Article on Sylvain Lefebvre

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Jun 2, 2015 10:21:42 GMT -5 Gogie said:

Jun 2, 2015 10:09:41 GMT -5 Disgruntled70sHab said:

Trying to follow the thread the best I can ... what I'm reading is that, the Bulldogs have been a losing franchise since Sylvain Lefebvre took over ... I'm also reading that this is because Lefebvre is more concerned about developing NHL-ready players than he is about winning ... it's the first time I've heard of that and, honestly, if I were a fan and I am asked to believe that a losing franchise is the cost of developing NHL-ready players, I wouldn't hesitate at spending my entertainment dollar elsewhere ... hence, I don't know why the Bulldogs are moving, but why would I pay to see a loser ... having said that, they do have talent, at least that's what I've been reading from folks on this website, as well ... however, while that talent in Hamilton allowed a respectable 208 GA, they still only scored 201 times ... while those numbers aren't identical to what the parent club did (GF 221, GA 189), could they be indictative of similar coaching styles ... and if they are indicative of coaching styles then what is different between the two clubs ... why is Montreal winning and why is Hamilton losing ...

Cheers.

Just a thought, but maybe other NHL teams are more interested in developing players in the AHL than "systems". And maybe the "players" win more than "systems" at that level.

Thanks Gogie ... I guess it's just a hard sell for me, is all ... if this is the case, I'd probably spend money on Major Junior A hockey ... I remember reading somewhere that Grand Rapids uses a similar style to what their parent club uses in Detroit ... GR coach, Jeff Blashill won the Calder Cup in his first year with the club and he was also one of Mike Babcock's assistant coaches with the Red Wings ... here's what Tomas Tatar said of his former coach in GR ... ""He's a great coach," Tatar told the Red Wings website. "He's helping the team a lot. I think it's a really similar school to what we're doing here. It's a similar system, so guys are coming up here really ready..." maybe Sylvain Lefebvre is trying to emulate the same system Michel Therrien is using in Montreal, I really don't know ... in contrast, Grand Rapids is a winning franchise while the (former) Hamilton Bulldogs aren't ... is it the system that's flawed ... is it the lack of talent ... or is it Lefebvre ...

Cheers.

edit: here's the link to the quote ...

[seventeen]

Good points NWT.

Dis, with regard to your post, there are many things that go into a won-loss record. Talent, systems, coaching etc. While I wouldn't go so far as to say that the correlation between not making the playoffs and Lefebvre running the team is anywhere near 1.0, it has to be a factor. The talent level on the team has gone up since his first year. Perhaps its the system? If we assume he's using the same chip and chase style as the Habs (which Berg and Therrien have confirmed that for consistency, the two teams use the same system), then I'd certainly place a good chunk of the scoring woes on that system. The question of why we use it is a different topic for a different thread.

[Willie Dog]

Jun 2, 2015 10:41:54 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

Under Lefebvre, they have not even come close to making the playoffs (although this year it looked possible for a while, but they had dug too deep a hole at the end).

With their anemic offense and terrible PP, they are mimicking the Habs far too much. While some players are developing and making it when they transition to the Habs, how much of that is on the player rather than the coaching environment that they were receiving in Hamilton? Although the Dogs never had a Carey Price caliber goalie, both Tokarski and Condon had numbers that were very good, even moreso considering how bad the team's records were.

Bergevin did add some AHL veteran presence during Lefebvre's three years in Hamilton, but none of them seemed to pan out quite as expected. TJ Hensick and Drayson Bowman should have been a great addition to the team last year that helped the offense win enough games, but they both stuttered at times. That has been the trend with the vets in Hamilton under this current regime.

There are two forwards heading St. John's way this fall that represent the best of our forward prospects: Scherbak and McCarron. My hope is that they continue to develop and don't take any steps back. They both have developed in good two-way systems (with Kevin Constantine and DJ Smith who both preach solid defensive awareness in their games), so they will be schooled in that style of game. And then there is Jarred Tinordi, who seems to struggle with confidence for stretches and I am sure the "make or break" feeling that must be creeping in cannot be helping him get over that confidence hump. That is where good development coaching comes in...or not.

The move to Newfoundland represents a fresh start...but not behind the bench.

There is a lot at stake now between Scherbak, McCarron and Tinordi.

I agree, Lefebvre needs to be on a short leash IMO. With the three guys you mention above they could be our 1st line right winger, our 2nd line centre and our #4 Dman (I have a dream of Subban-Beau and Petry-Tinordi).

I also have a dream of Galchenyuk, McCarron & Eller as our players down the middle.