Moving away from a "player's coach" to a "disciplinarian" was part of making the move from Stevens "Easy bake oven" to Lavy "dry Island". Maybe I'm mistaken.
- JoeRussomanno

It was, athough I dont think the organization ever said so publically.

I have a real personal thing against Stevens, and despise the guy. A lot of the trends that I think failed the team, mainly being the inconsistency grew on the young players under his tenture.

He let the bad trends continue, did minimal things to stop them, and its partly why I believe Richards/Carter are not on the current squad. Its also a reason why I want Lava gone, I dont want these trends to be built again.

The "we did a lot of good things out there" was the Stevens calling card.

Is the coach safe?
- stveshdy

Nope, I'd still want to seriously consider replacing him.

I don't want a "scheme" guy, I want a coach that will look at the talent on the roster and game plan accordingly. One who will look at the opposing team and adjust the strategy for the game. Laviolette has shown either an unwillingness or inability to adjust to what other.

I have no real issue with a "retread". Joel Quenneville was a retread when hired by the Blackhawks. Claude Julien was a retread when he went to Boston. Darryl Sutter was a retread when he replaced Murray in LA. I'd love a younger, even unproven coach getting a chance to make his bones, but ultimately, I just want a guy who will coach what he has on his roster.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Laviolette stay, but over the past 3 years, I have seen the performance level of his team dip and I find myself second guessing him often, in terms of adjustments, usage of players and strategy. I hate the way he handled Bobrovsky and now Couturier and I have serious concerns about having to make a change in season next year.
- Jsaquella

Lindy Ruff then? minus the gm title.

I'm not basing my desire to see him gone off this season alone. I'm looking at the entire body of work.
- Jsaquella

The team played better down the stretch. The players didn't quit on him. I'm curious to see what Holmgren decides to do. I just think he will use the "injury" excuse to give Lavi another year.

A perfect example of what I would kind of like them to stay away from is Trotz.

I've seen stuff over the internet that Nashville is looking at a big evaluation and possible culture change. Trotz has been a constant for a while now, and there have been farts in the wind about him possibly being let go.

I like Trotz, and I do believe he could get the crew to play a more 60 minute game, but imo a guy like that is just as one dimensional as Lava is reported to be.
- flyer_nutter

plus, I want my coach to have a neck.

Know whats weird though? There has been talk, and even at times it seems they have tuned him out.

Yet it seems every one of those damn timeouts lights a fire under their ass.
- flyer_nutter

The timeouts have been less effective over the last few years.

It's not that I think Laviolette's a bad coach, just that he's no longer the right coach for this team.

Lindy Ruff then? minus the gm title.

- JoeRussomanno

Nah, I kind of don't want a NHL retread. I'm kind of down to Greg Ireland of Owen Sound or Dallas Eakins of the Toronto Marlies.

I don't want a "scheme" guy, I want a coach that will look at the talent on the roster and game plan accordingly. One who will look at the opposing team and adjust the strategy for the game. Laviolette has shown either an unwillingness or inability to adjust to what other.

I have no real issue with a "retread". Joel Quenneville was a retread when hired by the Blackhawks. Claude Julien was a retread when he went to Boston. Darryl Sutter was a retread when he replaced Murray in LA. I'd love a younger, even unproven coach getting a chance to make his bones, but ultimately, I just want a guy who will coach what he has on his roster.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Laviolette stay, but over the past 3 years, I have seen the performance level of his team dip and I find myself second guessing him often, in terms of adjustments, usage of players and strategy. I hate the way he handled Bobrovsky and now Couturier and I have serious concerns about having to make a change in season next year.
- Jsaquella

My thing is this. There is no real proof, but I do not believe the organization gives coaches much room to go with a youth movement, or really bench highly paid "proven" veterans.

