Should Washington fire Boudreau?

[Eleven]

Won a Presidents' Trophy the year after going to the ECF. Lost in the FIRST round, and not in the second ECF in a row, as Lindy did. So...?

[notwoz]

Interesting parallel. Apparently neither the Sabres nor the Caps is built for the playoffs, although I swear the Caps were the more rugged squad.

 

My guess is that Boudreau is safe for one more year and that the Caps will go looking for a true No. 1 goalie. Neither Theodore nor Varlamov was consistent enough this year. The Caps got by on their scoring ability during the season. They didn't have a goalie who could steal a game or lock the door in a low-scoring game.

[Stoner]

Won a Presidents' Trophy the year after going to the ECF. Lost in the FIRST round, and not in the second ECF in a row, as Lindy did. So...?

 

Nice try.

[Dave Dryden]

Won a Presidents' Trophy the year after going to the ECF. Lost in the FIRST round, and not in the second ECF in a row, as Lindy did. So...?

They lost in the second round last year.

 

It's time to blow up the Caps. It's a flawed team built from the front back. This might work in the regular season, but it won't ever work in the playoffs. Soft Soft Soft.

 

Getting rid of Boudreau is not enough. McPhee can't put together a playoff team, and Ovechkin can't play when it counts.

[deluca67]

Won a Presidents' Trophy the year after going to the ECF. Lost in the FIRST round, and not in the second ECF in a row, as Lindy did. So...?

Yes. Without question.

[Eleven]

Nice try.

 

Address the issue.

 

 

They lost in the second round last year.

 

It's time to blow up the Caps. It's a flawed team built from the front back. This might work in the regular season, but it won't ever work in the playoffs. Soft Soft Soft.

 

Getting rid of Boudreau is not enough. McPhee can't put together a playoff team, and Ovechkin can't play when it counts.

 

Oops. Thanks. Maybe they really should fire him, then, right?

[Eleven]

Yes. Without question.

 

Now this, this is an honest man's answer.

[SwampD]

All I know is that their losing season was WAY more entertaining than ours (and since I'm resigned to that fact that the Sabres will never win a Cup in my lifetime, all I have is being entertained by them).

[Dave Dryden]

Now this, this is an honest man's answer.

Boudreau for Ruff? McPhee for Regier? Miller and Connolly for Ovechkin and Theodore?

[darksabre]

It doesn't matter who coaches the Caps. They will not win in the playoffs as long as they dominate the regular season. San Jose of the East.

[deluca67]

Now this, this is an honest man's answer.

Sports is a results based business. You have the #1 offense in hockey? You need to get the job done.

[Dave Dryden]

All I know is that their losing season was WAY more entertaining than ours (and since I'm resigned to that fact that the Sabres will never win a Cup in my lifetime, all I have is being entertained by them).

Nothing matters but a Cup. The Caps have never even won a SC Finals game. Ever. This failure of a franchise has just made a catastrophic collapse. Entertaining? Like a 17 car traffic accident I suppose.

[Dave Dryden]

Sports is a results based business. You have the #1 offense in hockey? You need to get the job done.

Every business is results based.

[SwampD]

Nothing matters but a Cup. The Caps have never even won a SC Finals game. Ever. This failure of a franchise has just made a catastrophic collapse. Entertaining? Like a 17 car traffic accident I suppose.

This is a big loss. He should be gone.

[FogBat]

It doesn't matter who coaches the Caps. They will not win in the playoffs as long as they dominate the regular season. San Jose of the East.

Ouch! That hurt.

[Stoner]

Address the issue.

 

I believe I did. You want to portray those who want Ruff fired as fickle fans who discovered the Sabres in 2006 -- you all know who you are.

 

I didn't want Ruff fired after the first-round playoff loss in 2000. I woudn't be inclined to call for Boudreau's firing, but I didn't follow the Caps this season, or any other season. I wouldn't have a problem with it, for the reasons DeLuca pointed out.

 

My God, Lindy has been coach since before Clinton got head in the Oval Office! And you bring up Boudreau. Weak.

[FogBat]

I believe I did. You want to portray those who want Ruff fired as fickle fans who discovered the Sabres in 2006 -- you all know who you are.

 

I didn't want Ruff fired after the first-round playoff loss in 2000. I woudn't be inclined to call for Boudreau's firing, but I didn't follow the Caps this season, or any other season. I wouldn't have a problem with it, for the reasons DeLuca pointed out.

 

My God, Lindy has been coach since before Clinton got head in the Oval Office! And you bring up Boudreau. Weak.

:lol:

[notwoz]

My God, Lindy has been coach since before Clinton got head in the Oval Office!

