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Hardest Working Team In Hockey Is Back...


matter2003

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Posted

Interesting. He is empowering some of the kids, like Zemgus and Foligno, but certainly the overall philosophy seems to favor journeyman vets over kids with potential.

 

I don't disagree with this philosophy, FWIW. It seems like good NHL teams are generally built around vets with a few kids in the mix in supporting roles.

 

That's one of the reasons why I find the Omark situation interesting, btw. Omark is almost 27, clearly skilled and yet hasn't found a groove in the NHL.

 

And most of those vets were kids at one time that needed an opportunity to play through their growing pains. I still don't care about the Tropp-D'Agostini swap, but what if (and this is purely a what if, as I have no idea) future decisions follow the same reasoning? You can't continually trade higher ceilings for low ceiling low floor players and expect to legitimately compete for a Cup.

 

I'm trying to think of a skilled player other than Hasek that didn't do well under Nolan. I can't come up with one off the top of my head. Satan may have been a maligned player here but he did put up numbers during Nolan's time.

 

That's because Nolan's teams didn't really have any skill players ;)

Posted

He might be good for another year but unless he has grown as a coach, he will have served his usefulness after that. I do not deny that the team has been much more fun to watch but unless Ted has learned how to incorporate true skill players into his comfort zone, his way will not win a Cup and I think that is the goal still, correct?

 

Do we really want another GM starry eyed with his coach?

 

Not trying to be argumentative, but what does this even mean? Teddy only had two years in Buffalo plus two more on the Island and for the most part he coached the rosters he inherited. In both places, I think it would be fair to say the front offices were unstable. How do you know he is uncomfortable with skill players? If anything, it seems to me he has given guys like Ennis and Myers more latitude to be offensive playmakers than the prior two regimes.

Posted

 

 

I'm trying to think of a skilled player other than Hasek that didn't do well under Nolan. I can't come up with one off the top of my head. Satan may have been a maligned player here but he did put up numbers during Nolan's time.

 

Just checked the stats -- Dominik's first year as a starter was Teddy's first year with the Sabres. Dom had 22 wins that year. The following year, which was TN's last year before getting canned, Dom had 37 wins and a .930 save %. So TN didn't really hold him back.

Posted

I'm trying to think of a skilled player other than Hasek that didn't do well under Nolan. I can't come up with one off the top of my head. Satan may have been a maligned player here but he did put up numbers during Nolan's time.

 

I got one for you: Alexei Yashin. :P

Posted

 

That's because Nolan's teams didn't really have any skill players ;)

 

Certainly not enough of them at any one time but he did coach LaFontaine, Satan, Zhitnick, Bodger, Plante, Galley, Peca, Audette, and McKee. Talented all and none had issues with Nolan that I recall.

 

well, Satan may have, but those didn't seem to be related to *that* coach as much as it was coaches (and expectations) in general.

 

Just checked the stats -- Dominik's first year as a starter was Teddy's first year with the Sabres. Dom had 22 wins that year. The following year, which was TN's last year before getting canned, Dom had 37 wins and a .930 save %. So TN didn't really hold him back.

 

I was thinking more of getting along and buying in than doing well. Hasek would have done well regardless of the coach methinks.

 

I got one for you: Alexei Yashin. :P

 

So Nolan doesn't get along with Euros.

 

GRIGO WON"T THRIVE UNDER NOLAN! :P

Posted

Lafontaine wouldn't be the one firing Nolan anyway right?

 

Hopefully not.

 

And most of those vets were kids at one time that needed an opportunity to play through their growing pains. I still don't care about the Tropp-D'Agostini swap, but what if (and this is purely a what if, as I have no idea) future decisions follow the same reasoning? You can't continually trade higher ceilings for low ceiling low floor players and expect to legitimately compete for a Cup.

 

 

 

That's because Nolan's teams didn't really have any skill players ;)

 

Satan only played 12 regular and 7 playoff games under Nolan.

Posted

Did you guys hear Rick last night? He was really into that game. After Ennis scored to tie the game, not long later he made a play to get the puck to Girgensons who was all alone in front of the net. Rick was the loudest he's been in years on that call -- i felt like i was watching the 2006 playoffs. When a guy who's watched and commentated every game for 40 years recognizes the difference in the team, I think it'd be accurate to say this is a hard working team. finally.

Posted

I got one for you: Alexei Yashin. :P

 

Yashin played the exact same way under Nolan that he did under whoever coached him in Ottawa.

 

Stellar regular season player, invisible in the playoffs.

 

Only difference was the Isles gave him a ludicrous contract :blink:

Posted

Dom cough cough Dom.

 

While I agree 100%, does it really apply? Goalies are a breed completely different from skaters, and some of the greatest goalies in NHL history were ... Uhmm.... Odd.... To say the least, Dom included.

Posted

Are you just referring to the interim tag? I haven't noticed other signals from the organization indicating "every effort" to sell that fact to a new GM.

 

Well, they came out and explained why Ted had the interim in the title when he was named the head coach - it was so that the GM would have final say.

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