Disagree. It is on both. Its the coaches job to get players to play the right way. You can argue that is not development. I would argue it is.
- MBFlyerfan

So the coach should be more worried about getting players to play the right way than about winning games?

I know he wants both, but which is his primary concern?

We didn't see his play directly after this because, after the month-straight benching (minus 6 minutes), he was finally reassigned to the AHL and then recalled.

I can agree that letting him refine his game in the AHL helped, sure. But having him sit in the press box for a full month in the middle of the season did him no favors.
- jmatchett383

On that we can agree.

So the coach should be more worried about getting players to play the right way than about winning games?

I know he wants both, but which is his primary concern?
- jmatchett383

Why does one have to be over the other? To me they go hand in hand, especially with young first and second year players.

Healthy scratching Scott Laughton when he was three games away from completing a full season of 82 games for the first time in his career was one of Hakstol's pooptiest moves. It was only fitting that the veteran slug Hak preferred to play at 4C got roasted for the game winning goal.
- Feanor

Chris VandeVelde can't bring himself to feel sorry for Laughts.

I don’t give a (frank) who plays D next season
I don’t give a (frank) who the next 3C is
I don’t give a (frank) about who we might meet in the playoffs
I don’t give a (frank) who’s in goal tomorrow
I don’t give a (frank) about the lines
And I don’t give a (frank) about the D pairs


Just win the (frank)ing game, make no execuses, give no quarter, take no prisoners and WIN THE (frank)ING GAME!!!

It’s one win and in, boys, one goddamned win! DO IT!!!!
- BiggE

They got this one.
The playoffs though may not be pretty.

Why does one have to be over the other? To me they go hand in hand, especially with young first and second year players.
- MBFlyerfan

Yes, having a player play the way the coach wants would (ideally) help the team get on the same track and perform better. But:

If a coach wants to win games late, he may opt to play his veterans whom he trusts more. However, one way to get the young players comfortable in those situations is to expose them to those situations. This latter happens often in the AHL so that prospects have exposure to all types of situations.

Our coach chooses the former, so I would say that his primary job is to try to win the game, and that a secondary goal is to help in a player's development.

Question:

Is it Hakstol's primary job to have players develop correctly, or is his primary job to win hockey games? The same poster who shall remain nameless has said that it is both of these things, but that doesn't seem to jive.

I would say it is Hextall's primary job to develop players, and Hakstol's main job to win hockey games.
- jmatchett383

Question:

Is it Hakstol's primary job to have players develop correctly, or is his primary job to win hockey games? The same poster who shall remain nameless has said that it is both of these things, but that doesn't seem to jive.

I would say it is Hextall's primary job to develop players, and Hakstol's main job to win hockey games.
- jmatchett383

A head coach can do both at the same time. Coaches teach and "coach" players. That's how they're developed.

Chris VandeVelde can't bring himself to feel sorry for Laughts.
- 77rams

That was seriously (frank)ed up. Just let the guy play the last god damn game.

A head coach can do both at the same time. Coaches teach and "coach" players. That's how they're developed.
- MJL

hey that's great

So the coach should be more worried about getting players to play the right way than about winning games?

I know he wants both, but which is his primary concern?
- jmatchett383

Having players play the right way is how you win games.

So the coach should be more worried about getting players to play the right way than about winning games?

I know he wants both, but which is his primary concern?
- jmatchett383

Can't win if they don't play the right way, so...they're both equally important. That's allowed.

Why does one have to be over the other? To me they go hand in hand, especially with young first and second year players.
- MBFlyerfan

It’s exactly why he was hired. Hextall thought he was the best guy to develop youth and build a solid program. This does not necessarily mean that Hextall thinks that the current HC is also the guy to take a solid team to the next level and win a Cup. Next season will go a long way to determining Hak’s future with the team. No GM, except in rare circumstances, likes going into a season with a lame duck coach. So, after 18-19, Hak is either getting a pink slip or an extension. At this point, I’m guessing Hextall is nowhere near decided one way or the other.

