Laughton is OHL Player of Week

http://www.ontariohockeyl...ohl-player-of-week/149905

I'm surprised they didn't make this change at seasons end. They waited three games this year to make a move. That's kind of strange. I guess they were expecting different results.
- stveshdy

They gave Laviolette another shot at it. I can't kill them for that.

A coach once told me potential means you aren't good yet. Words to live by.
- PLindbergh31

Also a chance that you never reach that potential, which could hurt this club.

They gave Laviolette another shot at it. I can't kill them for that.
- MJL

Three games is a quick hook. They obviously lacked confidence in his ability to make this switch this fast. But it is what it is. I'll support the Flyers no matter what.

look most people, including myself, have been wanting this. We don't know what the chief can do, but it can't get much worse than what we've seen this season. Also if there are issues in the locker room he might be able to fix them faster.

Bottom line Lava had to go, he had lost the team dating back to last season. It was just a stupid move to not fire him at the end of last season. Why are people saying wow it took only 3 games, BS it's been building since last year. It's not like he only coached the Flyers for 3 games.

Also a chance that you never reach that potential, which could hurt this club.
- stveshdy

That's what they were counting on last season, and it killed them. They weren't counting on massive regression -- and they went all in on it again this season and have nothing to show for it after these three games.

look most people, including myself, have been wanting this. We don't know what the chief can do, but it can't get much worse than what we've seen this season. Also if there are issues in the locker room he might be able to fix them faster.

Bottom line Lava had to go, he had lost the team dating back to last season. It was just a stupid move to not fire him at the end of last season. Why are people saying wow it took only 3 games, BS it's been building since last year. It's not like he only coached the Flyers for 3 games.
- LJF

Winning cures a lot. The locker room never seems like a happy place when your losing.

I heard that. Tocchet is employed by Comcast, and while he's no shrinking violet, he's probably friends with Berube as they were teammates so I expected him to say good things about Berube.

Can Berube coach at the NHL level? Since he has no track record, no one knows the answer to that question. We are going to find out. I prefer Berube over Murray though if those were the choices.
- PLindbergh31

i initially was turned off by the news of his hiring, but someone, in all of the commentary today, said something that resonated w/ me- this was no snap decision to hire berube because nobody else was available. they had already contemplated making a move last yr and almost certainly had a plan in place. that gave the brass a long time to ruminate on the idea and when lavi couldn't revive this corpse, they made the move w/ confidence that a well thought out plan will give you. some people may not buy this idea, but it makes too much sense to me.

I'm surprised they didn't make this change at seasons end. They waited three games this year to make a move. That's kind of strange. I guess they were expecting different results.
- stveshdy

I didn't want Laviolette fired at the end of last season, so I can't go nuts that they didn't fire him then.

I do agree with some that the roster is somewhat overrated. It doesn't seem like the right mix. I hope Berube rights the ship. If the decision was made to fire Laviolette, I would have preferred they got rid of Holmgren and start fresh with Hextall.
Could have given Berube an interim tag, and if the team responded this year signed him to a contract. Now if you axe Holmgren and replace him with Hextall already he doesn't get to pick his own coach. A lot of what this franchise does makes little to no sense.

That's what they were counting on last season, and it killed them. They weren't counting on massive regression -- and they went all in on it again this season and have nothing to show for it after these three games.
- AllInForFlyers

It's still early. Players have time to develop still. Schenn and Couturier however might have been overrated on their ability. They still can be very good players but it may take some time still. They have the tools to be very good players for this team.

It's still early. Players have time to develop still. Schenn and Couturier however might have been overrated on their ability. They still can be very good players but it may take some time still. They have the tools to be very good players for this team.
- stveshdy

And that's the only reason I've been saying that the team needs scoring help. Because the young players simply haven't been able to replace the lost production, and this team is struggling to score without it.

I didn't want Laviolette fired at the end of last season, so I can't go nuts that they didn't fire him then.

I do agree with some that the roster is somewhat overrated. It doesn't seem like the right mix. I hope Berube rights the ship. If the decision was made to fire Laviolette, I would have preferred they got rid of Holmgren and start fresh with Hextall.
Could have given Berube an interim tag, and if the team responded this year signed him to a contract. Now if you axe Holmgren and replace him with Hextall already he doesn't get to pick his own coach. A lot of what this franchise does makes little to no sense.
- PLindbergh31

You make sense. I'm willing to see what happens with this team now. Hopefully the change in style helps them play to their strengths.

