Out of Town 2018/2019

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Mar 1, 2019 10:37:43 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

The gong show in Ottawa continues.

Another team in full rebuild mode ... well, good luck to both Guy Boucher and Marc Crawford ... I remember everyone and their dog (myself included) wanting Boucher as our next head coach, but my opinion has changed of him over the years ... as interim HC, Crawford has a golden opportunity to develop a team right from scratch ... the question for me, though, is how long will Senator's fans take the uncertainty ... they don't need the drama and neither does the city ...

Cheers.

[blny]

Gotta feel for Boucher. Crawford? Really? I just don't see the point in an interim head coach in this mess. Let Boucher finish the year at least.

[jkr]

Melnyk tells Dorion to tear the team down. Dorion screws up royally by keeping the 1st rounder last year instead of 2019. He had to know what was coming & yet he did that anyway. How does he sell that to the fans? Maybe the fans should put out their own set of bullet points outlining what they want in an owner & GM

Melnyk & Dorion make Molson & Bergevin look great by comparison.

[Tankdriver]

Mar 1, 2019 12:06:23 GMT -5 jkr said:

Melnyk tells Dorion to tear the team down. Dorion screws up royally by keeping the 1st rounder last year instead of 2019. He had to know what was coming & yet he did that anyway. How does he sell that to the fans? Maybe the fans should put out their own set of bullet points outlining what they want in an owner & GM

Melnyk & Dorion make Molson & Bergevin look great by comparison.

I think that's unfair on Dorion. First, he had great options at #4 and Tkachuk isn't a bad player and if Montreal didn't take Kotkaniemi what's to say the Sens wouldn't have? Second, Ottawa isn't guaranteed to pick 1st. The have only 1 in 5 chance to land #1 overall. Off the top of my hear I think only the Leafs finished last and picked first in the past few years. Third, I think the Sens has a pretty good team up until they started trading Hoffman away. Think about it: Hoffman, Karlsson, Stone, Duchesne, Dzingle. These guys are not scrubs. If they went out and got a goalie and maybe another defenceman, I think they could of made noise this year if they kept everyone at the beginning. Even if they didn't finish in the playoffs, I think they would of been around Montreal territory meaning that pick isn't that great.

[BadCompany]

Mar 1, 2019 12:24:48 GMT -5 Tankdriver said:

I think that's unfair on Dorion. First, he had great options at #4 and Tkachuk isn't a bad player and if Montreal didn't take Kotkaniemi what's to say the Sens wouldn't have? Second, Ottawa isn't guaranteed to pick 1st. The have only 1 in 5 chance to land #1 overall. Off the top of my hear I think only the Leafs finished last and picked first in the past few years. Third, I think the Sens has a pretty good team up until they started trading Hoffman away. Think about it: Hoffman, Karlsson, Stone, Duchesne, Dzingle. These guys are not scrubs. If they went out and got a goalie and maybe another defenceman, I think they could of made noise this year if they kept everyone at the beginning. Even if they didn't finish in the playoffs, I think they would of been around Montreal territory meaning that pick isn't that great.

Yeah I agree. Giving up a 4th overall because "we're going to be worse next year" is not only a terrible message to send to your fans and players, but a risky gamble in and of itself. I thought the Senators would be bad... but absolutely worst in the NHL? I didn't think they would be that bad. It would have been quite the mistake to give up the 4th overall, and then see them drafting say 10th this year.

They gambled, and they lost. But I think it was a pretty safe gamble to take.

[jkr]

Dorion traded his best player (Karlsson) at the beginning of the season & than Hoffman soon after. And given Melnyk's reputation for frugality did he really think he was going to sign any of his UFAs - Dzingel, Duchene or Stone?

I don't think the Senators worry about the messages they send to their fans. Melnyk has made statements in the past about moving the team. The proposed deal for a new stadium looks like it has fallen through. One more statement about how bad the team would play is just more of the same for Sens fans.

