roster for next season has me very happy...

drouin stamkos palat
killorn filppula callahan
brown johnson kucherov
paquette thompson purcell/another guy i think purcell gets traded/crombeen

hedman sustr
carle gudas
brewer barberio
(i think we add a vet or two in UFA)

bishop
gudlevskis/vasilevskiy

Boucher's pseudo trap was easy for other coaches to figure out how to break it. Like I said, I was a huge Boucher fan his first year, but it was obvious that it wasn't going to sustain.
- Blackstrom2

Bingo.

Drouin with a 1g and 2a in leading the Moosers back from a 4-1 hole to 6-5 win.

Playoff stats... 12gms 11g 21a 32p +8... just sick. As tough as this game was looking forward for the Bolts I GOTTA WEAR SHADES!!!

Actually, Boucher's first full year you were a very very good possession team; top in the East, 3rd in the league. Eventually the goaltending situation and defense simply caught up with him IMHO. It's really difficult to play any type of strong possession game without defensemen who can transition the puck.

Having said all that, Cooper is a phenomenal coach, I expect he'll do well long term.
- BeanCountingHab

He got schooled. We'll know in the future if he can bounce back. Reminded me a lot of Carbonneau, player's coach. But to be fair TB battled injuries and adversity and he got them very far.

He got schooled. We'll know in the future if he can bounce back. Reminded me a lot of Carbonneau, player's coach. But to be fair TB battled injuries and adversity and he got them very far.
- Pie

I still think he can be a good fit somewhere. It just wasn't going to work in Tampa.

Not sure Callahan is here next year. Drouin I don't think they start him on the top line. And we add an Veteran D man like Niskanen or Nikita Nikitin. Going to be interesting to see how they fill out the roster.

roster for next season has me very happy...

drouin stamkos palat
killorn filppula callahan
brown johnson kucherov
paquette thompson purcell/another guy i think purcell gets traded/crombeen

hedman sustr
carle gudas
brewer barberio
(i think we add a vet or two in UFA)

bishop
gudlevskis/vasilevskiy
- boltsfan48

I still think he can be a good fit somewhere. It just wasn't going to work in Tampa.
- Michael_Stuart

not with guys like Stamkos

I think Boucher's reputation as a trap guy was him adjusting to what he had (poor goaltending, lack of puck-moving defensemen). When he was running our AHL team they played a very different aggressive style, at times using a 3 man forecheck.

It probably seems strange to you guys that we're so interested in Boucher, let me explain. Montreal has an absurd mandate about only hiring a head coach who can speak french. This severely limits the talent pool so we like to keep tabs on available coaches.

It's especially true this season, since Therrien was coaching like dog poop for most of it. He seems to have suddenly remembered how to coach in time for the playoffs though, I feel like he was trolling us all year.

I think Boucher's reputation as a trap guy was him adjusting to what he had (poor goaltending, lack of puck-moving defensemen). When he was running our AHL team they played a very different aggressive style, at times using a 3 man forecheck.

It probably seems strange to you guys that we're so interested in Boucher, let me explain. Montreal has an absurd mandate about only hiring a head coach who can speak french. This severely limits the talent pool so we like to keep tabs on available coaches.

It's especially true this season, since Therrien was coaching like dog poop for most of it. He seems to have suddenly remembered how to coach in time for the playoffs though, I feel like he was trolling us all year.
- BeanCountingHab

100 pts

I think Boucher's reputation as a trap guy was him adjusting to what he had (poor goaltending, lack of puck-moving defensemen). When he was running our AHL team they played a very different aggressive style, at times using a 3 man forecheck.

It probably seems strange to you guys that we're so interested in Boucher, let me explain. Montreal has an absurd mandate about only hiring a head coach who can speak french. This severely limits the talent pool so we like to keep tabs on available coaches.

It's especially true this season, since Therrien was coaching like dog poop for most of it. He seems to have suddenly remembered how to coach in time for the playoffs though, I feel like he was trolling us all year.
- BeanCountingHab

I'd be interested to see what Boucher can do with a defense that can move.

This is what I said. The roster didn't fit his system. Not mobile enough.
- Michael_Stuart

Before I go. Can't we say the same for Cooper. The roster doesn't fit his system? Not mobile enough! I mean no disrespect with my comment.

Before I go. Can't we say the same for Cooper. The roster doesn't fit his system? Not mobile enough! I mean no disrespect with my comment.
- andrest

No. Look at the season results. Look at the possession metrics. Look at the improvement with a similar roster. There's a reason Cooper is being talked about as a front-runner for the Jack Adams.

This one series (as messed up as it was) doesn't make a season.

I'd be interested to see what Boucher can do with a defense that can move.
- Michael_Stuart

He had Subban in the AHL for most of the year. It was a treat.

