In Dave Hakstol's three seasons, he has had 96, 88 and 98 points, all with a roster that has been retooled, if not rebuilt, on the fly.

Maybe there was someonee else out there who could have gotten more out of them. I don't know, either way.

But I don't think so. I don't agree with every decision he makes, but I don't agree with every decision any coach makes.

That dude isn't a perfect coach. But he's a good coach, and if the goaltending doesn't screw them, they're getting 100 points
- AllInForFlyers

I'm Scoob and I support this post.

I'm Scoob and I support this post.
- Scoob

I just think the people who constantly kill this coach aren't fair -- do I want TK getting benched or banished to the fourth line every time he (frank)s up? Not necessarily

But does TK need to not get cute in the neutral zone, turn the puck over, and give up an odd man? Yeah, I think we all want that

Just because I might do it differently to get the player to pay attention and stop doing shaky things doesn't mean he's wrong

Hakstols goalie rotations are my biggest criticism. I believe he does play young players and puts them in positions to succeed maybe more so than other coaches.

Too many times hakstol has gone with the “hot” hand, or I think a better description would be the guy that was in net when the team won while the other guy whose healthy stays cold on the bench for weeks at a time. I think it’s too irregular and probably frustrating for both goalies. I think he puts too much of an emphasis on the result of the game as part of his decision making on goalies.

I just think the people who constantly kill this coach aren't fair -- do I want TK getting benched or banished to the fourth line every time he (frank)s up? Not necessarily

But does TK need to not get cute in the neutral zone, turn the puck over, and give up an odd man? Yeah, I think we all want that

Just because I might do it differently to get the player to pay attention and stop doing shaky things doesn't mean he's wrong
- AllInForFlyers

I'm MIL and I support this message.

I just think the people who constantly kill this coach aren't fair -- do I want TK getting benched or banished to the fourth line every time he (frank)s up? Not necessarily

But does TK need to not get cute in the neutral zone, turn the puck over, and give up an odd man? Yeah, I think we all want that

Just because I might do it differently to get the player to pay attention and stop doing shaky things doesn't mean he's wrong
- AllInForFlyers

I just wonder what the cut off is for players that can learn by being benched/scratched as opposed to players who will not learn by being benched/scratched.

2 seasons? 3 seasons? 24 years old?

Edit: I do nor expect any serious answer to this, as it's semi-sarcastic and rhetortical.

This is one criticism that is not valid concerning Hakstol. A valid case can't be made for it. The proof is overwhelming that if he is given a young player who is capable of taking on a role he will play the crap out of that player.
- MJL

I do believe that he overplays players who play "his way," i.e. the vets who buy into his system the most even if they are not the most skilled players.

Then again, that's true of almost every NHL coach ever.

“I put huge value in toughness. Into team guys. Call it what you want. It involves guys who are willing to do the dirty work. Snot and balls guys”

I just wonder what the cut off is for players that can learn by being benched/scratched as opposed to players who will not learn by being benched/scratched.

2 seasons? 3 seasons? 24 years old?

Edit: I do nor expect any serious answer to this, as it's semi-sarcastic and rhetortical.
- jmatchett383

It's not a function of time. It's a function of how the player performs on the ice. While players like Provorov and Patrick aren't mistake free. Since day 1 they've played responsibly with and without the puck and played the right way. Konecny however needed a lot of work in play away from the puck, decision making and puck management. Hakstol has helped make him a better player. Once he improved in those areas to his credit, he then received top line ice time.

It's not a function of time. It's a function of how the player performs on the ice. While players like Provorov and Patrick aren't mistake free. Since day 1 they've played responsibly with and without the puck and played the right way. Konecny however needed a lot of work in play away from the puck, decision making and puck management. Hakstol has helped make him a better player. Once he improved in those areas to his credit, he then received top line ice time.
- MJL

Edit: I do nor expect any serious answer to this, as it's semi-sarcastic and rhetortical.

I do believe that he overplays players who play "his way," i.e. the vets who buy into his system the most even if they are not the most skilled players.

Then again, that's true of almost every NHL coach ever.
- jmatchett383

I don't think he does. Every coach with a young team is going to want some players who give that consistent level of play and responsibility to take on hard minutes. Who play sound positionally and with the puck.

Edit: I do nor expect any serious answer to this, as it's semi-sarcastic and rhetortical.
- jmatchett383

I exceeded your expectations and chose to reply as is my right.

“I put huge value in toughness. Into team guys. Call it what you want. It involves guys who are willing to do the dirty work. Snot and balls guys”
- flyer_nutter

Well, when you cherry pick a line like that without any of the surrounding context, he seems like a coach stuck in the 70s.

I just wonder what the cut off is for players that can learn by being benched/scratched as opposed to players who will not learn by being benched/scratched.

2 seasons? 3 seasons? 24 years old?

Edit: I do nor expect any serious answer to this, as it's semi-sarcastic and rhetortical.
- jmatchett383

I get it, and yeah, it's arbitrary. But I have always felt that with some coaches, it's about your "give a poop" meter -- do you care that you hurt the team more than you care about you making a cute play?

