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Old 03-20-2012, 04:42 PM   #342
Pierre "Monster" McGuire
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Originally Posted by Jaybird View Post
Any thoughts here on Troy Ward's perfomance as coach this year? Personally, I dont think it's been great. I know there has been a lot of player movement up and down but I don't think that is an excuse.
I think the player movement as well as injuries are certainly the biggest, if not the primary excuse for the Heat's mediocrity this season. Let's face it, this team was absolutely gutted in the offseason. There were over 20 players from last year that have since left. That does some major damage to a team's chemistry/morale, etc. I think Ward has done an absolutely outstanding job keeping this team as a functional whole all while facing the signing and releasing of ECHL players, and the up and down movement of Heat players. Furthermore, the guy who single-handedly sets the tone for the game graduated to the NHL (Bouma) and our best defenseman retired as well (Brodie).

Basically, any coach that can maintain any sort of functionality in such uncertain conditions as he was put in can stick around in my books.

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I am not sure if the team is really motivated to play for him.
I know players would never talk badly of their coach to the media. With that said, however, this season's Heat players (and rental players from other AHL and ECHL teams) have had nothing but praise for Ward and rest of the coaching staff. Contrast the numerous positive comments about Ward with nearly no positive OR negative comments about Playfair. I'll assume that an abundance of good praise towards Ward speaks volumes over little praise towards Playfair.

I'm not in the dressing room, so I'm not sure how Ward gets his team motivated, but he has spoken before on "internal vs. external fuel" (I know, lame phrases, but it's the way Ward is). I think Ward expects that he doesn't have to motivate his team, that if players want to play the game because they love it, then they will. And I don't blame him for thinking that. We're talking about professional hockey players who have clearly chosen their career in life. If they don't want to play hockey with enthusiasm and passion then Ward will sit them. The onus of motivation should be on the player, not the coach.

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When I look at the player's stats this year, I notice that almost everyone had better stats either with the Heat or with other AHL teams last year. One that comes to mind is Carter Bancks. He is up there in having as much ice time as anyone in all situations but his stats are disappointing. Is it him or how he is being managed?
I'll agree with you on this point. There's no denying that in some cases the stats are significantly less than previous years.

The players' stats have taken dips this year. Even the "stars" of the Heat (those expected to be significant factors in this team winning) have taken a hit to their stats this year. Some of these players include Walter, Wilson, Connelly, Kolanos, Desbiens, Byron, etc.

Again, I think this is a giant byproduct of injuries and call-ups. An example of this is Walter, being a playmaker, had his stats take a hit because of his linemates Kolanos getting called up periodically and Rheault being hurt for most of the season.

I think for the most part, it's on the players that their stats have taken a hit. In Bancks case, he has been put in offensive situations all throughout the year (i.e., playing on a line with Nemisz and Sylvester and getting PP time).

I see the players getting ample opportunity to score, but just aren't doing it.

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I really think Ward was working this team from the beginning around Kalonos scoring the goals. This might have been to the detrement of some of other players' development.
I can't really comment on Ward's systems because personally I don't really understand or recognize systems. All I know is that he has been placing players in the roles he thinks they can best handle. If they show Ward that they can handle a different or additional roles, then he'll try them in that role (e.g., starting Howse off in a checking role to start. Howse starting to get points so Ward gave him PP time and put him on the top lines). Patterson, on the other hand, has shown that he is ultimately a checker that doesn't have great offensive prowess, so Ward plays him in defensive roles and gives him PK time where he is a threat.

I don't think he centered the team around Kolanos, but I do think he put Kolanos in all offensive situations because that's what Kolanos' role is.

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I still scratch my head over the Wahl situation and even though it may not have been all Ward's decision, I don't think Ward had Wahl in his plans for the team from the get go.
The Wahl situation still confuses me a bit. At first, I understood the whole situation from both sides. Ward couldn't offer Wahl a spot that fit the role he plays (a top 6 role), so they sent him to a team that could offer him that role.