In terms of setting a style of play that better suits the players on hand, I dont think Lava really does well there definately. That also falls on the organization on bringing in a guy who is a known aggressive minded coach, and giving him a D that cant handle that style of play. There are many coaches in the league that fall and die on their style of play I think. Again though, I do believe its time to move on.

Thanks for all the great blobs this year, Bill. Each and every one of them has made dealing with this lousy season just a bit easier.
- FlyerGuy

First time viewer of your blog as I am a big Oiler fan and follow Cloutier every day but I must say .your blog was tremendous as to the amount of information you provided on the Flyers. Great Job

Nah, I kind of don't want a NHL retread. I'm kind of down to Greg Ireland of Owen Sound or Dallas Eakins of the Toronto Marlies.
- ob18

Just for (frank)s sake please no Vigneault or Sacco.

Lindy Ruff then? minus the gm title.

- JoeRussomanno

I, personally, don't think Ruff is that good a coach. As far as retreads, I'd prefer a guy like Murray, who has a strong rep as a teacher and as a guy whose teams are sound defensively and can also score.

In 15 years as a NHL head coach, Murray's teams finished in the top ten in the NHL in goals scored 12 times. He's not a defense-only coach, he's a guy who can adjust to what he has on the roster.

That's what I want, a guy who isn;t married to a system or scheme. I want a guy who can adjust if he's got a slow plodding defense or 6 TJ Brennan's

Ugh I just hate that guy haha

First time viewer of your blog as I am a big Oiler fan and follow Cloutier every day but I must say .your blog was tremendous as to the amount of information you provided on the Flyers. Great Job
- aaglass

we are certainly blessed to have Bill over here.

I, personally, don't think Ruff is that good a coach. As far as retreads, I'd prefer a guy like Murray, who has a strong rep as a teacher and as a guy whose teams are sound defensively and can also score.

In 15 years as a NHL head coach, Murray's teams finished in the top ten in the NHL in goals scored 12 times. He's not a defense-only coach, he's a guy who can adjust to what he has on the roster.

That's what I want, a guy who isn;t married to a system or scheme. I want a guy who can adjust if he's got a slow plodding defense or 6 TJ Brennan's
- Jsaquella

Know my biggest issue with Murray?

He had all the talent in the world in LA, but it took a new guy to finally get them to bring it all together. Murray may have set the ground work, but it took somebody else. He had LA flirting with inconsistency for a long time, when they should have been much better. I dont like that.

My thing is this. There is no real proof, but I do not believe the organization gives coaches much room to go with a youth movement, or really bench highly paid "proven" veterans.

In terms of setting a style of play that better suits the players on hand, I dont think Lava really does well there definately. That also falls on the organization on bringing in a guy who is a known aggressive minded coach, and giving him a D that cant handle that style of play. There are many coaches in the league that fall and die on their style of play I think. Again though, I do believe its time to move on.
- flyer_nutter

It has nothing to do with a youth movement, though. He played Bobrovsky 58 games as a rookie, then buried him behind Boucher and Leighton after twenty minutes of playoff hockey.

Couturier is seem by the organization as an untouchable cornerstone, but the coach has used him almost exclusively for two years with 4th line grinders and goons. Bumping him up to better linemates isn;t a youth movement.

As for player personnel, yes, Holmgren failed to get Laviolette players that fit his system. That happens. And when it happens, the coach has to adjust to fit what he has on hand.

On paper, the Flyers had enough talent to be a playoff team. Not a top 3 seed, but definitely should have been between 5-8.

Know my biggest issue with Murray?

He had all the talent in the world in LA, but it took a new guy to finally get them to bring it all together. Murray may have set the ground work, but it took somebody else. He had LA flirting with inconsistency for a long time, when they should have been much better. I dont like that.
- flyer_nutter

The GM has alot of big decisions to make this summer.

Nah, I kind of don't want a NHL retread. I'm kind of down to Greg Ireland of Owen Sound or Dallas Eakins of the Toronto Marlies.
- ob18

On a serious note tho, it'll be 10 years since his passing this June. Rip coach.

