Ian Esplen: Sizing up the Pacific – Coaches
we are No. 3 on the list
- IanEsplen

Tough to argue with this.

Tough to argue with this.
- Morris

Other than phoenix, yup

Burke is the best goaltender coach in the league. Tippett's system or not. Look how Bryz turned out after he left PHX, and how Smith did once he got there.

But seriously Ian, don't you think you're giving Torts a little too much credit? I think the players won that Cup in TB, because look at the talent he had in NY, and couldn't get them to a final.
- Desert_Dog

not really.

The Rangers had 109 points in 2011/12 and I believe he was the runner up to the Jack Adams.

And honestly, I'm not sure that Rangers team was that good. In my opinion they were kind of in the 8-12th place (NHL) as far as on paper talent.

tippett needs to be higher. i'd even put boudreau above torts...torts just got fired and boudreau led his team to the top of the conference last season which literally no one saw coming.

Other than phoenix, yup
- abware

I'm sorry, I can't rank a team that had the 25th ranked PP and 22nd ranked PK any higher than fourth.

I know the team isn't the most talented, but those rankings could be higher.

He's a good coach, but he's 4th in a very good group of coaches.

tippett needs to be higher. i'd even put boudreau above torts...torts just got fired and boudreau led his team to the top of the conference last season which literally no one saw coming.
- rangerdanger94

And his phone was ringing the next day. That must mean he sucks right?

Funny, a couple days ago two of the Rangers best players had nothing but good things to say about the guy.

And his phone was ringing the next day. That must mean he sucks right?

Funny, a couple days ago two of the Rangers best players had nothing but good things to say about the guy.
- IanEsplen

he doesn't suck, but i think boudreau and tippett should be ahead of him on the list. like you said he's a good coach, but he should be 4 or 5 in a very good group of coaches.

he doesn't suck, but i think boudreau and tippett should be ahead of him on the list. like you said he's a good coach, but he should be 4 or 5 in a very good group of coaches.
- rangerdanger94

My rankings are about the entire staff. Gaz bumps him up a tad.

And his phone was ringing the next day. That must mean he sucks right?

Funny, a couple days ago two of the Rangers best players had nothing but good things to say about the guy.
- IanEsplen

he was also hired by the guy who hated his system and called it "goalie"

people change their minds every day and there are good and bad decisions made every second.

personally, I can't wait to watch Torts and Gillis be interviewed this season. Should be some awesome drama and I'd bet the odds of both of them keeping their job all year are 50/50 at best.

he was also hired by the guy who hated his system and called it "goalie"

people change their minds every day and there are good and bad decisions made every second.

personally, I can't wait to watch Torts and Gillis be interviewed this season. Should be some awesome drama and I'd bet the odds of both of them keeping their job all year are 50/50 at best.
- Isles_since_6

Highly doubt it. Both have 5 year deals I believe that pay them rather well. Would you want to be paying a guy a lot of money to sit at home?

Both get at least three more years.

Sean Burke is the best goalie coach in the world. Just wanted to put that out there.

And his phone was ringing the next day. That must mean he sucks right?

Funny, a couple days ago two of the Rangers best players had nothing but good things to say about the guy.
- IanEsplen

Very few players will ever say anything negative about a current or former coach. I'd take that with a grain of salt, especially given the widely reported negative exit interviews Rangers players gave him. Torts is going to have to alter his approach significantly in Vancouver and with his temper I don't like those odds. I love the potential for drama though

And lastly, having two NHL veterans in Niedermayer and Roloson around can't hurt.
- Ian Esplen

The same can be said about almost every coaching staff in the NHL. Being an NHL veteran doesn't make someone a good coach, many of the best coaches are/were in fact not players or fringe players at best.

I think the order of the list is fine, but the margin of quality between each team's staff is probably very small, and at the end of the season, I bet the order is very different.

Highly doubt it. Both have 5 year deals I believe that pay them rather well. Would you want to be paying a guy a lot of money to sit at home?

Both get at least three more years.
- IanEsplen

curious where you got the length of Gillis's contract from, when he was extended I don't remember seeing the length of the extension anywhere.

Burke is the best goaltender coach in the league. Tippett's system or not. Look how Bryz turned out after he left PHX, and how Smith did once he got there.

But seriously Ian, don't you think you're giving Torts a little too much credit? I think the players won that Cup in TB, because look at the talent he had in NY, and couldn't get them to a final.
- Desert_Dog

Be careful, you'll get banned for making comments like that on this thread.

And his phone was ringing the next day. That must mean he sucks right?
Funny, a couple days ago two of the Rangers best players had nothing but good things to say about the guy.
- IanEsplen

Who was calling him again?

Good list, but I honestly think Tippett alone moves Phoenix up that list. His fingerprint on that team is so overwhelmingly obvious. I know, mancrush.
- cryptical77

Agree 100%. Tippett should be first or second and Torts is way too low. Couldn't do anything with a stacked roster and the best goalie in the world in NY.

Agree 100%. Tippett should be first or second and Torts is way too low. Couldn't do anything with a stacked roster and the best goalie in the world in NY.
- duxcup07

He didn't have Luongo in NY

Who was calling him again?
- Cptmjl

30 teams were calling to inquire, even Glen Sather called his agent to arrange an interview

He didn't have Luongo in NY
- 1970vintage

You so beat me to that one

30 teams were calling to inquire, even Glen Sather called his agent to arrange an interview
- 1970vintage

Placing the home town coach who hasn't coached a game yet over one of the best coaches in the league in Dave Tippett, eh? Did you not want to lose the tie with San Jose?

This. Is it me or does this off-season feel especially long and drab?
- AlexF

The relentless trolling just makes it seem longer.

You so beat me to that one
- Cptmjl

Yeah, it was up there on a tee.

The relentless trolling just makes it seem longer.
- Marwood

Just skip a day or two here and there, you know you won't miss anything important, and it keeps the frustration level down.