Catching up
Feb 10, 2002 15:18:14 GMT -5
Post by seventeen on Feb 10, 2002 15:18:14 GMT -5
Yeesh, get busy for a few days and the whole world goes by. I taped both the Leafs/habs game from Saturday as well as the WHL/QMJHL Hershey Cup game, hoping to get some time to at least zip through. Not being a masochist, I ran through most of the Hershey cup game and will tape over the Leafs game. At least I caught most of the 1st period (at a tv shop in a mall) of that game. Enough to notice a few shortcomings (pun intended). I'm going to throw out an idea, and just wonder if anyone else agrees. If there's ever a case of teacher's pet, Therrien is guilty 17 times over. It seems to me he has his favourite players and they get the ice time. Now that's not necessarily bad, if those players are, like, your top guys. (again pun intended). But when they're the latest challenger for Mini me of the Year, one begins to question (I admit I'm well past the 'begin' stage) the common sense of the man.
Yesterday's loss was only one, in a reasonably good string of games, so why should I question MT's coaching? Well, firstly because most of the wins have been due, as always, to stellar goaltending. Secondly, he persists in making questionable moves, even after most of the HabsRus members have clearly laid out for him that we find them incomprehensible. I call as my first witness, Marc Labbe, who has given us numerous instances of strange behaviour...having good defensive players on the point of the power play, dressing the two least likely to succeed defensemen, in a game against a team with large, strong forwards, and then giving them a lions share of ice time.
Ok, I saw just the 1st period, (thankfully, because we were hammered in the 2nd) but it was obvious that Robidas and Bouillon were having problems in their own end. (Say, how tall is MT? Does he look up at Robidas and Bouillon, making them appear much larger than they are?) Granted, once Souray and PB return, we'll be in a better position to deal with T-O's forwards, but were the Habs Larger Defensemen having similar problems? I know, MT probably thinks that Robidas' and Bouillon's speed and puck handling will help them move the puck out quickly against the Leafs forechecking. If so, what the heck is he doing giving Bouillon (21.26) twice the ice time of Markov (10.31), and Robidas nearly 19 minutes. That's probably what's bugging me most (besides losing to T-O, which has to be up there with a prostate examination for least favourite activities), that if we're going to lose without even being in the game, why not do it with guys who are going to be the core of your team in 2 years time, not guys who are fringe players and who will never be other than fringe players.
Back to the handling of young players. Guys, I have to say that after that game, if we make the playoffs, it will be for no other reason than our goaltenders proving they're the very best in the world. It is so frustrating when we could easily cut down on the bullet holes in our shoes with some basic elementary coaching. I'm at the point where I'm praying that Ottawa gets eliminated in the 1st round, so we can pick up Jacques Martin. How can Andre be so sly in player appraisals and such a clod in coaching appraisals?
Ok, on to the Hershey Cup game. Yeah, let's start working on acquiring a high draft choice in the 2002 entry draft, to pick up PM Bouchard. Shades of Gretzky and Sakic. Light shades, but heck, he's only 17. Balej didn't seem to be putting out too great an effort, but he was recovering from that throat infection. His production since returning has slowed down, so I suspect he's still not fully recovered. Lots of speed. I suspect he's similar to Berezin, but a better passer and not as 'chunky'. Balej's not afraid to mix it up though. He got a minor for a tussle with a d-man, going for the puck near the crease, and recently, in the Dub, got two simultaneous spearing penalties. Spearing's not nice, but it does send a message.
Duncan Milroy is a better skater than I thought from reading various articles...don't think he needs to improve much in that category. Really fine hands. He collected a pass in the first period that was waist high and changing direction and doing strange things, all at once and managed to bring it down. Very nice hand eye coordination.
Maybe we should have a poll. 1) MT is doing a fine job. 2) MT ok, but has cost us 8 points. 3) Jose saving his butt. 4) Hire the fire hydrant....no the other fire hydrant.
Yesterday's loss was only one, in a reasonably good string of games, so why should I question MT's coaching? Well, firstly because most of the wins have been due, as always, to stellar goaltending. Secondly, he persists in making questionable moves, even after most of the HabsRus members have clearly laid out for him that we find them incomprehensible. I call as my first witness, Marc Labbe, who has given us numerous instances of strange behaviour...having good defensive players on the point of the power play, dressing the two least likely to succeed defensemen, in a game against a team with large, strong forwards, and then giving them a lions share of ice time.
Ok, I saw just the 1st period, (thankfully, because we were hammered in the 2nd) but it was obvious that Robidas and Bouillon were having problems in their own end. (Say, how tall is MT? Does he look up at Robidas and Bouillon, making them appear much larger than they are?) Granted, once Souray and PB return, we'll be in a better position to deal with T-O's forwards, but were the Habs Larger Defensemen having similar problems? I know, MT probably thinks that Robidas' and Bouillon's speed and puck handling will help them move the puck out quickly against the Leafs forechecking. If so, what the heck is he doing giving Bouillon (21.26) twice the ice time of Markov (10.31), and Robidas nearly 19 minutes. That's probably what's bugging me most (besides losing to T-O, which has to be up there with a prostate examination for least favourite activities), that if we're going to lose without even being in the game, why not do it with guys who are going to be the core of your team in 2 years time, not guys who are fringe players and who will never be other than fringe players.
Back to the handling of young players. Guys, I have to say that after that game, if we make the playoffs, it will be for no other reason than our goaltenders proving they're the very best in the world. It is so frustrating when we could easily cut down on the bullet holes in our shoes with some basic elementary coaching. I'm at the point where I'm praying that Ottawa gets eliminated in the 1st round, so we can pick up Jacques Martin. How can Andre be so sly in player appraisals and such a clod in coaching appraisals?
Ok, on to the Hershey Cup game. Yeah, let's start working on acquiring a high draft choice in the 2002 entry draft, to pick up PM Bouchard. Shades of Gretzky and Sakic. Light shades, but heck, he's only 17. Balej didn't seem to be putting out too great an effort, but he was recovering from that throat infection. His production since returning has slowed down, so I suspect he's still not fully recovered. Lots of speed. I suspect he's similar to Berezin, but a better passer and not as 'chunky'. Balej's not afraid to mix it up though. He got a minor for a tussle with a d-man, going for the puck near the crease, and recently, in the Dub, got two simultaneous spearing penalties. Spearing's not nice, but it does send a message.
Duncan Milroy is a better skater than I thought from reading various articles...don't think he needs to improve much in that category. Really fine hands. He collected a pass in the first period that was waist high and changing direction and doing strange things, all at once and managed to bring it down. Very nice hand eye coordination.
Maybe we should have a poll. 1) MT is doing a fine job. 2) MT ok, but has cost us 8 points. 3) Jose saving his butt. 4) Hire the fire hydrant....no the other fire hydrant.
HA