Good day,

New blog is up. First place!

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...in-over-Buffalo/194/80086

Just out of curiosity, if Willie wins a cup will he be considered a playoff coach or one that snuck in.
- Makita

snuck in due to supporting cast on bench

in the old NHL yes youd be correct. Those 2 would count.

Carlyle is a good strategist. They say Blysmas system is too complicated to follow. Guy won the cup after taking over mid season. Well done.
- SMBDragon

I have my doubts on coaching ability for the guys that win during a midseason take over. I think they contribute to the rejuvenation of players, particularly if the previous regime was not going well, but Bylsma failed to replicate his success and it will be interesting to see if Sullivan can do the same. Hell even WD caught the NHL by surprise and had a 100 point season in his first go

As for Carlyle, I disagree. The 2007 Ducks had a very good lineup, with several HOF players and Getlaf/Perry and prime Penner/Kunitz, since that year he has only won 1 playoff series and his underlying Corsi stats have been brutal. Just google Carlyle bad coach and tons of articles will come up, including direct comparison between Babcock and Carlyle: http://theleafsnation.com...sited-randy-s-wowys/score

in the old NHL yes youd be correct. Those 2 would count.
Sakic and forsberg certainly did affect the outcome along with roy and foot etc.

Carlyle is a good strategist. They say Blysmas system is too complicated to follow. Guy won the cup after taking over mid season. Well done.
- SMBDragon

I guess I never saw Carlyle as a good coach, to me he was one of those guys that inherited a good team, Crawford, Hartley style.

I would say, (and I saw you post this last season about WD), that he should have been able to recreate that in Toronto regardless of the lack of talent.

I guess I never saw Carlyle as a good coach, to me he was one of those guys that inherited a good team, Crawford, Hartley style.

I would say, (and I saw you post this last season about WD), that he should have been able to recreate that in Toronto regardless of the lack of talent.
- Makita

well they did have that losing habit. He did more for them than ANY other coach did including babcock....they finished 30th under him.


Also, I predicted the SC win the previous year by seeing carlyles amazing coaching and getting his team to switch systems after a period of play. He was stellar.

Good morning....you know, you're right that they should always try to win, that's why they play the games. But, just to elaborate on my stance, I'm not against icing a competitive team, I'm against doing it at the expense of draft picks and youth. That's what I mean by that. I wish he'd draft more!

I'll say this for Benning, which I've done many times. I like his drafting thus far! In two years he's finally built up a small prospect pool that we haven't seen in many years.
- LeftCoaster

Well said and I get what you are trying to say now more. It's more clear now then the other scathing posts.

Just adding that what we have been told is that sending some draft picks away was to fill the team development gap and age group ....

So we now have Baertchi, Guddy, Sutter and Granlund... to bridge the core between the coming up BB, Horvat, OJ, Guance, JV and new draft picks shaking out.

Benning said he's now done with that and will keep his drafts so he'll keep adding to the future which may help in a couple years or be the next link 4-5 years from now for the Horvatt, BB, JV core types ....

Nice defence by Morgan Reilly