[franko]

Mar 1, 2019 10:37:43 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

The gong show in Ottawa continues.

except . . . this was the plan from the beginning. to be honest, I'm surprised Boucher lasted as long as he did.

Mar 1, 2019 11:20:01 GMT -5 blny said:

Gotta feel for Boucher. Crawford? Really? I just don't see the point in an interim head coach in this mess. Let Boucher finish the year at least.

he's probably just as happy to go home, cash his cheques, and be rid of the place.

Mar 1, 2019 12:24:48 GMT -5 Tankdriver said:

I think the Sens has a pretty good team up until they started trading Hoffman away. Think about it: Hoffman, Karlsson, Stone, Duchesne, Dzingle.

unfortunately, the situation between Hoffman and Karlsson meant that that wasn't going to happen. what I don't understand is that if they were going to trade EK anyway (and it certainly appears that was going to happen, from the day he said he wanted Doughty money) why trade Hoff?

they were a bad team that got worse as the season progressed.

there is hope here . . . but only that Bettman will step in and force Melnyk to sell. as if.

[franko]

Mar 1, 2019 14:50:56 GMT -5 jkr said:

Dorion traded his best player (Karlsson) at the beginning of the season & than Hoffman soon after. And given Melnyk's reputation for frugality did he really think he was going to sign any of his UFAs - Dzingel, Duchene or Stone?

I don't think the Senators worry about the messages they send to their fans. Melnyk has made statements in the past about moving the team. The proposed deal for a new stadium looks like it has fallen through. One more statement about how bad the team would play is just more of the same for Sens fans.

Hoffman was traded first.

The arena project is a bust, as Melnyk is suing his partner and is being counter-sued.

Bettman won't want the team to move; there's too much money in expansion fees to lose.

Best option: NHL expands, Melnyk takes the money and runs, sells the team (or the NHL takes over a la Arizona), and new ownership brings people back to the stands.

I hear a lot of "Ottawa doesn't deserve a team if they won't go to the games" from outside the city, but really, do we expect people to go? an arena not quite as far out as 'Zona's and an owner who makes Harold Ballard look like Sammy Pollock (who I know wasn't an owner, c'mon )


some are calling for a boycott of the Habs on this board; we're bit ticked off but it's nothing in Montreal like it is in Ottawa.

[blny]

www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/garrioch-sens-give-boucher-a-tongue-lashing-on-the-way-out%7E1624832

[folatre]

It is unfortunate that St. Louis has a big division game tomorrow against Dallas because tonight instead of facing Binnington Carolina gets to fire rubber at Jake Allen.

[jkr]

Pitt was trailing Buffalo until the Sabres got a double minor. Pens score twice & lead 3-2 after two.

Letang, Dumoulin & Maatta all out tonight. Not sure about tomorrow.

[folatre]

I may be wrong, jkr, but I think I heard that all of those guys are out for at least a few more days. Rust is out for awhile too.

The thing that scares me about the Penguins, as you referenced tonight, is special teams. I could see them go 2-4 on the power play tomorrow and the Habs go 0-4 and right there an outcome of 60 minutes of hockey could be decided.

[jkr]

Pens lose in OT on a disputed goal that looked offside to me but was allowed.

[jkr]

Canes leading by 2 with 3 minutes left in the 3rd.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

[seventeen]

The immediate thought was that this opens up the possiblity of signing Markov, subject to clearing waivers, which is likely. Id like to see that, but given Bergevin's pride, there's no way that happens. It would be a very smart move, though.

[folatre]

Seventeen, you are right on both counts. It would be an astute, low risk move. Bergevin would probably activate himself or one his buddies (Daigneault or Lefebvre) for the home stretch push before he would call Markov.

Good battle tonight in Columbus. There is a great deal of intensity in this one.

