[News] Preds fire Laviolette. John Hynes named HC

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Igottago

No offense..but this is such a Flames minded approach. Nice guys of the NHL.
Its not about Ward being a problem. Its about striking while a great option is available.

It isn't about be a nice guy. It is about what is best for the team.

I get it that Laviolette will be sought after; he is a good coach. I also think Ward is a good coach who, if not extended as HC in Calgary will get a shot as a HC somewhere else. Just my opinion, but I thought Ward would be the Flames next HC after Peters. Just didn't think it would happen so soon.

It seems I am in the minority on this one, and that is fine with me. It just has a Brent Sutter vibe where expectations were way out of whack with a coaching change that ultimately was a bit of a disaster.

[Roof-Daddy]

The more I think about it I sure hope the Flames back the brinks truck up to Laviolette and let him have at it.

Nothing against Ward, but its time for an elite coach with a winning track record in the league.

He'll probably end up in SJ though.

[VilleN]

Laviolette is one of the coaches I was hoping the Flames would be able to get. I highly doubt it will happen as there are more desirable markets that need coaches (SJ, DAL). I think we need to see what this team can do under an elite coach before we talk about blowing it up.

[sureLoss]

News Update

John Hynes named HC of the Preds

https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/n...ch/c-313572802

[mrdonkey]

I’d love for Tre to take a run at Laviolette, I just don’t think he’d be interested. Lots of other far more desirable destinations will be available to him if he just waits it out. He has no reason to rush into a decision, and if he does it won’t be with the Flames.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Pierre Lebrun
@PierreVLebrun

Laviolette had this year and next season left on his contract which pays around $2.5 million, which the Predators must honour unless he ends up hired elsewhere before the expiry of that deal

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Don't forget about a call from Seattle.

...so that's what I'd be doing right there.


But if he does decide to jump right back into coaching this season, I would be thrilled if he chose Calgary.

I'm pretty happy with what Ward has done with a team that was struggling when he took over. Despite what seems to be some's impression of him, he's pretty damn experienced outside of having the HC gig himself. I think we discredit the others on the bench quite a bit, as I'm sure he's been fairly involved and influential for a long while now. I'm pretty excited about him TBH, and good head coaches all have their first year...

But if Calgary can swing at Laviolette, I'll be even more jacked if he's willing to slide back to Associate. Having someone like Laviolette would be huge, and I really do think there is a chance that he looks at the pieces in Calgary and can be convinced of what he can do with it. And I do think that ownership isn't going to balk at the opportunity to make back that salary many times over.

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

News Update

John Hynes named HC of the Preds

https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/n...ch/c-313572802

That's a surprise...

[FanIn80]

Without Rittich, this team would be in last place right now. He’s had his first string of bad games, but it’s also the first time he’s ever been played this heavily, and he’s only halfway through his second season as a non-backup.

The place is literally the dictionary definition of “what have you done for me lately.”

[GioforPM]

Ward could take his $2.5M for the rest of his term, or at least the season. Or he could make $5M for the rest of the season, and probably a guaranteed couple more. I think the coaching salaries have settled down after the Babcock fiasco, but if he can double his take home, why not do it. Calgary probably has to offer a little more due to taxes.

I don't think he's Seattle bound. But the only question is whether he thinks waiting for the off season, with likely more options is better, versus getting probably a doubling of his salary right now. Right now there's an unusually large amount of interim head coaches, though Toronto has their guy I think. But SJ would be attractive, so would Dallas. Give the Hynes hiring, NJ would be interesting, like when Vancouver and NY switched coaches.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

I’d love for Tre to take a run at Laviolette, I just don’t think he’d be interested. Lots of other far more desirable destinations will be available to him if he just waits it out. He has no reason to rush into a decision, and if he does it won’t be with the Flames.

I would be surprised if he chose to coach a Canadian team, but how many 'far more' desirable options are out there?

I thought this was a pretty good list:

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Lots of candidates for his services I imagine:

- Devils: recently fired Hynes and interim HC Nasreddine has no past NHL HC experience
- Rangers: Quinn could be on the hot seat
- Sharks: recently fired DeBoer, interim HC Boughner has experience but Laviolette is more proven
- Flames: Peters recently resigned, interim HC Ward has no past NHL HC experience
- Stars: recently fired Montgomery, interim HC Bowness has some experience but not as much as Laviolette
- Red Wings: Blashill could be on the hot seat
- Wild: Boudreau is in the final year of his contract
- Blackhawks: Colliton could be on the hot seat

I see the Sharks and Stars as great options if they're willing to negotiate with a new HC, but if he's looking at the rosters and talking to the GMs I don't know why we're so down on Calgary being attractive.

