Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
Huh? Playfair's year came just a year after Sutter won the division.
I'm all for giving Playfair a second chance but the core was not rotten in the year 2007.
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Playfair was widely disrespected in the locker room. Wasn't he referred to as "JP21" or something other in a childish way? He also benched Amonte during the playoffs that year, and the team openly rebelled and forced Playfair to apologize. He never had the room, and Darryl had to replace him immediately.
With that being said, Playfair is a very good defensive-minded coach. He is (or was) a yeller, though. Remember that Brodie got side-coaching from Ward when Playfair was the headcoach in Abbotsford, and would yell at Brodie. Ward would take Brodie aside and explain to him what Playfair was demanding.
I wouldn't be totally against Playfair - I think he would fit some basic checklist as to what the Flames want in a coach - but he wouldn't be my first choice for sure, or even in the top 5 or 10 I can think off the top of my head. I also don't know if or how he has changed either, what he was in charge of in Phoenix, etc. I know he was the Associate Coach, but other than the title, I can only guess he was responsible for the defencemen?