Know my biggest issue with Murray?

He had all the talent in the world in LA, but it took a new guy to finally get them to bring it all together. Murray may have set the ground work, but it took somebody else. He had LA flirting with inconsistency for a long time, when they should have been much better. I dont like that.
- flyer_nutter

The same thing happened with the 2010 Flyers. They flipped the switch and went on their run.

The Kings also made a couple TDL deals that added more firepower to the lineup, and solidfied them.

I, personally, don't think Ruff is that good a coach. As far as retreads, I'd prefer a guy like Murray, who has a strong rep as a teacher and as a guy whose teams are sound defensively and can also score.

In 15 years as a NHL head coach, Murray's teams finished in the top ten in the NHL in goals scored 12 times. He's not a defense-only coach, he's a guy who can adjust to what he has on the roster.

That's what I want, a guy who isn;t married to a system or scheme. I want a guy who can adjust if he's got a slow plodding defense or 6 TJ Brennan's
- Jsaquella

I'd be ok with it. However what about making him assistant and bringing in one of the new guys Ob mentioned?

It has nothing to do with a youth movement, though. He played Bobrovsky 58 games as a rookie, then buried him behind Boucher and Leighton after twenty minutes of playoff hockey.

Couturier is seem by the organization as an untouchable cornerstone, but the coach has used him almost exclusively for two years with 4th line grinders and goons. Bumping him up to better linemates isn;t a youth movement.

As for player personnel, yes, Holmgren failed to get Laviolette players that fit his system. That happens. And when it happens, the coach has to adjust to fit what he has on hand.

On paper, the Flyers had enough talent to be a playoff team. Not a top 3 seed, but definitely should have been between 5-8.
- Jsaquella

Yup. The player management is where Lava falls the most for me. To go along with that though, I really hope however the next guy is the organization gives them the ability to bench highly paid star players, and accepts that doing so might hurt their playoff chances. Yet it will pay off in the long run. I dont think that is the case now.

I wonder if they would roll with Berube at all?

I know the stench of Paddock still lingers, I pray he doesnt get to even talk to the team.

I'd be ok with it. However what about making him assistant and bringing in one of the new guys Ob mentioned?
- JoeRussomanno

My first choice was Jon Cooper. My second choice is Eakins, followed by Steve Spott. I like him a little more than Ireland.

I'd also be OK with Guy Boucher, Tom Renney or a handful of other retreads, not named Murray. I'm not stumping for Murray, but he's an easy example who is at hand.

Yup. The player management is where Lava falls the most for me. To go along with that though, I really hope however the next guy is the organization gives them the ability to bench highly paid star players, and accepts that doing so might hurt their playoff chances. Yet it will pay off in the long run. I dont think that is the case now.

I wonder if they would roll with Berube at all?

I know the stench of Paddock still lingers, I pray he doesnt get to even talk to the team.
- flyer_nutter

I don't want Paddock as head coach. No issues with him as an assistant. I also have no desire to see Berube as head coach.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: The Raleigh Romp, Fedotenko, Hall, Sunday Quick Hits
- bmeltzer

great blog
really interesting outline of the eriksson situation

With all the talk of changes, throughout the lineup and coaching staff.

I wouldnt for one second be suprised to see them stick with basically the same crew for next year.

THAT could be frustrating.

My first choice was Jon Cooper. My second choice is Eakins, followed by Steve Spott. I like him a little more than Ireland.

I'd also be OK with Guy Boucher, Tom Renney or a handful of other retreads, not named Murray. I'm not stumping for Murray, but he's an easy example who is at hand.
- Jsaquella

I like Spott, I selected Ireland over him because he has 6 years head coaching experience in the AHL and that for me gives him the edge over Spott who has spent all his time in the OHL with the last 5 as head coaching since he took over for Peter DeBoer.