I didn't want Laviolette fired at the end of last season, so I can't go nuts that they didn't fire him then.

I do agree with some that the roster is somewhat overrated. It doesn't seem like the right mix. I hope Berube rights the ship. If the decision was made to fire Laviolette, I would have preferred they got rid of Holmgren and start fresh with Hextall.
Could have given Berube an interim tag, and if the team responded this year signed him to a contract. Now if you axe Holmgren and replace him with Hextall already he doesn't get to pick his own coach. A lot of what this franchise does makes little to no sense.
- PLindbergh31

If Holmgren gets fired, and Hextall takes over. He'll have the ability to fire Berube and put in place who he wants in there. Just because Berube has a 2 year deal, doesn't mean he's guaranteed those 2 years.

And that's the only reason I've been saying that the team needs scoring help. Because the young players simply haven't been able to replace the lost production, and this team is struggling to score without it.
- AllInForFlyers

I completely understand. Hopefully this teams change in style will help the offense out.

Laughton is OHL Player of Week

http://www.ontariohockeyl...ohl-player-of-week/149905
- ob18

And that's the only reason I've been saying that the team needs scoring help. Because the young players simply haven't been able to replace the lost production, and this team is struggling to score without it.
- AllInForFlyers

They have plenty of offensive ability on the Forward lines even if Couturier and Schenn don't score. They need to get better defensively, and raise their compete level, and they'll be able to score.

Winning cures a lot. The locker room never seems like a happy place when your losing.
- stveshdy

true and it also could be the team was just over Lava. It just seems like this team isn't a team. Hopefully there isn't an issue in the locker room, we will soon find out. Last year it seemed that there was an issue and I thought it was Bryz, so when they bought him out I thought that would help.

I didn't want Laviolette fired at the end of last season, so I can't go nuts that they didn't fire him then.

I do agree with some that the roster is somewhat overrated. It doesn't seem like the right mix. I hope Berube rights the ship. If the decision was made to fire Laviolette, I would have preferred they got rid of Holmgren and start fresh with Hextall.
Could have given Berube an interim tag, and if the team responded this year signed him to a contract. Now if you axe Holmgren and replace him with Hextall already he doesn't get to pick his own coach. A lot of what this franchise does makes little to no sense.
- PLindbergh31

hexy will fix that

They have plenty of offensive ability on the Forward lines even if Couturier and Schenn don't score. They need to get better defensively, and raise their compete level, and they'll be able to score.
- MJL

I think you both have great points. I do believe if you play better defense it causes other teams to make mistakes and allow you to counter with the offensive attack. This team will be better off playing this new style than the current imo.

true and it also could be the team was just over Lava. It just seems like this team isn't a team. Hopefully there isn't an issue in the locker room, we will soon find out. Last year it seemed that there was an issue and I thought it was Bryz, so when they bought him out I thought that would help.
- LJF

I think one sentence you posted, says it all. It seems like this team isn't a team. That's exactly right. I don't think there is an issue among the players in the room. There obviously was something with the Coach.

If Holmgren gets fired, and Hextall takes over. He'll have the ability to fire Berube and put in place who he wants in there. Just because Berube has a 2 year deal, doesn't mean he's guaranteed those 2 years.
- MJL

So if Holmgren gets fired in December, Hextall gets to fire Berube? Seems unlikely to me.

Hopefully it doesn't come to that. A fresh voice was needed, as the players had checked out on Laviolette.

true and it also could be the team was just over Lava. It just seems like this team isn't a team. Hopefully there isn't an issue in the locker room, we will soon find out. Last year it seemed that there was an issue and I thought it was Bryz, so when they bought him out I thought that would help.
- LJF

Hopefully they get this thing straightened out.

I think you both have great points. I do believe if you play better defense it causes other teams to make mistakes and allow you to counter with the offensive attack. This team will be better off playing this new style than the current imo.
- stveshdy

Adding more talent never hurts. But that is not what the issue is with this team. They simply don't play the right way, and they've gotten outworked. That's a deadly combination.

hunt the puck

So if Holmgren gets fired in December, Hextall gets to fire Berube? Seems unlikely to me.

Hopefully it doesn't come to that. A fresh voice was needed, as the players had checked out on Laviolette.
- PLindbergh31

I think that's a very unlikely scenario. I personally don't believe that Holmgren is in any danger. But yea, if Hextall takes over, it'll be his decision going forward.