Sheng Peng: Thoughts on Luc & Blake Taking Over

Sheng Peng: Thoughts on Luc & Blake Taking Over
- Sheng Peng

Good PR move. These guys able to move those anchor contracts

A lotto win for Lucky Luke will go a long way to bring some hope for the future.

(frank) no to Ruff. Wasnt his whole success in Buffalo because of Hasek? And when Hasek left, so did the team.

I don't know about Blake. I wasn't happy with him selected. I still love Lombardi. I think a lot of his poor decision making was on Sutter witch according to Cody Sarich who was recently on NHL radio, likes to invade everybody's turf. We shall see what Blake does. Great players often don't make great managment. I like Stothers or Gallant for coach. See if Blake can make a move like Lombardi's Visnovsky for Stoll and Greene. I beleive that that was his first transaction and it was brilliant.

I know a lot of Kings fans dislike Blake and call him greedy, selfish, a traitor, and whatnot. I'm not too sure but I guess it's somewhat of a funny pick for someone known for these traits in LaLa Land to get this job.

Mike futa should of been gm and Blake the assistant gm imho, with so many coaches available, they should start the process now ,but will they continue the seach after the season? They might be some more available? They need to talk to Vegas for sure about brown and gabby, unfortunately that's going to cost!and will either player go? And do they try and get a package of young players /prospects for maybe a carter or dman, it could be a defining moment for this franchise! Good luck with the off season, and hopefully playoffs for the next!

(frank) no to Ruff. Wasnt his whole success in Buffalo because of Hasek? And when Hasek left, so did the team.
-
verwustung

Ruff coached post-lockout Sabres to consecutive Conference Finals appearances.

My gut is telling me that Edmonton is still, somehow, going to win the draft lottery.

Golf...golf is their hockey now.

(frank) no to Ruff. Wasnt his whole success in Buffalo because of Hasek? And when Hasek left, so did the team.

I don't know about Blake. I wasn't happy with him selected. I still love Lombardi. I think a lot of his poor decision making was on Sutter witch according to Cody Sarich who was recently on NHL radio, likes to invade everybody's turf. We shall see what Blake does. Great players often don't make great managment. I like Stothers or Gallant for coach. See if Blake can make a move like Lombardi's Visnovsky for Stoll and Greene. I beleive that that was his first transaction and it was brilliant.

I know a lot of Kings fans dislike Blake and call him greedy, selfish, a traitor, and whatnot. I'm not too sure but I guess it's somewhat of a funny pick for someone known for these traits in LaLa Land to get this job.
- verwustung

I mean, Hasek left in 2001, and the Sabres went to the East finals with Ruff in 2006 AND in 2007, but sure.

Time for a rebuild is my guess... not Oilers style though.

My gut is telling me that Edmonton is still, somehow, going to win the draft lottery.
- KOPI-STAR

you shut your mouth right now

Most coaches have a shelf life with a given team, even after such tremendous successes with a given team.

What seemingly did in Lombardi were the Gaborik and Dustin Brown contracts. Gaborik was a known injury risk, so the length of this current contract was surprising. What's the locker room situation like regarding Brown? Being the former captain and staying around after might be a weird situation. Saying trade him is too obvious, and I'm sure they did everything they could to move his contract.

Otherwise, I never count out the Kings until they are officially eliminated. They always have this extra gear come playoff time. I was telling everyone I knew in 2014 to watch out for them, because I saw what they did in 2012. They thought I was crazy.

I mean, Hasek left in 2001, and the Sabres went to the East finals with Ruff in 2006 AND in 2007, but sure.
- BINGO!

Also won a President's Trophy and Jack Adams in those two years, but yeah... Hasek.

Blake saying that he wants a coach with NHL head coaching experience and Robitaille implying that they want a coach who's flexible sure make Ruff seem like someone that they're going to be looking at. As Sheng pointed to (BTW, Sheng, your link to the Ruff article has an extra character at the end that breaks the link), Ruff has shown an ability to change his coaching style to adapt to his roster.

Another possible candidate could be Bob Hartley. He was Blake's head coach in Colorado when they won the 2001 Cup and then made the Conference Finals the following year. I imagine that that endeared him to Blake. Also, inexplicably, Hartley was fired less than halfway into the season after that Conference Final appearance. Seriously, get this: he guided the Avs to 4 consecutive Conference Finals (one of which included a Cup) and was fired because, in his 5th season, the team got out to a 10–8–9–4 start, which is mediocre, but not so bad as to panic and fire the coach. Compared to that, firing Sutter after 1 playoff win in 3 whole years doesn't even come close.

Anyways, the success that they had together and his undeserved firing could make Blake very sympathetic to Hartley. Also, though Hartley hasn't had the same success since leaving those stacked Avs teams (but, on the other hand, neither have the Avs), he was coaching the rebuilding Thrashers and Flames and won the Jack Adams just two years ago (as well as the Swiss championship in 2012). He's been out of work since the Flames fired him a year ago, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's at least one of the men who Blake invites in for an interview.

