He's one of the best three to five coaches in the league. You don't have the kind of success he's had with less than star talent without being among the best. Any retort claiming he has no Cups is bogus. Any hockey person or fan knows how difficult that trophy is to acquire. Look at the revolving doors of coaches through the years. Look at the hundreds of teams with multiple stars that didn't win it. What I'm saying is Trotz is one of the best and you don't throw him away for lack of a Cup. That's why Tennessee will never win a national championship again. Go fifteen minutes without two wins in a row and they're screaming for your head. The right team with right circumstances will come along and we'll get that Cup. You gotta have something that TN sports fans have never had. Patience.

I can answer that. He's one of the best three to five coaches in the league. You don't have the kind of success he's had with less than star talent without being among the best. Any retort claiming he has no Cups is bogus. Any hockey person or fan knows how difficult that trophy is to acquire. Look at the revolving doors of coaches through the years. Look at the hundreds of teams with multiple stars that didn't win it. What I'm saying is Trotz is one of the best and you don't throw him away for lack of a Cup. That's why Tennessee will never win a national championship again. Go fifteen minutes without two wins in a row and they're screaming for your head. The right team with right circumstances will come along and we'll get that Cup. You gotta have something that TN sports fans have never had. Patience.
- R4Z0R

^^^This^^^

And so much more. Coaches eventually get fired (with exceptions) but the knee-jerk reactions calling for a firing of an otherwise good or great coach just because of hitting a slick spot or three rarely fixes problems, especially in the short or near-term. Swapping a coach "just because" is a fools game. Fired coaches are often merely the initial scapegoat and at this point that would be the case if Trotz were to be let go. It would backfire here.

This team has a host of issues that are contributing to the malaise - plenty of guilty parties upon which to place blame. Lots of really good competition in the league too. A sudden, emotionally driven firing of Trotz at this point would be ridiculous.

Great writeup on this from Dirk at Otf:
http://www.ontheforecheck...s-david-poile-barry-trotz

Really. And what is your support of that argument?
- playhockey

My support is that this roster is total crap. Please tell me one coach in this league that could make this team good right now. If you cannot name one guy, then stop the fire Trotz tirade.

This team has MAYBE two players that deserve to be on the 1st line of an NHL team in Wilson and Hornqvist. And even those two are both iffy. I like Mike Fisher, but he is a 2nd line center AT BEST in the NHL and would play on the 3rd line on a ton of teams. Legwand is a 3rd line center...a good one...but he is not a scoring centerman. He gets points because of his ice time...not his talent. Erat and Tits are probably both nearly done playing at this level. Neither of these players appear interested and it won't be long until NHL coaches see that. The rest are either very young or they are simply career grinders in the NHL.

We have an elite blueliner in Weber and a decent 3/4 guy in Klein. Past that, our blueline is either too young (Ellis,Josi), too old(Hannan,Gill), or too untalented (Blum, Barkley) for this level. Our blueline SUCKS. If Weber were to go down with an injury, this team would tank in a heartbeat.

You cannot win games at a high level with low level talent all of the time. Trotz has done some AMAZING things with the rosters we have had, but he has nothing to work with this year.

Trotz is the perfect coach for this market. He will usually coach his teams to overachieve on their talent level. The Preds are and always will be a small market team. We will more than likely NEVER have superstars in their prime come here as free agents. The coach that will be successful will be the one that does more with less. That is Barry Trotz.

I will entertain talks of Poile needing to go though.

The dude doesn't draft all that great. He has certainly hit on some good ones, but he misses too many high draft picks. The draft history of this team is spotty...at best.

His handling of pending FA's from within our own club has been poop as far as I am concerned. He handcuffs himself time and time again...leaving the roster full of holes.

Firing Poile could have positive results, but even those results would probably take a minimum of 2-3 years.

Regarding coaching, some positively insane thoughts on my part concerning Coach Lambert. I like him and from a peanut gallery view, I think he is a good technical teacher but, and this is 100% speculation on my part, he seems too uptight and I wonder if this is somehow adding to the problems that already exist.

He rarely smiles (not that he's had much to smile about) and I realize that there is tremendous pressure on him to succeed at this level but maybe there is something not meshing. I know one thing, he and Brent Peterson appear to be polar opposites in their demeanor and coaching styles.

I am NOT just dissing Lane nor hinting at a change and I may be totally wrong - but I'm sensing something in his in-game interviews that supports my thoughts. It's just a feeling. Is the entire coaching staff on the same page? And yes, if there is a problem, it is Trotz's and Poile's responsibility to correct it in whatever manner works.

Let me repeat, total speculation from me. Maybe Lambert is totally different off camera and out of the spotlight, with players, other coaches, etc.


Maybe a diff hairstyle (Just kidding. I think?) and a bit of lightening up from Lane would help.

Regarding coaching, some positively insane thoughts on my part concerning Coach Lambert. I like him and from a peanut gallery view, I think he is a good technical teacher but, and this is 100% speculation on my part, he seems too uptight and I wonder if this is somehow adding to the problems that already exist.

He rarely smiles (not that he's had much to smile about) and I realize that there is tremendous pressure on him to succeed at this level but maybe there is something not meshing. I know one thing, he and Brent Peterson appear to be polar opposites in their demeanor and coaching styles.

