Aaron Musick: Playoffs slipping away

That game was a perfect example of why Sacco should be gone at the end of the season. He kept the same system throughout the game when it clearly wasn't working at all. I can't remember the last time I saw someone get outcoached like that.

The fact that Saaco can't get this team to play a complete game at this point in the season means he needs to go. He either isn't doing his job or the team is not with him. Getting beat is one thing, but being outworked the whole game is another.

The fact that Saaco can't get this team to play a complete game at this point in the season means he needs to go. He either isn't doing his job or the team is not with him. Getting beat is one thing, but being outworked the whole game is another.
- HarvP

Duchene... Mueller... Stewart... Hejduk... Stastny... How many more players have to struggle to score before you realize the problem is the system or lack thereof.

Yeah I honestly thought we would come out hard in this game.. We did.. For about 10 minutes.. Then stoped, parked the car on the side of the road, Walked away..

Duchene... Mueller... Stewart... Hejduk... Stastny... How many more players have to struggle to score before you realize the problem is the system or lack thereof.
- martok2309

Thats my point. The players obviously don't like the way things are. Why else would they just be standing around in their own zone watching San Jose score. Saaco will not change the system because he doesn't know any other system. The question becomes though who would replace him?

Thats my point. The players obviously don't like the way things are. Why else would they just be standing around in their own zone watching San Jose score. Saaco will not change the system because he doesn't know any other system. The question becomes though who would replace him?
- HarvP

Check out this blog Aaron did with a few others.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...-the-next-coach/122/42947

Check out this blog Aaron did with a few others.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com...-the-next-coach/122/42947
- Steve-B

I am interested in the return of Hartley, I cant even remember why he was fired in the first place

I am interested in the return of Hartley, I cant even remember why he was fired in the first place
- DDM-Coga

Yeah he would be my pick as well. I think that is the point.. He probably never should have been fired.

I am interested in the return of Hartley, I cant even remember why he was fired in the first place
- DDM-Coga

Really wanted the Sharks to hire him after they fired Ron Wilson...

If the avs dont make the playoffs I will be ok with that because I still think they are a good team. But if we miss the playoffs and dont fire sacco I will be very mad.

The reason our team is good is because we have guys stepping up their game like EJ and Raydar. We get guys who are playing out of their minds like Mcginn and LAndo and Varly.

We wont make the playoffs because Duchene and Stastny are useless with Sacco. Our 2 best offensive weapons. Idgaf what argument you have for why Sacco is good, he isn't more important to us than Duchene and until we can get a system that allows Duchie to be the least bit effective then we wont go very far.

I still like Quinn for next coach but I would be fine with Heartly

I still like Quinn for next coach but I would be fine with Heartly
- Meeqsb

I like Hartley because he has not only taken a champion ship team to the Playoffs but also took a Thrashers team and single handed turned them into a threat. He has the experience and also a history of succeeding where others have failed.

He is considered a guy that gets the most out of every player on his roster. That sounds like Ken Hitchcock all day long. The great thing about it is that he is more offensive minded than Hitch. Which is perfect for our team..

Bringing coaches up from the minors works what? 1 out of 10 times? It's a risk like.. Drafting a player.. I want a guy with experience and respect in that locker room. Not everyone can be Dan Bylsma but I would stand Hartley across from Bylsma and Hitch any day. He has the experience not to get out coached on a regular basis. Hartley has went toe to toe with some of the best coaches in the league and won with his teams. 1998–2002 vs Scotty Bowman. Funny.. Bowman and Hartley were with Detroit and Colorado for nearly the same time frame.

I honestly think that is what happens sometimes. I think in games vs experienced coaches like Todd McLellan.. Bylsma.. we get out coached. That is why on occasion we can beat some of the best teams in the league. Because the skill on our team just clicks.. It does not last all season though it last for how ever long one or two lines have chemistry in games.

If this is true.. It would explain getting smoked in our division so much. Experienced coaches that see us the most beating us with sometimes lesser teams? Hmm

Why are we so good vs the East? Maybe because those teams hardly ever see us. I don't think I am or we are the only ones who do not see any creativity under Sacco's system. I would put money down that every other coach that sees us regularly sees it as well. Even Calgary seems more creative in the offensive zone than us.. Seriously? W T F

Hartley and Hitch have both shown in the present and the past that a good coach can get a team to places a mediocre coach cant. Call me crazy.. But I actually do not think (Especially now) that St. Louis has any more talent on their roster than we do.

Scotty Bowman 1998–2002 GC 323 W187 L100 T44

Bob Hartley (COL) 1998–2002 GC 359 W193 L108 T58

Why was Mueller not in the lineup the last 2 games? And Chuck Kobasew was? Unless he was hurt there is no way he should be out of the lineup. He is one of our best scoreing wingers he might be cold but i would rather him get a shot of instead of oliver, mcloud, kobasew, hejduk, well pretty well every one! he is a goal scorer and needs to be in the line up.

Why was Mueller not in the lineup the last 2 games? And Chuck Kobasew was? Unless he was hurt there is no way he should be out of the lineup. He is one of our best scoreing wingers he might be cold but i would rather him get a shot of instead of oliver, mcloud, kobasew, hejduk, well pretty well every one! he is a goal scorer and needs to be in the line up.
- jonathonpeddle

Sacco is the only person that can answer that question.. I will take a stab at it though..

