Sheng Peng: The Case for John Stevens; Blake Is Record Hire John Stevens, offensive wizard? What record did Kings tie when they promoted Blake?

I wonder if Stevens will consider moving on if he doesn't get the job? Same goes with Futa, I wonder if he's looking for a GM job now that he didn't get the one in LA?

I wonder if Stevens will consider moving on if he doesn't get the job? Same goes with Futa, I wonder if he's looking for a GM job now that he didn't get the one in LA?
- LeftCoaster

I would think so re: Stevens. Futa was just promoted to AGM & LA has denied teams permission to talk to him before. So I would think he remains in LA at least for the upcoming year.

The other issue is who is out there that is obviously better (that meets the Kings criteria)? Maybe the Kings wait to see who gets fired after the playoffs, but he seems a strong choice given what seems likely to be available.

He might also fit in the sense that the Kings strategy seems to be on a knife edge.
Clearly think their window is still open, Luc has said this and Blake has implied it. But if they miss the playoffs again, they may have to revisit the assumption that they have the core in place to win another championship in the short term. He might not be a terrible choice with which to start a rebuild.

Stevens hired as HC would be a terrible move for the Kings.

Directly responsible for allowing so many bad habits to form, on and off ice.

(see pre LA Carter, Mike Richards amongst others)

Stevens hired as HC would be a terrible move for the Kings.

Directly responsible for allowing so many bad habits to form, on and off ice.

(see pre LA Carter, Mike Richards amongst others)
- flyer_nutter

Do you not think people can grow and mature from past experience? Do you still make the same mistakes you made ten years ago or when you were a kid?

Do you not think people can grow and mature from past experience? Do you still make the same mistakes you made ten years ago or when you were a kid?
- LeftCoaster

I still come on hockeybuzz dont I?

I still come on hockeybuzz dont I?
- flyer_nutter

if stevens is given the nod, the bigger question is who joins him as an assistant? how he staffs that could be just as important.

If DL, DS and D.Payne were canned, they all should go. Whats the point to keep Stevens?, he is familiar with what? No playoffs the last 2 out of 3 season's? He is part of the samo samo blame to me. They need a complete overhaul on everything.
I think Blake is just pulln some bs for the interview of him, with no intention to keep.

Stevens tidbits: Yikes*

Flyers days..

"His first season with the Flyers saw his team set a franchise record for consecutive losses (10 games) and finish the 2006–07 season with the club's worst record in its 40-year history. The Flyers set an NHL record for the biggest drop off in points from one season to the next – 101 points in the 2005–06 season to 56 points in the 2006–07 season for lowest point total in the league."

"However, as stunning as their fall from grace was the previous season, Stevens guided the Flyers to an immediate renaissance in 2007–08. The Flyers won 42 games and amassed 95 points in the regular season under Stevens's guidance. In the playoffs, the Flyers beat the Washington Capitals in the first round and upset the top-seeded Montreal Canadiens in the second round before falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals."

"Stevens was fired by the Flyers on December 4, 2009, after a 13–11–1 start and with a team expected to be a Stanley Cup favorite sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference."

Not such a long consistent tenure to me.

Just shoot the freaking puck when you get inside the circles and don't dump it to the corner to start the cycle. Wish I was kidding about this.

I don't mind Stevens I've long wanted a coach who is a strategist. One that knows the Xs and Os and can adapt play to any team. I've been watching Murray and Sutter far too long. The thing has gotten stale. But anyhow, previous Kings teams have opened up their play under Sutter. Players once had more leeway and say I'm pretfy sure. The leadership we lost in Wille Mitchell getting run out of town and Mike Richards going full on junkie was too much to bear. The Sutter imprint really went on the team when players in the locker room had less voices for them to turn to. Last year was an abberation as well. The Pacific was so weak that the division was for the taking. Stevens had little do do with any of that, or the staling of the offense. He was thr man who gave us the great defense that we had and was likely a prominent voice in the room for players as he obviosly garnered a lot of respect. Carter had his best goal scoring season with Stevens at the helm in Philly at 46, so Stevens knows offense. The team in Philly that he coached his last full season had Carter's 46 plus several guys at 30. The year he got fired and Laviolette came in, Lavi really didn't do that much better. Go ahead and get Stevens.

Even if he were to coach differently than Sutter, he'd still be a familiar, friendly face and the players might be just as comfortable under him as they'd gotten under Sutter.

A large part of why coaching changes usually produce immediate results isn't that the system or coaching style is different, IMO. It's that the players have someone new that they're eager to impress. The new coach doesn't come in with pre-existing biases for or against players. It's a clean slate for everyone and a chance to become one of the new coach's favorites.

