MacTavish's Belov experiment is over

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Dmitry Chesnokov @dchesnokov
Anton Belov told @plysenkovRUS that he didn't want to stay in Edmonton under Dallas Eakins.

So is this more or less confirmation that Eakins will be behind the bench next season? I'd imagine if one of the big stopping points for Belov was playing for under Eakins they might have hinted to him that Dallas wouldn't be back next year.

[theoforever]

Originally Posted by Goodlad

So is this more or less confirmation that Eakins will be behind the bench next season? I'd imagine if one of the big stopping points for Belov was playing for under Eakins they might have hinted to him that Dallas wouldn't be back next year.

MacT in his press conference said that now he is more confident than ever that Eakins is the right coach. Yeah, for real.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Eakins has developed quite the reputation in a short time. He'll be toiling minors or be an assistant for a long time before he gets an NHL opportunity.

Unless Eakins really turns things around next season, he might well be one-and-done at the NHL level.

[nik-]

MacTavish's press conference was so hilarious. Talk about doubling down while you're on a losing streak.

[calumniate]

Yakupov rhymes with belov. Hehe. Ryan Jones already said he wants out

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

To be fair, I bet Cervenka said the same thing

Yes, and every team would have one or two. But there appears to be a more consistent trend with Edmonton. At least that's what it looks like to me.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by calumniate

Yakupov rhymes with belov. Hehe. Ryan Jones already said he wants out

No, Ryan Jones has already flat-out stated that he is leaving. He is gone.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Can you please provide some sources for this.


Nothing makes me happier than reading about the #### show that is Mulletville.

Rarely if ever does someone come right out and say they dislike the coach or other players or whatever. It is always a question of reading between the lines.

The closest thing I can remember to a direct quote was a story early in the season when it was rumoured that some of the young guys (I remember it as Hall, Eberle, and RNH) couldn't stand Eakins. There is never going to be proof or direct quotes, but innuendoes to that effect have surfaced a few times.

And as I mentioned more than once, purely my opinion.

[Locke]

Not to defend the idiot greasers too much, but Belov was a borderline defenseman at best.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Locke

Not to defend the idiot greasers too much, but Belov was a borderline defenseman at best.

Haha, is that a defense or an indictment?

Edmonton is no good.

[Hatter]

Belov's biggest problem from the Oil games I watched was that he struggled to make decisions under pressure. The lack of time and space in an NHL game seemed to overwhelm him at times.

There were a few games, like the beating by Colorado I attended a couple weeks ago where he just made simple plays with the puck, and didn't look horrible.

He really doesn't have any attributes that could make up for his mental shortcomings though, so he's likely better off in the KHL where he has a split second extra to decide what to do in any given situation.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Rarely if ever does someone come right out and say they dislike the coach or other players or whatever. It is always a question of reading between the lines.

The closest thing I can remember to a direct quote was a story early in the season when it was rumoured that some of the young guys (I remember it as Hall, Eberle, and RNH) couldn't stand Eakins. There is never going to be proof or direct quotes, but innuendoes to that effect have surfaced a few times.

And as I mentioned more than once, purely my opinion.

furry muff

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Locke

Not to defend the idiot greasers too much, but Belov was a borderline defenseman at best.

Agreed, but in the interview it sounded like Edmonton offered him a new contract, so they would have taken him back.

[Stay Golden]

Belov saying he turned the contract because he didn't want to play for "that coach" is classic.