^ I’ll say this.
Let’s look at the last sequence of coaches
D. Sutter - took the team to the finals (and again, it was in)
Playfair - experiment, a promotion - didn’t work out
Keenan - previous cup winner - had his best players delivering, but got bounced in the playoffs when they had a ridiculous rash of injuries. We can go over them if we need to.
B Sutter - the guy frankly hadn’t made Jersey any better or worse. I get the idea. If he can tighten up the D without stifling offence - profit! He made the team play stupid uninspired hockey and took a perennial playoff team off the dance floor for 3 years. (And got to ride out his contract!)
Hartley - had the blow it up year, then the inspired year where the team overachieved, won a playoff round (with Gio out!) and he got the Jack Adams. Got an extension (perhaps grudgingly) from the new GM, who then handed him the 3 goalie monster, while Dougie was new, Gio back from long term injury and Brodie hurt (so massive adjustments), and they were getting in a groove with steady tending when Ramo’s knee was blown - a disaster year for a fragile team that had overachieved.
Gully - Whew! Lucky BT. Of course not related to BT at all, things went to crap for a yes for Hartley. Great for the GM (whose guy Hartley was not). Now they take a flier on a guy who was mediocre in Dallas, and an assistant on a crappy Canucks team.
Frankly, if Gully rides out his contract, there is the risk of a disturbing trend.
The team has winning coaches, throws out extenuating circumstances when a year goes awry, and takes a flyer on a guy who has proven nothing in terms of being a difference maker.
Gully is underachieving with a healthy team, 2 goalies, including a decent starter. A way better roster than Hartley had.
Just my opinion but I just don’t see any chance this guy can get the job done. His adversity is the performance of a normally staffed, healthy, quality roster.
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