Calgary has a team with good players up and down the lineup and youth pushing veterans for roster spots along with 2 goalies that can win you games. I don't think it's that far out of the question if he's interested in coaching here.

[Monahammer]

Weren't the flames paying like 1.5 million to Bill f'in Peters? They should be able to stomach 3 mil at least for someone with Lavy's resume.

I agree with the pessimistic crowd though- ownership here RARELY does the right thing with coaching decisions.

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Split98

I would be surprised if he chose to coach a Canadian team, but how many 'far more' desirable options are out there?

I thought this was a pretty good list:


I see the Sharks and Stars as great options if they're willing to negotiate with a new HC, but if he's looking at the rosters and talking to the GMs I don't know why we're so down on Calgary being attractive.

Calgary has a team with good players up and down the lineup and youth pushing veterans for roster spots along with 2 goalies that can win you games. I don't think it's that far out of the question if he's interested in coaching here.

If I’m looking at a list that includes Calgary, Dallas, and SJ, it’s not much of a question where Calgary ranks.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

If I’m looking at a list that includes Calgary, Dallas, and SJ, it’s not much of a question where Calgary ranks.

In what terms? Players and future? I think we would win easily. If Cups are what he is after at this point then out of the three we probably present the best near term options.

Lifestyle, climate, and taxes? Calgary is a nice place but gets it's teeth kicked-in. SJ is pretty much paradise, and Dallas is beautiful (especially for the wealthy) and relatively tax-free.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

If I’m looking at a list that includes Calgary, Dallas, and SJ, it’s not much of a question where Calgary ranks.

Money talks, I guess. SJ is paying a coach to not coach. Dallas isn't I think. I'm not sure the taxes in California are a lot better than here. Dallas has a tax advantage.

I think hockey wise, Calgary has a better team going forward, too. Dallas is going to have to look at a rebuild pretty quickly. SJ is just badly constructed right now and it shows.

Lifestyle wise, SJ is obviously a place where players like to live and I suppose the same applies to coaches. Dallas isn't that special a place to live. It sure ain't Nashville. And Dallas has typically a bad travel schedule (not as bad as the Flames though).

[ForeverFlameFan]

So is Nashville just gonna tank now?

[CroFlames]

I doubt he's even interested in coming to a team halfway through the season.

If he works again, he'll want a fresh start in the offseason.

[DeluxeMoustache]

After the Peters situation?

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

News Update

John Hynes named HC of the Preds

https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/n...ch/c-313572802

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

If I’m looking at a list that includes Calgary, Dallas, and SJ, it’s not much of a question where Calgary ranks.

The top 10 most liveable cities in the world, and their scores according to The Global Liveability Index 2019, are:

Top 10
1. Vienna, Austria (99.1)
2. Melbourne, Australia (98.4)
3. Sydney, Australia (98.1)
4. Osaka, Japan (97.7)
5. Calgary, Canada (97.5)
6. Vancouver, Canada (97.3)
7. Tokyo, Japan (97.2 tie)
7. Toronto, Canada (97.2 tie)
9. Copenhagen, Denmark (96.8)
10. Adelaide, Australia (96.6)

US Cities
19. Honolulu, US (94.1)
31. Washington DC, US (91.2)
33. Atlanta, US (91.1 tie)
33. Chicago, US (91.1 tie)
36. Boston, US (90.5)
37. Miami, US (89.8)
39. Pittsburgh, US (89.6 tie)
39. Cleveland, US (89.6 tie)
39. Minneapolis, US (89.6 tie)
47. Seattle, US (88.8)
49. San Fransisco, US (88.7)
51. Los Angeles, US (88.6)
54. Houston, US (87.0)
55. New York, US (86.6)
57. Detroit, US (85.0)
61. Lexington, US (83.3)

Last Place
140. Syria, Damascus (29.3)

You’re right. There’s literally zero question where Calgary ranks.

[Psytic]

Yea im not seeing it. Like I said Tre will kick tires but you have to think SJ or Dallas are the winners. He is an American as well so unless the Flames are outbidding on salary heavily I dont see it.