I was at 3 of the last 7 home games and it only reinforced what I already believed to be true: the team was a bunch of tinmen (think wizard of oz) on skates who ran the same stale plates, the same stale way, and got the same stale shots. Case in point, 1st game I saw the PP set up when it was coming at me so that the puck ALWAYS came to right boards hitting Kopi coming in, no matter what else was going on in the play. I thought maybe the staff saw something the other team was doing and felt that it exposed something... 2nd game, realized it wasn't exposing anything, it was just the way the PP was set up to run. To the point that PK high forward would move to the blue at the wall and wait for the pass to come to Kopi and make it difficult to impossible for him to enter the zone, but nonetheless the pass kept going there and entry was either forced and lost or not even attained. By the 3rd game, I was calling it and then laughing when it failed. That is just one example of them doing the same thing over and over forever and never looking to think for themselves and try something else. I was praying for a (frank)ing dump in on the PP and that is sad.
With regards to Drew's comment about doing the same things: did he and the others never question the staff? Was that not allowed? Was he forced to sit with the puck at the point and observe the game in front of him, wasting 3-6 seconds at every handle, before making a decision? Drew's game is stale and I don't think he's smart enough to do something about it on his own. Every now and then he gets a wild hair and actually takes it coast2coast, or makes a decisive move with the puck, but he fancies himself a pocket quarterback at the point, in that he seems to sit back there and wait for someone to get open, oblivious to his pocket collapsing or how much time he is wasting (esp on the PP). These players most definitely tuned out DS, if not by not listening to him and his message, by becoming tone deaf to anything other then his message. I cant understand why they couldn't take the framework of the system and make tiny adjustments on the ice, shift by shift. I guess it's because they just aren't smart enough to think for themselves, on the fly, second to second; it's just easier to do turn off the brain, check out emotionally, and let muscle memory take over.

Just read through the Detroit blog, and Nielsen's comment rings true to almost every top 6er on the Kings- " some nights we just didn’t pay the price.” But in the Kings case, it was a lot more than some. This is why I feel the team is a heartless bunch. They know what it takes to be successful and a lot of it is created by playing a physically grinding game, one that takes a heavy toll on the body, and the Kings were/are just reluctant to pay that price during the regular season, and the 5 playoff games they've played in the last 3 seasons, too... it's hard but they're professionals; they need to remember this.

Blake saying that he wants a coach with NHL head coaching experience and Robitaille implying that they want a coach who's flexible sure make Ruff seem like someone that they're going to be looking at. As Sheng pointed to (BTW, Sheng, your link to the Ruff article has an extra character at the end that breaks the link), Ruff has shown an ability to change his coaching style to adapt to his roster.

Another possible candidate could be Bob Hartley. He was Blake's head coach in Colorado when they won the 2001 Cup and then made the Conference Finals the following year. I imagine that that endeared him to Blake. Also, inexplicably, Hartley was fired less than halfway into the season after that Conference Final appearance. Seriously, get this: he guided the Avs to 4 consecutive Conference Finals (one of which included a Cup) and was fired because, in his 5th season, the team got out to a 10–8–9–4 start, which is mediocre, but not that bad. Compared to that, firing Sutter after 1 playoff win in 3 whole years doesn't even come close.

Anyways, the success that they had together and his probably undeserved firing could make Blake very sympathetic to Hartley. Also, though Hartley hasn't had the same success since leaving those stacked Avs teams, he was coaching the rebuilding Thrashers and Flames and won the Jack Adams just two years ago (as well as the Swiss championship in 2012). He's been out of work since the Flames fired him a year ago, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's at least one of the men who Blake invites in for an interview.
- Osprey

For what its worth I thought Hartley was a good coach in Calg. I think its likely a 3 way race between Ruff, Gallant and Hartley. I dont even think Sothers gets a look.

I still love Lombardi. I think a lot of his poor decision making was on Sutter witch according to Cody Sarich who was recently on NHL radio, likes to invade everybody's turf.
- verwustung

So you're saying it was Sutter making DL give out those bad contracts, trade #1 draft picks and top prospects for rentals, and it was Sutter who told DL to trade for Bishop and Iginla when the Kings needed scoring? For some reason I highly doubt that Sutter had that much say in all those decisions.

Mike Futa assistant GM.

Okay, Okay, Pancakes and Bungo! You know more about Sabres history than I do. Thus the question mark behind my sentence there. Maybe now you should hold hands and go running down a busy highway together.