[Willie Dog]

Mar 3, 2019 21:17:31 GMT -5 folatre said:

Seventeen, you are right on both counts. It would be an astute, low risk move. Bergevin would probably activate himself or one his buddies (Daigneault or Lefebvre) for the home stretch push before he would call Markov.

Good battle tonight in Columbus. There is a great deal of intensity in this one.

MB would only sign a journeyman NHL d man from overseas... because he thinks they're great... just like he was.

Mete-Weber
Markov-Petry

[Willie Dog]

Mar 3, 2019 21:17:31 GMT -5 folatre said:

Good battle tonight in Columbus. There is a great deal of intensity in this one.

Jets win 5-2... this Cali tour is crucial... win all 3 or your done

[folatre]

Huge victory (loss) tonight for Winnipeg (Columbus). The game was intense throughout and borderline nasty at times. Wheeler with four goals. Beaulieu played on the second pair, two assists and +3. Sure it is on the player to approach professional hockey with some degree of professionalism, but one cannot help but wonder if the early formative years with Lefebvre, Therrien and Daigneault as one's coaches was less than optimal.

[jkr]

What must Columbus management be thinking. They go all in on making the playoffs. Keep Bobrovsky & Panarin & trade for Duchene, Dzingel & McQuaid. How does the team respond? With two straight losses by a combined score of 9-2.

[jkr]

Mar 1, 2019 11:20:01 GMT -5 blny said:

Gotta feel for Boucher. Crawford? Really? I just don't see the point in an interim head coach in this mess. Let Boucher finish the year at least.

Heard an interesting take from Doug McLean on this. He was speculating that it has something to do with the 1st rounder that is now in the hands of Colorado. If the Sens finish last & that pick ends up #1 overall it's a huge embarassment for Ottawa. Maybe firing the coach gives the team a bit of jump over the last month & they climb a little in the standings.

[blny]

Mar 4, 2019 11:39:42 GMT -5 jkr said:

Mar 1, 2019 11:20:01 GMT -5 blny said:

Gotta feel for Boucher. Crawford? Really? I just don't see the point in an interim head coach in this mess. Let Boucher finish the year at least.

Heard an interesting take from Doug McLean on this. He was speculating that it has something to do with the 1st rounder that is now in the hands of Colorado. If the Sens finish last & that pick ends up #1 overall it's a huge embarassment for Ottawa. Maybe firing the coach gives the team a bit of jump over the last month & they climb a little in the standings.

Even last overall, aren't the odds 1 in 5 that they actually get the first overall pick?

Ted Lindsay passed away today at 93. Every player owes him a huge debt.

[folatre]

Ottawa, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Edmonton, and Anaheim will not be the only teams looking for a Head Coach this spring/summer, no?

Phil Housley cannot possibly have a job next season. His Sabres team play with no structure at all. And one has to wonder about Bob Boughner. Every time I watch a portion of a Panthers game I am struck by how disengaged the players look.

[CentreHice]

Mar 4, 2019 21:29:16 GMT -5 folatre said:

Ottawa, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Edmonton, and Anaheim will not be the only teams looking for a Head Coach this spring/summer, no?

Phil Housley cannot possibly have a job next season. His Sabres team play with no structure at all. And one has to wonder about Bob Boughner. Every time I watch a portion of a Panthers game I am struck by how disengaged the players look.

And with the reported scathing player-reviews Boucher received upon his exit from Ottawa, he might not be among the replacement candidates.

A case to be made for being "too intense"?

[blny]

We'll have to see if anyone tries to poach Ducharme or Richardson. It's been a while since a rookie coach came right up from junior hockey. Might be time again for new blood from outside "the club".

[CentreHice]

Mar 5, 2019 7:35:07 GMT -5 blny said:

We'll have to see if anyone tries to poach Ducharme or Richardson. It's been a while since a rookie coach came right up from junior hockey. Might be time again for new blood from outside "the club".

