Dan Wallace: Is Wild Coach in Place Already?

no to Boudreau!!!! look at the rosters he coached to good regular seasons.. i could coach those teams to a good overall record.. when you coach good teams your judged on the post season and he's failed every time!! i'd rather keep torch then have that purple teletubby.. let him go fail in ottawa

Ans: YES

Torch is a good guy and a good coach. Totally saw a different and better approach to their game. He will continue to improve the team. Boudreau? Really? Who wants a playoff choker? Wild will be a big contender in Torch's system. Loved him as Savvy/Q's assistant here a few years back.

And the Wild don't have a good roster? I think we can both agree that the Wild have failed to live up to their potential so far. If there's any coach that's available that can get this team to live up to that potential, it's Boudreau. Torchetti obviously isn't that guy. Neither is Paul MacLean, Randy Carlysle, Guy Boucher, Marc Crawford or any other underwhelming name floating around. The Wild's window for success is closing pretty quickly now. It's now or never. Fletcher is absolutely insane if he doesn't at least talk to him.

And the Wild don't have a good roster? I think we can both agree that the Wild have failed to live up to their potential so far. If there's any coach that's available that can get this team to live up to that potential, it's Boudreau. Torchetti obviously isn't that guy. Neither is Paul MacLean, Randy Carlysle, Guy Boucher, Marc Crawford or any other underwhelming name floating around. The Wild's window for success is closing pretty quickly now. It's now or never. Fletcher is absolutely insane if he doesn't at least talk to him.
- Isojoki

the wild roster doesn't have bacstrom/ov or getzlaf/perry.. parise's top notch talent that's it.. hell kesler is better than all our centers and he's #2 on the ducks.. boudreau couldn't win in the playoff's with better rosters than the wild currently have why would you think he would be better with less talent?? makes no sense

Yes to BB! Take a look at the goalies and their absurd save percentages his teams have faced and you'll see a big reason as to why his teams didn't get out of game 7's. Also he was in the conference finals last season, just sayin.

I'm mixed on Boudreau. I think it would be good in the sense that we would likely see more offense and I could see them utilizing their defensemen more in the offense than they currently do. That might be a good thing because I think a lot of these players just don't fully buy into the defense first system and that's why we see the inconsistencies throughout the year.

On the other hand, we've seen this team try to play run and gun hockey before. They don't have the horses or the goaltending to do it with some of the more skilled teams.

I think Fletcher believes their best chance at winning is with a defense first philosophy. What might give Boudreau an edge is the Ducks did lock it down pretty tight defensively after their terrible start. Maybe he would be a good mix of allowing offensive creativity but reigning it in if it isn't working. However, I'm not sure that's all that different from Torchetti's style.

the wild roster doesn't have bacstrom/ov or getzlaf/perry.. parise's top notch talent that's it.. hell kesler is better than all our centers and he's #2 on the ducks.. boudreau couldn't win in the playoff's with better rosters than the wild currently have why would you think he would be better with less talent?? makes no sense
- gopherwildfan

His team lost in game 7 of the conference finals last season to that powerhouse Blackhawks team. Had they beaten the Hawks, they probably would have won the cup and the Boudreau detractors would be singing a very different tune right now.

no to Boudreau!!!! look at the rosters he coached to good regular seasons.. i could coach those teams to a good overall record.. when you coach good teams your judged on the post season and he's failed every time!! i'd rather keep torch then have that purple teletubby.. let him go fail in ottawa
- gopherwildfan

Bingo! Ding ding ding ding

His team lost in game 7 of the conference finals last season to that powerhouse Blackhawks team. Had they beaten the Hawks, they probably would have won the cup and the Boudreau detractors would be singing a very different tune right now.
- Isojoki

Yeah but he also couldn't succeed with some pretty good Caps rosters that included players like Backstrom, Semin, Laich, Federov, Carlson, Green, Brouwer, Johansen, Chimera and oh yeah, Ovechkin

Boudreau is a proven regular season wizard with some pretty elite rosters but also a proven post season bust. He brought the Caps to a 121 point presidents trophy in 09-10 and then proceeded to lose to the 8 seed Canadiens in 7 games losing the last 3 of that series having been up 3 games to 1.

I say pass on BB.

Yeah but he also couldn't succeed with some pretty good Caps rosters that included players like Backstrom, Semin, Laich, Federov, Carlson, Green, Brouwer, Johansen, Chimera and oh yeah, Ovechkin

Boudreau is a proven regular season wizard with some pretty elite rosters but also a proven post season bust. He brought the Caps to a 121 point presidents trophy in 09-10 and then proceeded to lose to the 8 seed Canadiens in 7 games losing the last 3 of that series having been up 3 games to 1.