Kobasew is a grinder and a penalty killer.. Hes better at the cycle. Which is all this coach cares about. Even though our PK has not missed a beat since losing Subasew and Winnik. Although we could use the offensive threat that Mueller brings.

But.. Coach does not value that as much. What good is Mueller if our coach's system cant utilize offensive creativity? We have a young NHL roster full of talent but a one dimensional AHL coach driving the bus..

Sacco is the only person that can answer that question.. I will take a stab at it though..

Kobasew is a grinder and a penalty killer.. Hes better at the cycle. Which is all this coach cares about. Even though our PK has not missed a beat since losing Subasew and Winnik. Although we could use the offensive threat that Mueller brings.

But.. Coach does not value that as much. What good is Mueller if our coach's system cant utilize offensive creativity? We have a young NHL roster full of talent but a one dimensional AHL coach driving the bus..
- Steve-B

right now we have 3 pretty strong lines with mueller in the line up, 3 lines that could score any night but sacco wont let them play. Sacco is lucky to be a ahl coach i dunno how he is still with this team! If he was let go in the summer this Avs team would be sitting in 4th or 5th i think! now if LA and Phx and Dallas can lose all there games they might make the playoffs! Sacco should have been gone last year let alone this year! The only thing he has done for the team is help it get Ladeskog!

The thing that really irks ME is not the benching of Mueller, it's keeping Barrie and Elliott on the roster to eat Nachos. They are 20-year-old defenseman. They can only improve by PLAYING. Having them rot on your roster is not a good thing.

The thing that really irks ME is not the benching of Mueller, it's keeping Barrie and Elliott on the roster to eat Nachos. They are 20-year-old defenseman. They can only improve by PLAYING. Having them rot on your roster is not a good thing.
- martok2309

Lets be fair though ... Nachos are sometimes a good thing

Lets be fair though ... Nachos are sometimes a good thing
- keithward

Yes but we all know what happens when you eat too many and play too little:

The thing that really irks ME is not the benching of Mueller, it's keeping Barrie and Elliott on the roster to eat Nachos. They are 20-year-old defenseman. They can only improve by PLAYING. Having them rot on your roster is not a good thing.
- martok2309

I think it may have had something to do with the call up limit. Who knows..

You all think Sacco can't overcome the issues of this year ? I remember him doing pretty damn well in his first years as Avs coach, no ? You wouldn't give him a chance ?

Edit : I don't watch many Avs game, but was just wondering, because I remember he was consider as a Jack Adams nominate in his first year. You still have a really young team. Don't hurry, you'll come back to the elite teams one day.

You all think Sacco can't overcome the issues of this year ? I remember him doing pretty damn well in his first years as Avs coach, no ? You wouldn't give him a chance ?

Edit : I don't watch many Avs game, but was just wondering, because I remember he was consider as a Jack Adams nominate in his first year. You still have a really young team. Don't hurry, you'll come back to the elite teams one day.
- MightyPee

Its not a wins-losses thing with him. Its the fact that he has a roster full of verified talent that is consistently underachieving. Young players go through slumps, granted, but when every single player isn't playing up to their potential, I do think you have to look at the coach.

You all think Sacco can't overcome the issues of this year ? I remember him doing pretty damn well in his first years as Avs coach, no ? You wouldn't give him a chance ?

Edit : I don't watch many Avs game, but was just wondering, because I remember he was consider as a Jack Adams nominate in his first year. You still have a really young team. Don't hurry, you'll come back to the elite teams one day.
- MightyPee

That year sacco had a goaltender steal the show, just as Varlamov nearly did this year. He has no offensive system in which players can flourish, but rather keeps banging his head against a wall hoping it'll yield.

Its not a wins-losses thing with him. Its the fact that he has a roster full of verified talent that is consistently underachieving. Young players go through slumps, granted, but when every single player isn't playing up to their potential, I do think you have to look at the coach.
- avsfantrumpetman

Well it's more like our two most offensively gifted players are not playing up to their potential. Which is in part due to the coaches system being catered only to grinders and the cycle.

You all think Sacco can't overcome the issues of this year ? I remember him doing pretty damn well in his first years as Avs coach, no ? You wouldn't give him a chance ?

Edit : I don't watch many Avs game, but was just wondering, because I remember he was consider as a Jack Adams nominate in his first year. You still have a really young team. Don't hurry, you'll come back to the elite teams one day.
- MightyPee

That year sacco had a goaltender steal the show, just as Varlamov nearly did this year. He has no offensive system in which players can flourish, but rather keeps banging his head against a wall hoping it'll yield.
- martok2309

Last year during the first half we had a crazy goals per game average. But our D was just horrible and so was our goal-tending. Then the offense dried up in combination with injuries and what not. The next year Sacco switches his system to some kind of "JUST CYCLE" constantly thing.

Instead of just letting our bigger defense have an impact.

The guy changes poop at the wrong time.. Waits to long to make changes. Plays the wrong players. Does not adjust during games. We have no set passing plays for when we are on an odd man rush. (I don't remember the last time they made a play in that situation) Oh and regardless of beginning middle and end of the season, he cannot get this team to play for a full 60 minutes. You can count on one hand probably the games where you can say wow, "We gave a complete effort" HIS ENTIRE TENURE..