Then, I have no idea what happened...

He got released from Hamilton for reasons unknown. Maybe his contract with Hamilton rat out? Then, from what I understand, there were technicalities in which he couldn't return to the Heat until next year, so now he's in Utah lighting it up when the Heat need a top 6 guy the most. Makes no sense to me.

Perhaps the whole Wahl situation can be pinned on Ward, but if you think about the opening day roster for the Heat, they looked pretty set. Wahl was struggling and I think it was best for both sides that he was sent to another team where he had the chance to flourish.

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I also see young defenseman Martin sitting and wondering why as I think he has played well.
I agree. Martin has played excellent when he's been in the lineup. He's adjusted to the pro level very well and he's one of the few guys on the team that will crush a guy if he gets the chance. He's basically our new Pelech, but with far superior skating ability and a bit more offense all while maintaining the same level of physicality and aggressiveness.

I think Martin should be slotted in more regularly, but when Ward's trying to secure his team a playoff spot, I can see why he would put in Connelly, Wilson, Carson, Piskula, Breen, and Testwuide ahead of Martin. What I don't understand, however, is slotting in Henry over Martin for all of those games. Martin is a better defenseman IMO.

With that said, I know Martin was hurt for a chunk of the season, so that's why he wasn't in much in the beginning of the season. I think Martin will have a much bigger role next season. I really like that Feaster signed him. I know Martin and Leach were paired together in Kootenay so maybe they can be paired again next season.

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Even with all the call ups Ward still has a strong team but for the most part they can't score. You might say you can't blame the coach but honestly I just don't feel like he knows how to "rally the troops".
If by strong team you mean physically, then yes. But definitely not offensively. The Heat are one of the lowest scoring teams in the league. I don't think that's a huge fault of Ward's. There's a few factors in the Heat being low scoring: a) the veterans only play when they feel like it. Some games they'll play physical, have speed, and great awareness, but some games they won't. This team is largely based on the play of the veterans, but when they don't want to play, this team's chances of winning are slim; b) the Heat are in the toughest division in the AHL. Playing inter-division rivals for 3/4 of the season is ridiculously difficult on the Heat. That has to have some impact on the Heat's goal production; and c) constant call-ups and a high turnover of players is tough to maintain consistency.

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I will admit that Jim Playfair was pretty crazy at times but I do think his knowledge of hockey and how to get the most out of his players surpasses what Ward has.
I think Ward and Playfair's knowledge of hockey is relatively equal. But Ward is more of a player's coach while Playfair was a hard-nose Randy Carlyle type coach. Ward is a more easy-going, yet demanding coach.

The thing with last year is that there were no offensive-minded players. Maybe Nemisz and Rheault... oh yeah, and Matt Keith haha. When you've got nothing but a team of grinders, of course they're going to play that style. I think Playfair got credit for creating a tough team when the players were inherently tough in the first place.

This year, with Ward, we've got offensive players, but due to reasons listed above, those players couldn't get it going.

I say we should all give Ward a break because he's done a fine job working in an uncertain environment. He's had a difficult season with the abnormally large amount of call-ups and injuries. That's just what this season has been - abnormal. I think the only other team in the AHL that has gone through a similar season is the Houston Aeros. Injuries with Minnesota has caused them to rely on AHL veterans, ECHL, and PTO signings. In fact, Houston and Abbotsford are basically in the same position standings-wise.

The organization loves Ward, the players love Ward, and I think the fans like Ward. He's had a very difficult season. Despite the uncertainty he's had to deal with, I think he's really helped out our young players (i.e., Howse with his conditioning and Aliu with his attitude). Not only that, but I have the impression that Ward isn't only a hockey coach, but he's a life coach as well. The players can approach him about ANYTHING in life. That's a coach that will gain and give respect.

Last edited by Pierre "Monster" McGuire; 03-20-2012 at 04:54 PM.
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