You don't have as much opportunity for that when an Assistant Coach is promoted. In fact, can you think of many examples when a club promoted an Assistant Coach and saw an impressive turnaround? It seems to me that it doesn't happen very often, probably for the reason that I've cited.

Maybe Stevens could be a good head coach somewhere still, but I have trouble imagining the Kings players, who are comfortable around him, finding nearly the motivation to greatly improve their games if he's promoted.

I don't mind Stevens I've long wanted a coach who is a strategist. One that knows the Xs and Os and can adapt play to any team. I've been watching Murray and Sutter far too long. The thing has gotten stale. But anyhow, previous Kings teams have opened up their play under Sutter. Players once had more leeway and say I'm pretfy sure. The leadership we lost in Wille Mitchell getting run out of town and Mike Richards going full on junkie was too much to bear. The Sutter imprint really went on the team when players in the locker room had less voices for them to turn to. Last year was an abberation as well. The Pacific was so weak that the division was for the taking. Stevens had little do do with any of that, or the staling of the offense. He was thr man who gave us the great defense that we had and was likely a prominent voice in the room for players as he obviosly garnered a lot of respect. Carter had his best goal scoring season with Stevens at the helm in Philly at 46, so Stevens knows offense. The team in Philly that he coached his last full season had Carter's 46 plus several guys at 30. The year he got fired and Laviolette came in, Lavi really didn't do that much better. Go ahead and get Stevens.
- verwustung

You really give Mitchell and Richards to much credit.

You really give Mitchell and Richards to much credit.
- poisondhearts37

I don't think so. Aside from Drew, those two guys were really our most important players..They symbolized the word "grit", that the team has worn. You can lump Williams in that category too. But I do really feel that Mitchell was an extremelly important player and there was animosity between him and DS.

if stevens is given the nod, the bigger question is who joins him as an assistant? how he staffs that could be just as important.
- hiway39

As I mentioned, Mullen would seem to fit to run the PP. Stothers or possibly even Chris Hajt would probably be considered to work with the defense. Hajt works more with Ontario's defensemen since Stothers is HC. Stothers worked with Philly's defensemen when he was AC there.

In fact, can you think of many examples when a club promoted an Assistant Coach and saw an impressive turnaround?
- Osprey

Perhaps not quite "impressive" yet, but Cassidy and Yeo this year. Famously, Larry Robinson, who took 2000 Devils to Cup. Even Stevens, who took over a bad Philly team from Hitch, took the team to the Conference Finals the next year.

Maybe Stevens could be a good head coach somewhere still, but I have trouble imagining the Kings players, who are comfortable around him, finding nearly the motivation to greatly improve their games if he's promoted.
- Osprey

I imagine if Stevens can sell Blake on tactical changes which may produce a few more goals, that will go a long way. He may also commit to using younger, more skilled players like Brodzinski and Kempe. So I'm not sure if the question is about motivation.

I imagine if Stevens can sell Blake on tactical changes which may produce a few more goals, that will go a long way. He may also commit to using younger, more skilled players like Brodzinski and Kempe. So I'm not sure if the question is about motivation.
- Sheng Peng

call me crazy but i think just any diff head coach can probably coax a bit more production out of brown still. the effort is still there, perhaps its more of deployment and linemates.

Perhaps not quite "impressive" yet, but Cassidy and Yeo this year. Famously, Larry Robinson, who took 2000 Devils to Cup. Even Stevens, who took over a bad Philly team from Hitch, took the team to the Conference Finals the next year.
- Sheng Peng

This was Cassidy's and Yeo's first years as Assistant Coach for Boston and St. Louis, respectively, so I don't think that that's nearly comparable to Stevens being with LA for 7 years.

I imagine if Stevens can sell Blake on tactical changes which may produce a few more goals, that will go a long way. He may also commit to using younger, more skilled players like Brodzinski and Kempe. So I'm not sure if the question is about motivation.
- Sheng Peng

It's a question that I have. I wasn't suggesting that Blake will have it.

Flames are trash.

As I mentioned, Mullen would seem to fit to run the PP. Stothers or possibly even Chris Hajt would probably be considered to work with the defense. Hajt works more with Ontario's defensemen since Stothers is HC. Stothers worked with Philly's defensemen when he was AC there.
- Sheng Peng

Does Dan Bylsma get a look now that he's been excused from BUF?

Does Dan Bylsma get a look now that he's been excused from BUF?
- hiway39

Since Blake played with him in LA and back in their Bowling Green days, I'd imagine he'd at least be considered.

Bylsma, the less-to-non communicative coach in NHL? That guy? Yeah, that's an upgrade
Loved him as a player but, never liked him as a coach. Assistant, maybe. I'd rather them take a shot at Granato than Bylsma