I say pass on BB.
- MnGump

Those caps teams had crap defense though. And they usually were playing against Lundquist, and the Rangers D in their prime, or the Pens when they were at their zenith. I wouldn't place that on BB so much as just playing the wrong team at the wrong time.

Those caps teams had crap defense though. And they usually were playing against Lundquist, and the Rangers D in their prime, or the Pens when they were at their zenith. I wouldn't place that on BB so much as just playing the wrong team at the wrong time.
- mnhockeyguy

I like how you completely side stepped the point I made about how his presidents trophy winning team lost to the 8 seed Canadiens after being up 3 games to 1 in the series.

The guy is a loser in the post season. You can deflect and spin whatever justifications you like til your blue in the face, proof is in the pudding.
Boudreau is a good coach that hasn't been able to get to the finals with some of the leagues best rosters over the past decade.

His team lost in game 7 of the conference finals last season to that powerhouse Blackhawks team. Had they beaten the Hawks, they probably would have won the cup and the Boudreau detractors would be singing a very different tune right now.
- Isojoki

i wouldn't, he sucks.. and nice you point out his team LOST in game 7 like he always does.. i'm sick of seeing the same old guys get passed around like the slut everybody knew and loved in high school.. there's alot of deserving coaches out there that never get a chance in the NHL cause teams hire the same old losers, thinking maybe he'll work here didn't work anywhere else but it will here..

I like how you completely side stepped the point I made about how his presidents trophy winning team lost to the 8 seed Canadiens after being up 3 games to 1 in the series.

The guy is a loser in the post season. You can deflect and spin whatever justifications you like til your blue in the face, proof is in the pudding.
Boudreau is a good coach that hasn't been able to get to the finals with some of the leagues best rosters over the past decade.
- MnGump

You are pinning all the playoff losses on Boudreau. Let's put this in perspective. You first must get to the playoffs before you can win anything. Boudreau's teams do that.

The Blackhawks have won 3 Stanley Cups in 6 seasons and have arguably the best coach in the league. But if they used your philosophy that a coach is purely responsible for all the playoff failure, they would not have hired Joel Quenneville at all. Coach Q's teams never got to a Cup final and only got past the 2nd round once in his first 11 years as an NHL head coach, prior to being hired by Chicago.

You are pinning all the playoff losses on Boudreau. Let's put this in perspective. You first must get to the playoffs before you can win anything. Boudreau's teams do that.

The Blackhawks have won 3 Stanley Cups in 6 seasons and have arguably the best coach in the league. But if they used your philosophy that a coach is purely responsible for all the playoff failure, they would not have hired Joel Quenneville at all. Coach Q's teams never got to a Cup final and only got past the 2nd round once in his first 11 years as an NHL head coach, prior to being hired by Chicago.
- Dan Wallace

I hope you're kidding Quenville is a HoF coach already and you're going to compare him to BB? Cmon! As I've already pointed out, Boudreau has coached some of the best rosters in the NHL yet youre implying that he had little to no fault in never getting to the finals with any of them?

Okay Dan, I don't have a philosophy here, just simple facts and as I've stated fairly clearly, Bruce's track record speaks for itself, and that includes his poor postseason showings.

And I'd just like to add one thing.... Wild have nowhere near the level of individual talent that either Washington or the Ducks had nor currently have. So you do the math.

I like how you completely side stepped the point I made about how his presidents trophy winning team lost to the 8 seed Canadiens after being up 3 games to 1 in the series.

The guy is a loser in the post season. You can deflect and spin whatever justifications you like til your blue in the face, proof is in the pudding.
Boudreau is a good coach that hasn't been able to get to the finals with some of the leagues best rosters over the past decade.
- MnGump

Which goes back to my original post of how they faced some insanely hot goal tending too... call it unlucky but to go up against Halak who couldnt be beaten and have to face Lundquist at his peak. I wouldn't call that choking...

I hope you're kidding Quenville is a HoF coach already and you're going to compare him to BB? Cmon! As I've already pointed out, Boudreau has coached some of the best rosters in the NHL yet youre implying that he had little to no fault in never getting to the finals with any of them?

Okay Dan, I don't have a philosophy here, just simple facts and as I've stated fairly clearly, Bruce's track record speaks for itself, and that includes his poor postseason showings.

And I'd just like to add one thing.... Wild have nowhere near the level of individual talent that either Washington or the Ducks had nor currently have. So you do the math.
- MnGump

You clearly misunderstood his point...

i wouldn't, he sucks.. and nice you point out his team LOST in game 7 like he always does.. i'm sick of seeing the same old guys get passed around like the slut everybody knew and loved in high school.. there's alot of deserving coaches out there that never get a chance in the NHL cause teams hire the same old losers, thinking maybe he'll work here didn't work anywhere else but it will here..
- gopherwildfan

The Wild don't have time to wait for another first-timer to develope into an NHL coach. It doesn't seem like the veterans want another newcomer either. How many more productive years do the vets have at this point? I've had enough mediocrity for one decade. I hope Fletcher grows a pair and realizes that what he's done up until this point hasn't worked, and that maybe it's time for a different strategy.