Also, just want to say excellent blog. I kind of discovered you during this series, you're on my shortlist of guys like Yost that write great, insightful stuff.

Engels is fine, but he just doesn't have the time to write as frequently or with as much analysis. And you can't get any discussions going in the comments because they fill up so fast, mostly with crap.

He had Subban in the AHL for most of the year. It was a treat.

Also, just want to say excellent blog. I kind of discovered you during this series, you're on my shortlist of guys like Yost that write great, insightful stuff.

Engels is fine, but he just doesn't have the time to write as frequently or with as much analysis. And you can't get any discussions going in the comments because they fill up so fast, mostly with crap.
- BeanCountingHab

Thanks! I really appreciate that.

No. Look at the season results. Look at the possession metrics. Look at the improvement with a similar roster. There's a reason Cooper is being talked about as a front-runner for the Jack Adams.

This one series (as messed up as it was) doesn't make a season.
- Michael_Stuart

I respect you're opinion! Good night..

I think Boucher's reputation as a trap guy was him adjusting to what he had (poor goaltending, lack of puck-moving defensemen). When he was running our AHL team they played a very different aggressive style, at times using a 3 man forecheck.

It probably seems strange to you guys that we're so interested in Boucher, let me explain. Montreal has an absurd mandate about only hiring a head coach who can speak french. This severely limits the talent pool so we like to keep tabs on available coaches.

It's especially true this season, since Therrien was coaching like dog poop for most of it. He seems to have suddenly remembered how to coach in time for the playoffs though, I feel like he was trolling us all year.
- BeanCountingHab

Ditching Therrien for Boucher seems like a mistake.

Ditching Therrien for Boucher seems like a mistake.
- Blackstrom2

You're going to have nightmares if Boucher becomes the Caps head coach!!!

Thanks! I really appreciate that.
- Michael_Stuart

You're easily one of the best on the site. Don't let the other's shiny looking press passes make you think otherwise.

if you Tampa guy's think I seem to bug you guys and venture into your blogs, it's because Stuart is one of the best on this site.

You're going to have nightmares if Boucher becomes the Caps head coach!!!
- andrest

Can't be any worse than Oates.

Ditching Therrien for Boucher seems like a mistake.
- Blackstrom2

It didn't seem like one through most of the season. We played a poor possession game all season and basically got where we were because of the talent on the roster, no significant injuries and the biggest reason: Price.

However, all of the stupid things he was doing (playing Murray, not using Subban on the PK, randomly benching Subban, playing a dump and chase system instead of puck possession etc) have magically stopped when the playoffs started.

Anyway, I won't delve much more into it, don't want to high jack their blog.

Yup. The addition of Kucherov full time, Drouin full time, Namestnikov may be in. There's many players and not many spots. Get rid of malone and purcell, they're dead weight. Imagine this : A line consisting of kucherov, stamkos, and drouin. OR Palat, Stamkos, Drouin. Deadly.
- RileyB77

Good luck

You're easily one of the best on the site. Don't let the other's shiny looking press passes make you think otherwise.

if you Tampa guy's think I seem to bug you guys and venture into your blogs, it's because Stuart is one of the best on this site.
- Blackstrom2

Ditto!!!

Well that was fun. Good blog.. I got pissed with you after game one because of the "Playoff Price" comments but thats what makes the playoffs so fun. Great blogging, I enjoyed reading everything you had to say. We may have won the series but Im still a little jealous because you guys have the BEST player in the game. Yes I said it, the best. Crosby hasnt scored a goal in his last 8 playoff games and was nearly non-exsistent in the Olympics. If you kept St.Louis then this series would have been different. Lots of young talent, and Drouin is on the way.

and guys take it easy on Cooper. Hes an amazing coach that just got his first taste of the playoffs. Therrien melted down last year as well, and recovered this year.

You're easily one of the best on the site. Don't let the other's shiny looking press passes make you think otherwise.

if you Tampa guy's think I seem to bug you guys and venture into your blogs, it's because Stuart is one of the best on this site.
- Blackstrom2

Very kind of you!

Well that was fun. Good blog.. I got pissed with you after game one because of the "Playoff Price" comments but thats what makes the playoffs so fun. Great blogging, I enjoyed reading everything you had to say. We may have won the series but Im still a little jealous because you guys have the BEST player in the game. Yes I said it, the best. Crosby hasnt scored a goal in his last 8 playoff games and was nearly non-exsistent in the Olympics. If you kept St.Louis then this series would have been different. Lots of young talent, and Drouin is on the way.

and guys take it easy on Cooper. Hes an amazing coach that just got his first taste of the playoffs. Therrien melted down last year as well, and recovered this year.
- HabsRUs

Much appreciated! Thanks for popping by.