[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

I just found this gem of an article from Dan Kinvig from September. I can't believe I missed this. Basically, it outlines the differences between Playfair and Ward. I'll post some articles from it, but I encourage anyone who hasn't read this to read it:

http://www.abbynews.com/sports/heat/news/130214828.html

Playfair brought the fiery intensity of a former player to the head coaching role. He was an old-school bench boss who wasn't afraid to crank up the volume when delivering his message to the players.

Ward, an assistant under Playfair last season, would be classified as more of a player's coach. The St. Paul, Minn. native, when prompted, will wax eloquent on how he hopes to foster a family atmosphere within the team, and help his players overcome the insecurities that keep them from reaching their potential.

"Last year, a lot of what he would talk to me about was maturity off the ice. Like if he came to my house, would my bedroom be clean, and the dishes be clean? It's a little bit different," said T.J. Brodie.

Brodie was a frequent resident in Playfair's doghouse over the first half of last season – the head coach employing a tough-love approach to modify the rookie blueliner's occasional lack of attention to detail in the defensive zone.

To hear Brodie tell it, Ward essentially played the good cop to Playfair's bad cop. When the bench boss was breathing fire in his direction, Ward would sidle up afterward and translate the high-decibel message.

"At times, I didn't know what he (Playfair) wanted me to do different, so it was tough," Brodie explained. "But Wardo helped me out a lot last year, because he knew what he meant. If I didn't understand it, I'd go to him and he'd tell me, or go through video and show me."