Julien's under contract til 2021-22. If there's an inkling of an extension for him, Ducharme will be gone sooner than later. Even if Julien isn't going to be extended, we'll have to give Ducharme an "incentive deal" to stick around for 3 seasons. He needs a big carrot.

Gallant was poached, but I don't think he's bilingual. We have to retain the good ones in that category.

There's always Bouchard in Laval, I suppose. How's he working out?

[jkr]

Mar 4, 2019 21:29:16 GMT -5 folatre said:

Ottawa, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Edmonton, and Anaheim will not be the only teams looking for a Head Coach this spring/summer, no?

Phil Housley cannot possibly have a job next season. His Sabres team play with no structure at all. And one has to wonder about Bob Boughner. Every time I watch a portion of a Panthers game I am struck by how disengaged the players look.

I think Buffalo ownership moved too fast on management. They gave Tim Murray & Dan Bylsma only two seasons & turfed them. As for Florida, I always have the same question. How can the league look at the dismal attendance & think that it is sustainable?

[blny]

Mar 5, 2019 9:24:28 GMT -5 CentreHice said:

Mar 5, 2019 7:35:07 GMT -5 blny said:

We'll have to see if anyone tries to poach Ducharme or Richardson. It's been a while since a rookie coach came right up from junior hockey. Might be time again for new blood from outside "the club".

Julien's under contract til 2021-22. If there's an inkling of an extension for him, Ducharme will be gone sooner than later. Even if Julien isn't going to be extended, we'll have to give Ducharme an "incentive deal" to stick around for 3 seasons. He needs a big carrot.

Gallant was poached, but I don't think he's bilingual. We have to retain the good ones in that category.

There's always Bouchard in Laval, I suppose. How's he working out?

I'm not sure how long Gallant's contract with Montreal was. Hired in 2012, left around the draft in 2014.

Ducharme's pedigree and success will attract a lot of suitors. If I were him, I'd have wanted to get an idea of the succession plan when initially interviewed. Both sides have to know there's a clear track for him to be the hc somewhere at some point.

I think Bouchard has done about as well as one can expect with what he has. The club is 24-25-5-4 through 58 games. That's second worst in the division, and tied for 4th worst overall. Their gaa, at 171 goals against, is pretty good. Goals for is only 154, and that's the problem. The roster was pillaged early in the season when guys like Agostino and Chaput were called up. Evans has had a nice first year, and my expectation is that Suzuki will be with him next year. Maybe Poehling. That should greatly up the skill level and hopefully goals for totals.

That said, I see Bouchard as more of a front office hire. He's coaching, but he's in charge of the whole Laval organization. That's the area I see him being groomed for, and most interested in. If he was on the coaching track, I think he'd have been behind the Montreal bench instead of Richardson.

[BadCompany]

I'm still in the "show-me" phase, when it comes to Bouchard. To me he seemed more like a PR hire than anything else. As in, let's get both him and Ducharme, the only two bilingual coaches currently available.

Ducharme at least has a pedigree, with several Junior championships under his belt and a history of coaching top talent. Bouchard? His main talent seems to be the willingness to yell at people, which as I have voiced my concerns over before, doesn't necessarily seem like the best approach to today's kids. He doesn't have a great history of junior league success, nor does he have a lot of former players currently in the NHL. Laval certainly isn't doing much better under him in the standings then they were under Lefevbre. So I'm waiting for his great coaching prowess to show itself.

Now having said that, you gotta have the players. And Laval certainly doesn't have that, and perhaps none of his junior teams were blessed with great talent either, hence the somewhat mediocre record. Chicken or egg I suppose. Did he get the most out of mediocre players, or was he not able to take them to the next level?

We shall see. As you said, next year he should have an infusion of young talent in Suzuki, Poehling, a slew of defensemen, and perhaps a Finn or two. So it's on that we will judge him. If those guys thrive, and start climbing levels, then we maybe we can start worrying about some other NHL team poaching him.