Close but not quite. According to Monica Lewinsky's own testimony she had sexual contact wtih Clinton between November 1995 and March 1997. (The blue dress was stained in February 1997.) Lindy was hired by the Sabres in July 1997.

[Taro T]

Won a Presidents' Trophy the year after going to the ECF. Lost in the FIRST round, and not in the second ECF in a row, as Lindy did. So...?

Boudreau took the team to a level far beyond where they were at with Hanlon. (From last place in November to squeaking into the playoffs his 1st year, then to 4th best record in the league, up to President's Trophy.) There is almost no way that McPhee fires him. The huge question is: does McPhee trade away a bit of the offense to bring in a real backstopper. If 3 or 4 is the answer, you've asked the wrong question, and Varlamov seems to have been put into the spotlight too early; although it's too early to say whether it'll send him onto a Carey Price trajectory.

 

That said, Leonsis might want McPhee to make a move after next season if they start to be labeled "the Sharks of the East." Especially if Boudreau shortens the bench next year as much as he did this year and ends up w/ similar results.

[deluca67]

I believe I did. You want to portray those who want Ruff fired as fickle fans who discovered the Sabres in 2006 -- you all know who you are.

 

I didn't want Ruff fired after the first-round playoff loss in 2000. I woudn't be inclined to call for Boudreau's firing, but I didn't follow the Caps this season, or any other season. I wouldn't have a problem with it, for the reasons DeLuca pointed out.

 

My God, Lindy has been coach since before Clinton got head in the Oval Office! And you bring up Boudreau. Weak.

It's funny how people think. I think Ruff should go based on recent results. I also think he would have another job in 10 minutes after announced. Probably in Washington. Just because a conclusion is reached it doesn't mean the entire record is disregarded. Firing doesn't mean he is a bad coach. It just means it's not working here anymore.

[bunomatic]

I suppose they should if the same criteria is used for his dismisal as the fire Ruff crowd uses for Ruffs dismissal.

[SabresBillsFan]

First off Washington and Chicago need goaltenders. I think neither team with move on further into the playoffs without solid goaltending. People can get on Ovi but who people should really look at is Semin. Semin is Washington's answer to Buffalo's Connolly. Neither did ###### in the playoffs.

[wjag]

Close but not quite. According to Monica Lewinsky's own testimony she had sexual contact wtih Clinton between November 1995 and March 1997. (The blue dress was stained in February 1997.) Lindy was hired by the Sabres in July 1997.

It's nice to have a historian on the board.. Cuts through the BS that flies at times.

 

and for the record, Boudreau should not be fired. Boudreau needs a goalie. And OV needs a hug.

 

Maybe Buffalo could use their PP coach. They finished 1-32 or something like that..

 

So my two favorite teams are out of the playoffs. Guess I'm left being a Pittsburgh fan..

 

HIJACK

 

All three Vezina candidates were first round casualities..

[Kristian]

Interesting parallel. Apparently neither the Sabres nor the Caps is built for the playoffs, although I swear the Caps were the more rugged squad.

 

 

Sabres problem is their top forwards, Washington's problem is goaltending.

 

Their situations may seem similar, but really there isn't much of a comparison between the two.

 

Washington stats on top playoff performers and goalies :

 

Ovechkin : 5 goals 5 assists for 10 pts in 7 GP

Backstrom : 5 goals 4 assists for 9 pts in 7 GP

Knuble : 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 pts in 7 GP

 

Varlamov : 2.41 GAA and .902 SV%

Theodore : 3.70 GAA and .875 SV%

 

Buffalo stats on top playoff performers and goalies :

 

Pominville 2 goals and 2 assists for 4 pts in 6 GP

Ennis : 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 pts in 6 GP

Vanek : 2 goals 1 assist for 3 pts in 3 GP

 

Miller : 2.34 GAA and .926 SV%

 

Conclusion :

 

Washington did enough offensively to win, when you look at the numbers. Buffalo came nowhere near.

 

Out of Buffalo's top 3 in points, one is a rookie another played less than half the series. Washington's number one in points is their superstar forward, right where he's expected to be.

 

Washington firing their coach doesn't make much sense. Their GM trading for a goalie would make perfect sense.

[Guest Sloth]

Sports is a results based business. You have the #1 offense in hockey? You need to get the job done.

 

Best offense is a great defense. I didn't think the Caps would go in the first round, but I honestly did not think they would make it past the 2nd. I know they were the highest scoring team in the NHL this year, but they also gave up a number of goals. Defense wins championships. As hot as Tuuka is right now I think the Bruins will be in the Stanley Cup Finals. They'll then get destroyed by whatever team comes out of the West.