You clearly misunderstood his point...
- mnhockeyguy

Does it matter? Whether I missed his point or not, there's no comparison between Q and Boudreau.

Does it matter? Whether I missed his point or not, there's no comparison between Q and Boudreau.
- MnGump

And what makes that so, besides a better overall roster than last years Ducks? Matchups. Q excelled in matchups. Usually. This year, not so much. In last year's WCF he was able to out-coach BB even though the Ducks outhit the Hawks by a big margin. He used that Kesler comment against the Ducks. Good coaches do that. Playoff winners do that. BB is not one of those coaches.

As a 'Hawks fan, I would love to see BB up there at Exel. As Wild fans, you guys will hate it. JMO here, Torch could really do well with the Wild. Players seemed to take to his approach. Besides, do you guys want a re-tread? And one who blows 3-2 playoff series constantly, getting eliminated on home ice? I didn't think so.

And what makes that so, besides a better overall roster than last years Ducks? Matchups. Q excelled in matchups. Usually. This year, not so much. In last year's WCF he was able to out-coach BB even though the Ducks outhit the Hawks by a big margin. He used that Kesler comment against the Ducks. Good coaches do that. Playoff winners do that. BB is not one of those coaches.

As a 'Hawks fan, I would love to see BB up there at Exel. As Wild fans, you guys will hate it. JMO here, Torch could really do well with the Wild. Players seemed to take to his approach. Besides, do you guys want a re-tread? And one who blows 3-2 playoff series constantly, getting eliminated on home ice? I didn't think so.
- blackhawk24

Agreed

And what makes that so, besides a better overall roster than last years Ducks? Matchups. Q excelled in matchups. Usually. This year, not so much. In last year's WCF he was able to out-coach BB even though the Ducks outhit the Hawks by a big margin. He used that Kesler comment against the Ducks. Good coaches do that. Playoff winners do that. BB is not one of those coaches.

As a 'Hawks fan, I would love to see BB up there at Exel. As Wild fans, you guys will hate it. JMO here, Torch could really do well with the Wild. Players seemed to take to his approach. Besides, do you guys want a re-tread? And one who blows 3-2 playoff series constantly, getting eliminated on home ice? I didn't think so.
- blackhawk24

how do you make all retarded points in the beginning but still get it right in the end?? this year match ups didn't matter the hawks just weren't as good as the have been and teows disappeared. out hit the hawks?? everyone does every game, and a coach saying something in the press isn't going to win a series, they're grown men who speak to the press everyday.. try learning more about the game instead of regurgitating NBC intermission crap on the internet.. but yeah BB sucks

how do you make all retarded points in the beginning but still get it right in the end?? this year match ups didn't matter the hawks just weren't as good as the have been and teows disappeared. out hit the hawks?? everyone does every game, and a coach saying something in the press isn't going to win a series, they're grown men who speak to the press everyday.. try learning more about the game instead of regurgitating NBC intermission crap on the internet.. but yeah BB sucks
- gopherwildfan

Good job illustrating a retard. You have it down pat.

If you knew anything about the 'Hawks system, you would be less ignorant. Have a nice day.

And if you paid attention, one of the bigger reason's BB teams lose series leads and get eliminated is because the other coach figures out match-ups his team cannot effectively counter.

And BTW, it was Kesler with the "hit" comment.

Good job illustrating a retard. You have it down pat.

If you knew anything about the 'Hawks system, you would be less ignorant. Have a nice day.

And if you paid attention, one of the bigger reason's BB teams lose series leads and get eliminated is because the other coach figures out match-ups his team cannot effectively counter.

And BTW, it was Kesler with the "hit" comment.
- blackhawk24

that's almost funny and a little better on the points but your still retarded.. you fumbled through that paragraph just like your dad fumbled through his cousins pants the night you were conceived.. go ride your three wheeled bike back to the hawk thread and don't wear a helmet nobody wants you to survive the fall

that's almost funny and a little better on the points but your still retarded.. you fumbled through that paragraph just like your dad fumbled through his cousins pants the night you were conceived.. go ride your three wheeled bike back to the hawk thread and don't wear a helmet nobody wants you to survive the fall
- gopherwildfan

EZ there GWF or you might end up labeled a bigot, discriminatory or insensitive for using an expression that isn't literal, but will offend the bleeding hearts in HB.