I think, when I watch all these coaches and teams around the league, that's what I see the most. Some have a bigger tolerance than others. But very few allow young players to repeatedly make soft plays or turn the puck over in certain areas -- they just won't deal with it

Hakstol isn't as bad as some, tbh

It's not a function of time. It's a function of how the player performs on the ice. While players like Provorov and Patrick aren't mistake free. Since day 1 they've played responsibly with and without the puck and played the right way. Konecny however needed a lot of work in play away from the puck, decision making and puck management. Hakstol has helped make him a better player. Once he improved in those areas to his credit, he then received top line ice time.
- MJL

And contrary to what people say he has allowed Konecny to play his free wheeling style mostly, which he kind of needs to play to be effective. It's only when he becomes careless that Hakstol pulled him back.

Well, when you cherry pick a line like that without any of the surrounding context, he seems like a coach stuck in the 70s.
- jmatchett383

Lol I bash him more than most.

He’s not Satan, and I do think he can perhaps be good enough to will the team into a true contender.

Just a stop riding the goalies into the ground and get more aggressive on the PK. He does value the “safe” player too much in my eyes, hence that quote.

I get it, and yeah, it's arbitrary. But I have always felt that with some coaches, it's about your "give a poop" meter -- do you care that you hurt the team more than you care about you making a cute play?

I think, when I watch all these coaches and teams around the league, that's what I see the most. Some have a bigger tolerance than others. But very few allow young players to repeatedly make soft plays or turn the puck over in certain areas -- they just won't deal with it

Hakstol isn't as bad as some, tbh
- AllInForFlyers

I agree. It was a joke, sort of. If a guy is constantly making bad/irresponsible plays with the puck, I don't want him in the lineup regardless of how raw/polished he is. But at the same time, you can help refine the rawer players as long as you aren't going all-in that year.

And contrary to what people say he has allowed Konecny to play his free wheeling style mostly, which he kind of needs to play to be effective. It's only when he becomes careless that Hakstol pulled him back.
- J35Bacher

Hakstol has never restrained creativity offensively with the puck.

I do believe that he overplays players who play "his way," i.e. the vets who buy into his system the most even if they are not the most skilled players.

Then again, that's true of almost every NHL coach ever.
- jmatchett383

Moving TK off the top line with two games to go in the regular season and playoffs, just to make that line a bit more heavy.....

I will say this. I have a decent amount of issues with Hak as a coach, but I think he is a great at player development. Maybe I wouldn't have taken the same approach as him, but the results speak for themselves. Our young core looks great and seems to be improving every year. When he was hired, many analysts and commentators said that it may be because he has experience with young players and getting them ready to play in the pros. Well so far that assessment has been spot on. Gotta give credit where credit is due.

That being said, I still think he has to improve in certain facets such as player deployment (especially at the end of games) and game managing (i.e. taking timeouts, making challenges, changing strategy midgame).

Moving TK off the top line with two games to go in the regular season and playoffs, just to make that line a bit more heavy.....
- VladDrag

I believe he put Konecny on the 3rd line to help spread the scoring out.

I get it, and yeah, it's arbitrary. But I have always felt that with some coaches, it's about your "give a poop" meter -- do you care that you hurt the team more than you care about you making a cute play?

I think, when I watch all these coaches and teams around the league, that's what I see the most. Some have a bigger tolerance than others. But very few allow young players to repeatedly make soft plays or turn the puck over in certain areas -- they just won't deal with it

Hakstol isn't as bad as some, tbh
- AllInForFlyers

Tortorella tortured Lecavalier as a young player. Lecavalier later credited him with making him a better player. Same with Modano and Hitchcock in Dallas. Coached much harder on young players

I believe he put Konecny on the 3rd line to help spread the scoring out.
- J35Bacher

It was still an asinine move. Broke up one of the teams only strengths and expected Konecny to carry his own line.

I can be realistic about Hak, but that move was questionable at best. It was idiotic to leave it like that game after game.

I agree. It was a joke, sort of. If a guy is constantly making bad/irresponsible plays with the puck, I don't want him in the lineup regardless of how raw/polished he is. But at the same time, you can help refine the rawer players as long as you aren't going all-in that year.
- jmatchett383

Agreed -- that's where I have to default to the guy who is around them all the time.

Some guys will listen on the bench, or after watching film. Some guys don't listen until you cut their ice time or bench them or scratch them

Moving TK off the top line with two games to go in the regular season and playoffs, just to make that line a bit more heavy.....
- VladDrag

That was done to try and boost the lower lines and get more balance in the lineup instead of being a one line team.

Tortorella tortured Lecavalier as a young player. Lecavalier later credited him with making him a better player. Same with Modano and Hitchcock in Dallas. Coached much harder on young players
- MJL

Yup. I get that how he handles a young kid has to be taken and looked at individually. It’s tough to see a guy like VDV thrown out time and time again but that’s not the point. It’s about trying to help the young kids get better.