Quote:
Originally Posted by Dorkmaster
http://thehockeywriters.com/abbotsfo...ach-troy-ward/
Article discusses some of the focus that Ward puts in developing prospects. There was an article discussing about how Brent Sutter was extremely pleased with the readiness of players coming up from Abbotsford. Aliu, Byron, Bouma, Nemisz, Brodie and older players like Desbiens, Kolanos.
Funny that you mention Playfair because he also loved to play his veterans and a stifling defensive system. Truth is when players are ready to handle more minutes they will be given more minutes. As I mentioned, Horak and Bartschi started in Abbotsford on top lines.
Maybe a bigger concern is that the Flames have a bunch of players that aren't actually as talented as Flames fans think they are. We don't have a bunch of second line centers and top 4 defence sitting around. All we see is the points they put up in juniors and go crazy over nuts over those stats. What I've seen since I've started prospects is that there are plenty of players that look promising, but making the next step in the AHL is extremely difficult and it gets even tougher in the NHL.
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Brent was happy that the call ups were playing a defensive system already. YAY! That's what we want our prospects to be good at!
The kids should be developing their skills at the AHL, not learning systems play!
Can you honestly say that Horak in the NHL is a major upgrade on Comeau or Jones?
All Ward has done is made our top prospects interchangeable to our 3rd and 4th line pluggers. Even Baertschi was lacking the pizazz he had compared to last years call up.
Best way to look at it is to compare with other teams. Dallas Eakins is tough on the baby leafs, but he doesn't force them into playing a stifling defensive system that kills their creativity.
Look at how many players actually graduate from the baby leafs and make an impact at the NHL level for the Leafs. Look at them this year.
Kadri still isn't a good defensive player, but at least he's playing to his strengths and scoring goals.
Ward is a good coach, a smart coach, but he's looking out for himself here. He wants to be a head coach in the NHL, that's his priority, and the best way to do that is to win, development is secondary to him and it shows with the way he coaches and the emphasis on defensive schemes. The Heat are TERRIBLE to watch. It's like watching paint dry. It's no wonder fans don't come out. Compared to the Canucks, the style of play is incredibly boring and it's not just about the skill level of the players, it's the style. There's absolutely nothing to draw the fans out to watch games. I live in Vancouver, I'm a diehard Flames fan and even I haven't made the short trip out to watch a game. I thought about when Sven was in the lineup, but then watching games on Sportsnet really killed my desire to go. The team is boring to watch.