The Deal With Geoff Ward

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Though Ward is far from perfect and I wouldn’t be opposed to replacing him, I also believe that Scotty Bowman couldn’t fix this team. I really honestly think it’s as simple as this: the players aren’t good enough. We don’t have a truly elite game breaker. Johnny was that player last year but he isn’t this year. Simple as that. I think it’s a bit unfair and lazy to try blame this on the coaches yet again. It’s the same old story with the same core players.

It’s time to look at a major shakeup to the core. I don’t think the team is that far off but as the team is now they aren’t going anywhere.

As it stands if they make the playoffs their 1st round opponent would likely be one of Vancouver, Edmonton, Vegas, or St. Louis. Vegas and St. Louis would run these guys out of the building in 5 games or less. McDavid would likely pull a MacKinnon and run our show (as we saw last year regular season success against a team means nothing in the playoffs). Vancouver is the only team I feel we could maybe beat, but I don’t think they’d get past the 2nd round if they did.

It’s not time to blow it all up, but it’s definitely time to look at a major retool. I’d look at Gaudreau and as much as it pains me to say it I would look at Giordano too (simply due to his age, I absolutely love the guy and the player, just thinking it might be time for a change in leadership).

Who is true elite game breaker on Vegas, Dallas or St. Louis? I think people think if you tank hard enough you get one of these. I think it's actually rare to find these players and blowing it up doesn't ensure one.

Calgary was second in the league not too long ago. I don't think you fluke into that but the playoffs are different but the team has shown growth and they have made some lineup changes that will pay off (I think this is a playoff team).

They are inconsistent right now and everyone is upset and everyone is an expert with all the answers including me, second guessing everything. It ain't that easy. The players don't all of the sudden suck. We as fans always over react. I understand this is unpopular.

Consistency in execution and mental fortitude is slightly lacking. It may be people caring too much that they press instead of a less is more approach. I do think some deployment tactics need to be changed so I think it's fair to be a little critical but I don't think it's as bad as we are all are projecting the day after a loss.

I think the players will come around and find a way to be consistent. They aren't dummies they know more than anyone when it's not going well and we've seen stellar play from them. I think the overly negative stuff from fans doesn't help but people are obviously free to think what they want (I do it too because I'm emotionally invested, perhaps too much, to the team). I really like our players and know how good they are - good enough to beat anyone. They just need to play the right way within the team structure and buy in completely. Clean up the recurring mistakes and play together and play fast.

[corporatejay]

the bottom six on this team is pretty brutal. lots of pressure on the top two lines to produce, and when they don't, this team is going to struggle.

I am in no way pinning this on Bennett, but when you completely miss on a #4 overall pick, you're going to be in trouble, those opportunities can't be wasted.

[indes]

I'm confused by our line up decisions, I'm not an NHL coach but I don't see all the other teams lining up to split up their scoring talent across 3 lines.

Tkachuk - Lindholm - Dube
2 - way line? - Tkachuk is a top 3 offensive player on our team, Lindholm at C and Dube are not.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Simon
Scorers + Anchor? Why? Simon doesn't help either of these players. Everyone keeps saying these guys need someone to go dig out pucks for them. They need someone who can read the play and help on the rush, Hudler style.

Mangi - Backlund - Leivo
Fast defensive line?

Mangi has some offensive chops, wasted with Backlund and Leivo

Lucic - Ryan - Nordstrom
Mediocre two way C + anchors.

We have our top 6 players spread across 3 lines instead of 2.

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/t...-combinations/

Tampa, Toronto, Colorado..
All of them have their best talent on their top 2 lines.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Tkachuk
Mangi - Backlund - Lindholm
Dube - Bennett - Leivo
Lucic - Ryan - Simon

Or if you really want Lindholm at C

Gaudreau - Monahan - Tkachuk
Mangi - Lindholm - Dube
Bennett - Backlund - Leivo
Lucic - Ryan - Simon

You could swap Monahan and Lindholm if you want but these are lines that all have clear strengths.

Top line has great IQ and positioning.
2nd line has great speed and two way play.
3rd line could be a fantastic shut down line.

4th line is not great.

Anyways it's clear that 5v5 Ward wants to roll 4 lines and hamstring the offense of the top 3 lines.