- Scoob

It can be both to a degree, but there has to be a greater importance to one or the other.

So you think that sitting in the press box for a month straight instead of playing hockey helped him in his development?
- jmatchett383

A month in the press box was the key. Hagg is going to be a whole new player when he finally gets back on the ice.

It’s exactly why he was hired. Hextall thought he was the best guy to develop youth and build a solid program. This does not necessarily mean that Hextall thinks that the current HC is also the guy to take a solid team to the next level and win a Cup. Next season will go a long way to determining Hak’s future with the team. No GM, except in rare circumstances, likes going into a season with a lame duck coach. So, after 18-19, Hak is either getting a pink slip or an extension. At this point, I’m guessing Hextall is nowhere near decided one way or the other.
- BiggE

Can't win if they don't play the right way, so...they're both equally important. That's allowed.
- Scoob

So tomorrow, when they need to win or at least get to OT to make the playoffs, if they're down by a goal with 5 minutes left, Hakstol's primary goal should be to ensure that his players develop correctly? Or should he more concerned with winning the game?

I'd hope he does whatever it takes to win the game, even if it goes against what may be best for the player long-term.

A month in the press box was the key. Hagg is going to be a whole new player when he finally gets back on the ice.
- Feanor

Next season, I'm sure he will be!

It can be both to a degree, but there has to be a greater importance to one or the other.
- jmatchett383

Okay. But it's not carved in stone. It's situational.

If Hextall had sent down Lehtera instead of Read in October, this team would be not be 29th on the PK and wouldn't be waiting till the last day to confirm a playoff spot. They waited too long to end the Leier experiment, and when they did, they picked the wrong veteran to add to the PK mix. Lehtera wasn't a regular PKer in St Louis, so god only knows why the Flyers brain trust thought they could turn him into a good one at age 30.
- Feanor

I think they waited too long to bench Weise and took too long to bring Read back up. I was ok with giving Leier those games but fully understand why you argue that he was left in too long.

I liked the Laughton Leier Raffl line a lot at the beginning of the season.

It’s exactly why he was hired. Hextall thought he was the best guy to develop youth and build a solid program. This does not necessarily mean that Hextall thinks that the current HC is also the guy to take a solid team to the next level and win a Cup. Next season will go a long way to determining Hak’s future with the team. No GM, except in rare circumstances, likes going into a season with a lame duck coach. So, after 18-19, Hak is either getting a pink slip or an extension. At this point, I’m guessing Hextall is nowhere near decided one way or the other.
- BiggE

That is a lucid, intelligent, well thought-out post.

A month in the press box was the key. Hagg is going to be a whole new player when he finally gets back on the ice.
- Feanor

Lol

It’s exactly why he was hired. Hextall thought he was the best guy to develop youth and build a solid program. This does not necessarily mean that Hextall thinks that the current HC is also the guy to take a solid team to the next level and win a Cup. Next season will go a long way to determining Hak’s future with the team. No GM, except in rare circumstances, likes going into a season with a lame duck coach. So, after 18-19, Hak is either getting a pink slip or an extension. At this point, I’m guessing Hextall is nowhere near decided one way or the other.
- BiggE

And I agree. But to me, the primary objective of a coach is to do what is best to win as many games as possible. He should also be thinking long-term about how to best develop players to help him with that, but that should not be the #1 concern of his. A close second, but not #1. They do not always go hand-in-hand.

So tomorrow, when they need to win or at least get to OT to make the playoffs, if they're down by a goal with 5 minutes left, Hakstol's primary goal should be to ensure that his players develop correctly? Or should he more concerned with winning the game?

I'd hope he does whatever it takes to win the game, even if it goes against what may be best for the player long-term.
- jmatchett383

Of course he'll go for the win. Minute ~4,915 of the season is not a time to be worrying about development.

And I agree. But to me, the primary objective of a coach is to do what is best to win as many games as possible. He should also be thinking long-term about how to best develop players to help him with that, but that should not be the #1 concern of his. A close second, but not #1. They do not always go hand-in-hand.
- jmatchett383

Semantics