I was at 3 of the last 7 home games and it only reinforced what I already believed to be true: the team was a bunch of tinmen (think wizard of oz) on skates who ran the same stale plates, the same stale way, and got the same stale shots. Case in point, 1st game I saw the PP set up when it was coming at me so that the puck ALWAYS came to right boards hitting Kopi coming in, no matter what else was going on in the play. I thought maybe the staff saw something the other team was doing and felt that it exposed something... 2nd game, realized it wasn't exposing anything, it was just the way the PP was set up to run. To the point that PK high forward would move to the blue at the wall and wait for the pass to come to Kopi and make it difficult to impossible for him to enter the zone, but nonetheless the pass kept going there and entry was either forced and lost or not even attained. By the 3rd game, I was calling it and then laughing when it failed. That is just one example of them doing the same thing over and over forever and never looking to think for themselves and try something else. I was praying for a (frank)ing dump in on the PP and that is sad.
With regards to Drew's comment about doing the same things: did he and the others never question the staff? Was that not allowed? Was he forced to sit with the puck at the point and observe the game in front of him, wasting 3-6 seconds at every handle, before making a decision? Drew's game is stale and I don't think he's smart enough to do something about it on his own. Every now and then he gets a wild hair and actually takes it coast2coast, or makes a decisive move with the puck, but he fancies himself a pocket quarterback at the point, in that he seems to sit back there and wait for someone to get open, oblivious to his pocket collapsing or how much time he is wasting (esp on the PP). These players most definitely tuned out DS, if not by not listening to him and his message, by becoming tone deaf to anything other then his message. I cant understand why they couldn't take the framework of the system and make tiny adjustments on the ice, shift by shift. I guess it's because they just aren't smart enough to think for themselves, on the fly, second to second; it's just easier to do turn off the brain, check out emotionally, and let muscle memory take over.

- Stu17

You are exactly right. Just robotic, uninspired play game to game, shift to shift.Sut was always trying to play the percentages which meant higher shot volume. Thia doesn't give the players much control over their own destiny. It seemed he really eased up in that last game against the Oil where the Corsi for and against were much closer and we won the game 6 to 4 but yeah, Doughty ia definetly not the brightest tool in the shed but new coaching might do wonders.

So you're saying it was Sutter making DL give out those bad contracts, trade #1 draft picks and top prospects for rentals, and it was Sutter who told DL to trade for Bishop and Iginla when the Kings needed scoring? For some reason I highly doubt that Sutter had that much say in all those decisions.
- LAkings96

You can doubt it if you want. I'vs been following this team very closely thia season with all that is being said and done and that is my opinion. I also included that revelation from Sarich for you. Somebody posted some of the minutes of what he said in the comments section on Insider where basically he said that while Sutter was GM in Calgary, be micromanaged all aspects of the team. Is it really so hard to beleive he did not try to plày GM here? Bad trades and bad contracts was what he was known for in Calgary as well.

also have to consider that this heavy, grinding style that they've employed has put a lot of miles on them physically, and its taken its toll. maybe it still works but they need younger fresher legs to do it.

also have to consider that this heavy, grinding style that they've employed has put a lot of miles on them physically, and its taken its toll. maybe it still works but they need younger fresher legs to do it.
- hiway39

Exactly, nothing wrong with Sutter's system. Two Cups bare that out. Remember the meeting DL and DS had before the season started. Sutter wanted the vets to try the old system and maybe DL wanted to bring up the kids. The vets couldn't handle the grind anymore and the kids were no better for DS's style. Then you throw in The Quick injury and the rest is history. Change will be good. Will The changes come quickly time will tell. All speculation on my part.

You can doubt it if you want. I'vs been following this team very closely thia season with all that is being said and done and that is my opinion. I also included that revelation from Sarich for you. Somebody posted some of the minutes of what he said in the comments section on Insider where basically he said that while Sutter was GM in Calgary, be micromanaged all aspects of the team. Is it really so hard to beleive he did not try to plày GM here? Bad trades and bad contracts was what he was known for in Calgary as well.
- verwustung

Ya, it is kind of hard to believe since I can't see DL being Sutter's female dog and doing what ever he says. Do I think Sutter had a say in moves DL was making, yes just like I am sure every coach is. Do I think Sutter had anything to do with contract negotiations and giving Brown and Gaborik bad contracts? Very little if not at all.

Ya, it is kind of hard to believe since I can't see DL being Sutter's female dog and doing what ever he says. Do I think Sutter had a say in moves DL was making, yes just like I am sure every coach is. Do I think Sutter had anything to do with contract negotiations and giving Brown and Gaborik bad contracts? Very little if not at all.
- LAkings96

I wouldn't say DL was his female dog, but if DL wanted to go and get someone that he thought would help but DS wasn't keen on it, then you have the Versteeg situation where DL gets him and DS buries him on the 3rd/4th line because "he needs to learn the system." DS played nice with the Goborik addition, but he was also a higher profile veteran than Versteeg. Regarding DL and hindsight, the money that went to 23 and 12 would've been better served being spread around do JWilliams and maybe even paid WMitchell for another year or two. That was a solid leadership group. You had lost MRichards and MGreene was already a step slow, but the leadership would've remained for another year or two and maybe some of the kids could've played with real leaders in the room... I truly feel leadership was/is a problem right now.