I am NOT just dissing Lane nor hinting at a change and I may be totally wrong - but I'm sensing something in his in-game interviews that supports my thoughts. It's just a feeling. Is the entire coaching staff on the same page? And yes, if there is a problem, it is Trotz's and Poiles responsibility to correct it in whatever manner works.

Let me repeat, total speculation from me. Maybe he is totally different off camera and out of the spotlight, with players, other coaches, etc.


Maybe a diff hairstyle (Just kidding. I think?) and a bit of lightening up from Lane would help.
- blueline

He is a complete downer. I think Barry fills that role by himself.

So firing of a coach never works? I submit to you the following examples.

2012 Los Angeles Kings
2009 Pittsburgh Penquins

I agree though, relieving Trotz of his duties this late in the campaign would be pointless. Other teams are in the same boat as we are, Flyers and Rangers come to mind. I will be happy if we make it to the playoffs but won't be massively bummed if we don't.

Just a typical Preds high speed up and down roller coaster ride season.

Go Preds!

So firing of a coach never works? I submit to you the following examples.

2012 Los Angeles Kings
2009 Pittsburgh Penquins
I agree though, relieving Trotz of his duties this late in the campaign would be pointless. Other teams are in the same boat as we are, Flyers and Rangers come to mind. I will be happy if we make it to the playoffs but won't be massively bummed if we don't.

Just a typical Preds high speed up and down roller coaster ride season.

Go Preds!


- gibson98

Those two teams had 10x the talent than this one does!Both had SUPERSTARS in their lineups. Seriously...come on...

I didn't read anyone's comments here that firing a coach never works.

History shows that more often than not it fails (in all sports) as there are many other factors that contribute to a team's malaise, the coach being just one potential reason. However, I think we all agree that, right or wrong, usually the first to go when the chips are down is the coach.

I didn't read anyone's comments here that firing a coach never works.

History shows that more often than not it fails (in all sports) as there are many other factors that contribute to a team's malaise, the coach being just one potential reason. However, I think we all agree that, right or wrong, usually the first to go when the chips are down is the coach.
- blueline

Oh I agree...I would just disagree if it happened for a season like this.

Oh I agree...I would just disagree if it happened for a season like this.
- PoileRulezzzYo

We're already on the same page.

I was just making a nuanced response to gibson98's comment about "never" but didn't quote him as it was no big deal. Sorry.

We're already on the same page.

I was just making a nuanced response to gibson98's comment about "never" but didn't quote him as it was no big deal. Sorry.
- blueline

No apologies needed.

I am at work and the Preds suck...not a good combination for my mood.

He is a complete downer. I think Barry fills that role by himself.
- PoileRulezzzYo

Downer is an apt description as I see it.

Lambert cracking the whip and pointing out weaknesses is fine on one level, but without a strong bond or connection to the players, along with mutual respect, it can be caustic and counter-productive. Btw, I readily admit that I have no idea what his relationship with the players actually is - I'm just wondering out loud.

Downer is an apt description as I see it.

Lambert cracking the whip and pointing out weaknesses is fine on one level, but without a strong bond or connection to the players, along with mutual respect, it can be caustic and counter-productive. Btw, I readily admit that I have no idea what his relationship with the players actually is - I'm just wondering out loud.
- blueline

Ya...he always seems like he sat on a broom handle's end. He might just not like talking to the media or something. Who knows. I am pretty sure Trotz is hard enough on the players though. Not saying the dude needs to be "Hawaiin shirt guy", but lighten up...

Too bad Brian Campbell's contract is ridiculous. He could really help fill Suter's spot.

I will entertain talks of Poile needing to go though.

The dude doesn't draft all that great. He has certainly hit on some good ones, but he misses too many high draft picks. The draft history of this team is spotty...at best.

His handling of pending FA's from within our own club has been poop as far as I am concerned. He handcuffs himself time and time again...leaving the roster full of holes.

Firing Poile could have positive results, but even those results would probably take a minimum of 2-3 years.
- PoileRulezzzYo

I still can't believe he gave Buffalo a 1st for Goose...

Ya...he always seems like he sat on a broom handle's end. He might just not like talking to the media or something. Who knows. I am pretty sure Trotz is hard enough on the players though. Not saying the dude needs to be "Hawaiin shirt guy", but lighten up...
- PoileRulezzzYo

Hawaiian shirt might fit better with the hair.



Just kidding coach LL - keep working, you're still fine by me. (However, a little levity might help every now and then.)

I still can't believe he gave Buffalo a 1st for Goose...
- jochfr

Terrible...

And gave Goose over 3 million.

Both moves were quite pathetic. Goose is a third liner...

Terrible...

And gave Goose over 3 million.

Both moves were quite pathetic. Goose is a third liner...
- PoileRulezzzYo

Sabres fans were shocked he got that contract.... Most of us thought he was overpaid when he was here. TBH, we miss the wins on the dot he provided.
I think Buffalo is dead last in FO%.

Terrible...

And gave Goose over 3 million.

Both moves were quite pathetic. Goose is a third liner...
- PoileRulezzzYo

Don't forget that its for 4 years, too.

And--a minor correction--They play Goose as a 4th line center. Just nitpicking.

Don't forget that its for 4 years, too.

And--a minor correction--They play Goose as a 4th line center. Just nitpicking.
- wings-suck

Is he at least on the PK?