Alain Vigneault and the Rangers Move On
I wasn't giving Alain Vigneault much credit for the New York Rangers' comeback in Games 5 and 6 against Pittsburgh. It felt like the players were generating the momentum themselves, on the back of Marty St. Louls' emotional turn of events. But I give Vigneault some credit for his coaching in a pressure-packed Game 7. His team never trailed and played a very solid defensive game—although having a rock-solid Henrik Lundqvist doesn't exactly hurt the cause. The Rangers got one goal from a fourth-liner and one from their much-maligned power play. That's all they needed.
Vigneault's storyline picks up steam from here, no matter who the Rangers face in the Eastern Conference Final. If it's Montreal, he's up against the team where he started his coaching career and will face intense scrutiny from the French-Canadian media. If it's Boston, he'll get a chance to try to avenge his 2011 loss against Claude Julien.
For Canuck purposes, I'd still like to see Boston lose today so we can get going on this Jim Benning situation, but I'm tantalized by the idea of watching Julien and Vigneault go head-to-head again. I guess I'll be happy whichever way tonight's big game turns out.
I couldn't help thinking about Torts last night. Bad enough for him that his old team is going where he couldn't take them last season. Worse, I'm sure, that his former Tampa Bay Lightning players St. Louis and Brad Richards are leading the charge. This Rangers' run must get more painful for him with every passing day.
Shakeup in Pittsburgh
Misery loves company. Watching other supposedly strong teams melt down, it makes me feel a bit better that the Canucks are not alone in their struggles.
Despite making changes that looked pretty good on paper, both the Penguins and the San Jose Sharks have added another chapter to their reputations as chokers this spring. Marc-Andre Fleury was not the problem this time around so the rest of the team is getting serious scrutiny, all the way up to General Manager Ray Shero.
The Penguins are getting hit with some criticism that's mighty familiar to Canucks fans—that they don't have enough grit—or talent—in their bottom six and that they didn't do enough to protect their captain.
Though Brandon Sutter was one of Pittsburgh's best forwards in the playoffs, I wonder how much that non-trade for Kesler affected the Penguins' chemistry. They certainly didn't get much out of the last-minute replacements they picked up instead, Lee Stempniak and Marcel Goc.
Lots of wistful pining for Jordan Staal in the Pens' world, too. Reminds me of how we talk about Christain Ehrhoff. Like Ehrhoff, Staal was moved because he was too expensive to keep. In today's salary-cap world, it's so much harder to load up on true talent all the way through four lines. That's why young players on entry-level contracts have become so important—and why we're seeing so many more youngsters breaking onto NHL rosters.
Click here for the latest mood from Pittsburgh, courtesy of Rob Rossi of the
Tribune-Review.
So, here's today's poll question. I've set it up so that you *can* choose more than one option if you like. For the time being, let's keep all options open. Let the dreaming begin:
If Bylsma does get the axe, I expect he'll have plenty of suitors, which could mean a tight timeline. I wonder if the opportunity to work with Kesler here in Vancouver would provide a temptation for Bylsma to join the Canucks?
I certainly like the prospect of Bylsma much better than Barry Trotz.
The Preds have actually made the playoffs seven times in their history, but have only been past the first round twice—when they lost to Vancouver in 2011 and when they lost to Phoenix in 2012. While Trotz has done well developing defensemen and goalies, his success with his forwards is what's been questionable. And let's not forget his contentious relationship with Alexander Radulov—that guy's a mad talent but Trotz couldn't find a way to successfully integrate him into the Predators organization.
I'm becoming more open to the Jim Benning idea but I stand firm on Trotz. No.
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