The Next Flames Coach | News & Rumors

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm kind of surprised an established coach like Hitchcock is willing to accept year to year deals. It's pretty obvious that a don season of any sort will result in his dismissal.

This is probably his last go round so I'm guessing he'll take what he can.

I'm surprised they kept him to be honest.

[mdubz]

Originally Posted by nik-

This is probably his last go round so I'm guessing he'll take what he can.

I'm surprised they kept him to be honest.

His last go round with St Louis maybe. I guarantee he would find another job as a head coach elsewhere, with a multi-year deal.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by mdubz

His last go round with St Louis maybe. I guarantee he would find another job as a head coach elsewhere, with a multi-year deal.

I think you missed the part where he said he was done after next year. I.E Retiring.

[mdubz]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I think you missed the part where he said he was done after next year. I.E Retiring.

My bad, didn't look at previous page.

[nik-]

I would also be absolutely shocked if this wasn't the high water mark of this Blues team. Yes, I know saying the conference final is a high water mark isn't exactly a risky bet, but I wouldn't be surprised at all next year if they're back to going out in the first round.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by nik-

I would also be absolutely shocked if this wasn't the high water mark of this Blues team. Yes, I know saying the conference final is a high water mark isn't exactly a risky bet, but I wouldn't be surprised at all next year if they're back to going out in the first round.

Agreed. They barely scraped past Chicago and Dallas took them to seven games as well.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

They have some tough decisions with Backes and Brouwer. Plenty of talk moving Shattenkirk, which is a bit of a strange move, but understandable if they get a good return.
They seem to be such a strong team, but somehow fail to generate offense when they really need it.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

They seem to be such a strong team, but somehow fail to generate offense when they really need it.

Case in point: In game 7 vs. Dallas, when the Blues really needed some offence, all they managed was a measly six goals. Chokers!

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Case in point: In game 7 vs. Dallas, when the Blues really needed some offence, all they managed was a measly six goals. Chokers!

hmmm, perhaps scoring 2 or less goals in 4 games and losing the last series is a better example.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

hmmm, perhaps scoring 2 or less goals in 4 games and losing the last series is a better example.

Or maybe you're pulling things out of your arse to justify a narrative that you had already decided to push.

Every year in the playoffs, 15 out of 16 teams lose a series. That doesn't mean the teams were defective. In most playoff games, the loser doesn't score more than two goals. That doesn't mean the teams are offensively deficient.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

...They seem to be such a strong team, but somehow fail to generate offense when they really need it.

Fourth highest scoring team in the playoffs behind Pittsburgh, SJ, and Chicago. "Generating offense" seems not to be a significant problem for the Blues.

[sureLoss]

News Update

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Randy Carlyle expected to meet with Ducks today re: coaching job. Travis Green also among those in mix in Anaheim.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Or maybe you're pulling things out of your arse to justify a narrative that you had already decided to push.

Every year in the playoffs, 15 out of 16 teams lose a series. That doesn't mean the teams were defective. In most playoff games, the loser doesn't score more than two goals. That doesn't mean the teams are offensively deficient.

Not sure what is getting your pants in a bunch, but I merely pointed out that their offense dried up. They are clearly a strong team. They are, however one of 15 teams that lost a series, and I would suggest that improving their offence, which ranked 15th for goals scored is a place for room for improvement.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Fourth highest scoring team in the playoffs behind Pittsburgh, SJ, and Chicago. "Generating offense" seems not to be a significant problem for the Blues.

How were they fourth? Regular season they were 15th, which is fine, but not world beaters.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

How were they fourth? Regular season they were 15th, which is fine, but not world beaters.

By scoring 57 goals in 20 PLAYOFF GAMES. You know, those games played under conditions of extreme urgency and high pressure that far surpasses anything occurring in the regular season.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

News Update

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Randy Carlyle expected to meet with Ducks today re: coaching job. Travis Green also among those in mix in Anaheim.

Wow... Well if it worked once?? Seems like a step backwards for Anaheim IMO.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

By scoring 57 goals in 20 PLAYOFF GAMES. You know, those games played under conditions of extreme urgency and high pressure that far surpasses anything occurring in the regular season.

So offense isn't the problem. Great. Defense? Goaltending? Just bad puck luck?

In the San Jose series, I thought they were the second best team. In my opinion, the Sharks generated more sustained pressure and more chances and absolutely deserved to win it in 6.

For the Blues, their goal is and should be the Stanley Cup. They are a strong team (as I indicated in my first post), but do they stand pat and hope for the best?

[Erick Estrada]

This Carlyle stuff reeks of the old boys club trying to prop up an old friend. I assume Carlyle is a better buddy to guys like Burke and Murray than he is an NHL head coach.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

So offense isn't the problem. Great. Defense? Goaltending? Just bad puck luck?

In the San Jose series, I thought they were the second best team. In my opinion, the Sharks generated more sustained pressure and more chances and absolutely deserved to win it in 6.

For the Blues, their goal is and should be the Stanley Cup. They are a strong team (as I indicated in my first post), but do they stand pat and hope for the best?

Of course not. The Blues should and will make adjustments to be even more competitive next year, but I wouldn't say that they suffer from a lack of scoring options that is likely to hold them back. The reason SJ looked so much better had a LOT to do with that ever elusive synergy that must occur for teams to succeed: they have a solid, competitive roster that came together at the right time and under the right circumstances. For what it's worth, I don't think the Sharks are a Western Conference powerhouse, and will be unsurprised to see them out of the playoffs again next season.

Don't kid yourself: the margin between winning and losing in the NHL playoffs is razor thin. Call it "luck" if you will, but whatever it is, it determines the outcome of the playoffs most of the time. I'm not convinced that the "best" team wins every year: more likely, one of the "better" teams always wins, but there are always three, four, five, even six that have every reason to think that they have the right mix of talent, experience and desire to win. The Blues were one of those teams this year, and should be again next year.

[Ashasx]

I can't even imagine why the Ducks would fire Carlyle and then 4 seasons later bring him back. The core of that team is pretty much the same as when he left.