Combine this with our horrible line matching and refusal to shorten the bench and we are gonna be in for a long frustrating season, where we just can't finish.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Red

Every good coach has to start somewhere. Thus the Sullivans and Coopers. But a lot of those new coaches will not amount to much.

And since you brought up some newer coaches that did well, Travis Green is the next one in line IMO. Nuckleheads want him fired, but really, he had that team play excellent hockey in the last few years. A team that was lacking talent. I think he had them overachieve.

Would love to see Green here.

I would be happy with this. Green was targeted by Treliving when the team hired Gulutzan, but the Canucks would not release him from his contract.

[Wolfman]

The deal with Geoff Ward is he sucks

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

...

Well, I guess I agree with me from a year ago

Don't even remember making this thread lol

[Ashasx]

oops didn't realize this was an old thread

[Wolfman]

Gallant or Boudreau are the only right answers

[Red]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I would be happy with this. Green was targeted by Treliving when the team hired Gulutzan, but the Canucks would not release him from his contract.

Didnt know that. Too bad. He'd be excellent here.

As for Ward, one more thing I don't like. He doesnt go with the hot hand often. Sometimes a player just has that game, but Ward will not see it and go with regular rotation. it's like he doesnt care about momentum, confidence etc.

[Roof-Daddy]

Gallant and Boudreau still sitting there, and we stuck with the guy who tossed an ice cold goalie who hadn't played in months straight into the middle of an elimination game.

Reaping what they sow.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Gallant and Boudreau still sitting there, and we stuck with the guy who tossed an ice cold goalie who hadn't played in months straight into the middle of an elimination game.

Reaping what they sow.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Gallant and Boudreau still sitting there, and we stuck with the guy who tossed an ice cold goalie who hadn't played in months straight into the middle of an elimination game.

Reaping what they sow.

This entire situation makes me question how hot Treliving's seat really is.

If this was truly his last kick at the can, would he truly bet it all on Geoff Ward?

[troutman]

Al Arbour could not revive this team. Time to change the core.

Boudreau does not impress me.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by troutman

Al Arbour could not revive this team. Time to change the core.

Boudreau does not impress me.

Maybe this core is truly rotten but it would have been nice to see what they could have done with a coach who has had a history of recent NHL success.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by troutman

Al Arbour could not revive this team. Time to change the core.

Boudreau does not impress me.

I like Boudreau. Gallant doesn't impress me. Unceremoniously dumped twice, with one really weirdly successful season between. And not hired by anyone. His record isn't horrible so I think something else is going on.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by troutman

Al Arbour could not revive this team. Time to change the core.

once this is has been proven to be true, either by finally hiring a proven coach for at least one season or summoning the ghost of Al Arbour to haunt the bench, then I will gladly drive each member of this core to the airport one by one. until then, we'll never know for sure.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I like Boudreau. Gallant doesn't impress me. Unceremoniously dumped twice, with one really weirdly successful season between. And not hired by anyone. His record isn't horrible so I think something else is going on.

I am not all that impressed by either of them, but I think I, like you, find Boudreau more appealing. I still think that nothing really changes until the core group is changed, but then that itself is also extremely difficult to do.

At the end of the day, and from my decades of experience as an arm-chair GM I remain convinced that it is damn hard to build a contending NHL team. There are only a few of them, and for all the years of trial and error suffered by the vast majority of franchises, it really does look to require a tonne of time, experience and luck.

[Cowtownred]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Gallant or Boudreau are the only right answers

I would go all out Calgary Canucks, and hire Travis Green, after he gets fired by Benning!

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Cowtownred

I would go all out Calgary Canucks, and hire Travis Green, after he gets fired by Benning!

He has won more playoff series as a head coach than Gulutzan, Peters, and Ward combined...so that's an improvement.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I am not all that impressed by either of them, but I think I, like you, find Boudreau more appealing. I still think that nothing really changes until the core group is changed, but then that itself is also extremely difficult to do.

At the end of the day, and from my decades of experience as an arm-chair GM I remain convinced that it is damn hard to build a contending NHL team. There are only a few of them, and for all the years of trial and error suffered by the vast majority of franchises, it really does look to require a tonne of time, experience and luck.

All true. Look at the top teams right now and figure out what they did to be successful. 3 our of 4 involved massive failure leading to a 1 or 2 pick - TB, TO, Avs), which Calgary's never done, even once (and when they got even close in 2014 they picked the consensus top guy left and it hasn't worked out).