[Signing] OFFICIAL: Ralph Krueger named Sabres HC

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Firebot

Good special teams is the best sign of good coaching. They were in a playoff spot for a while even if I recall, until a late 6 game losing streak that was too much to overcome in a 48 game season.

And the oilers were actually pretty good 5 v 5. # 11 in even strength goals against. But much like how Hartley didn't do much with the 2012-13 Flames, the Oilers did not have a great team on paper and were 24th in even strength goals for.

https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2013.html

They had all the signs of a vastly improving team. Then McTavish happened wanting the shiny new toy called Eakins and fired Krueger on Skype and we all saw birth to The Swarm and sub 400 hockey.

It's really hard to put a lot of stock into a strike shortened season. I still remember a depleted Flames team (seriously look at the Flames lineup that night) crushing them 8-2 in a game that they had to have with their playoff lives on the line to which they collapsed after. IMO if that season goes 82 games we probably see a pretty standard poor Oilers team going nowhere.

[dash_pinched]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1128686767312384000

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

https://twitter.com/user/status/1128686767312384000

While it's good to see coaches get paid it sure feels like the cost of business is going up in the NHL which usually gets passed down to the fans.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Firebot

Good special teams is the best sign of good coaching. They were in a playoff spot for a while even if I recall, until a late 6 game losing streak that was too much to overcome in a 48 game season.

And the oilers were actually pretty good 5 v 5. # 11 in even strength goals against. But much like how Hartley didn't do much with the 2012-13 Flames, the Oilers did not have a great team on paper and were 24th in even strength goals for.

https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2013.html

They had all the signs of a vastly improving team. Then McTavish happened wanting the shiny new toy called Eakins and fired Krueger on Skype and we all saw birth to The Swarm and sub 400 hockey.

I agree that Ralph Kreuger is a really good coach, but I do not believe this is at all true. Special teams is but one aspect of the game, and one that depends on a good number of factors that fall outside of coaching including player skill, chemistry, confidence and luck. The best sign of good coaching is consistency and winning.

[agulati]

I think it’s a good hire by the Sabre’s. Krueger can be a good coach for them and they definitely have some players to build around

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

While it's good to see coaches get paid it sure feels like the cost of business is going up in the NHL which usually gets passed down to the fans.

This was an inevitable development with the salary cap.

With the relative parity in player quality, coaching is probably more important the ever. Plus it's one way to outspend the competition.

[Locke]

Ralph Krueger really seems like an interesting guy.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I remember them being a mess 5 on 5 propped up by excellent special teams. That's not sustainable long term and the sample size is small at only 48 games.

Do you remember Team Europe making the final of the World cup?

Krueger was their coach.

Good hire for the Sabres.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Do you remember Team Europe making the final of the World cup?

Krueger was their coach.

Good hire for the Sabres.

While it's not nothing, those tournaments are a REALLY different situation.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

It's pretty close to nothing. If you want an object lesson in how international experience does not translate to the NHL, I present to you Bob Nicholson.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

It's pretty close to nothing. If you want an object lesson in how international experience does not translate to the NHL, I present to you Bob Nicholson.

Bob Nicholson got to pick from the 400 best Canadian players available every year, and even then wasn't the guy doing all the selecting. He's an administrator.

Krueger took a team of guys from all over Europe and beat everyone but the most unstoppable generation of Team Canada that's ever existed.

It's not equivalent to the NHL, but it's also not nothing. He then ran a soccer franchise for five years.

If nothing else, the man is a competent professional.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I agree that Ralph Kreuger is a really good coach, but I do not believe this is at all true. Special teams is but one aspect of the game, and one that depends on a good number of factors that fall outside of coaching including player skill, chemistry, confidence and luck. The best sign of good coaching is consistency and winning.

Especially with different teams/differently constructed teams. See Trotz, Barry.

[TheScorpion]

Since he worked so well the first time, can we get Yakupov over to Buffalo so he can produce under Krueger and stick it to Edmonton one last time? I'm not even joking here, I'd be really curious to see how that'd work out. Yakupov with Eichel could be real interesting.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Since he worked so well the first time, can we get Yakupov over to Buffalo so he can produce under Krueger and stick it to Edmonton one last time? I'm not even joking here, I'd be really curious to see how that'd work out. Yakupov with Eichel could be real interesting.

The good news is Yakupov is being mentored by Datsyuk. The bad news is Yakupov is being outscored by Datsuyk:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/l...050332019.html

[Scroopy Noopers]

I still don’t understand why coaches wages are reported.... or even considered important.

They don’t effect the cap, which is about all a fan should really care about. Who cares what they make?

[Toonage]

^ Human nature. We're all nosey.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

I still don’t understand why coaches wages are reported.... or even considered important.

They don’t effect the cap, which is about all a fan should really care about. Who cares what they make?

Coaches got together and decided to make them public - that contributed in no small part to the inflation.

[vilzeh]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The good news is Yakupov is being mentored by Datsyuk. The bad news is Yakupov is being outscored by Datsuyk:

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/l...050332019.html

Gusev did 36 points more than the next one? Wtf..