Wouldn't Enroth's have been higher then too? You can't make excuses for one of the goalies, but not the other. The both played behind the same team.
- HonkFortheGoose

Miller played more behind the "Rolston system" to start the season though as well.

Miller played more behind the "Rolston system" to start the season though as well.
- sbroads24

They still sucked under both coaches....

- Der Kaiser

That's about what I imagine the Buffalo Fan Alliance looks like. That or this:

Miller played more behind the "Rolston system" to start the season though as well.
- sbroads24

I'm still trying to figure out what exactly his system was. No luck so far.

I'm still trying to figure out what exactly his system was. No luck so far.
- jaumiller

The tank system

The tank system
- jochfr

Nolan is the tank system, Rolston was the "how badly can i screw this up so that everything by comparison looks great" system

Nolan is the tank system, Rolston was the "how badly can i screw this up so that everything by comparison looks great" system
- Sabresfan-365

It wasn't offensive hockey and it wasn't defensive hockey, honestly I'm not sure if it was hockey.

Nolan is the tank system, Rolston was the "how badly can i screw this up so that everything by comparison looks great" system
- Sabresfan-365

Is it though? I get what your point is but has Nolan ever tanked an NHL season? He's a slightly below .500 coach mainly due to this past season and has had 2 playoff berths with sub-par NHL talent. If anything Nolan's system is the "Get the most out of nothing" system

This is probably one of the best articles I have read on this site since I have been coming here. Insightful and realistic like others have said.

This team will not be as bad as before, but they will not be a surprise. I think that we will see an increase in goals scored and hopefully a cohesive defense. If the goalies are average, we will get 5-10 extra wins and the games will be entertaining to watch at the very least.

Is it though? I get what your point is but has Nolan ever tanked an NHL season? He's a slightly below .500 coach mainly due to this past season and has had 2 playoff berths with sub-par NHL talent. If anything Nolan's system is the "Get the most out of nothing" system
- sbroads24

But that is basically tanking with grace. The most out of nothing...is still little to nothing. That's why i gave rolston the "how badly can i screw it up" description. I bet if they hired Nolan after they fired darcy we'd be screaming for his firing mid way through like we did with Rolston/Regier.

Nolan may never intentionally tank a season, and he gets serious effort out of his players but that really only takes you so far.

Tank but not tank

Miller played more behind the "Rolston system" to start the season though as well.
- sbroads24

That's just an excuse. Neither goalie was the issue. So to point fingers at one and say he wasn't very good when the other one's numbers weren't all that different is ridiculous.

But that is basically tanking with grace. The most out of nothing...is still little to nothing. That's why i gave rolston the "how badly can i screw it up" description. I bet if they hired Nolan after they fired darcy we'd be screaming for his firing mid way through like we did with Rolston/Regier.

Nolan may never intentionally tank a season, and he gets serious effort out of his players but that really only takes you so far.
Tank but not tank
- Sabresfan-365

It's taken 2 different teams to the post season.

Mike Babcocks system here would be tanking as well if he was here.

Until Nolan has a talented team fall on their face, I can't by any means say he's a bad coach

That's just an excuse. Neither goalie was the issue. So to point fingers at one and say he wasn't very good when the other one's numbers weren't all that different is ridiculous.
- HonkFortheGoose

Of course not, but Miller did in fact stand on his head and actually win some games with that team last year, Enroth for as good as he looked sometimes, could never seal a win. That's the big difference between the two of them to me. Enroth doesn't know how to win

Even healthy Tyler Myers can only do so much with the group of forwards we have up front. And while Stewart may add some goals, I expect to be responsible for giving up just as many like Hodgson.

You're right, this is not last years team but it's still a pretty bad team. This years Calgary imo, 75-80 pts 3rd-6th last from the bottom.
- Sabresfan-365

Its better than being locked in dead last months before the season is over with little hope of getting out. Unless were talking draft picks though.

Of course not, but Miller did in fact stand on his head and actually win some games with that team last year, Enroth for as good as he looked sometimes, could never seal a win. That's the big difference between the two of them to me. Enroth doesn't know how to win
- sbroads24

Miller seems to be the type who "has to" stand on his head. Look what happened in St. Louis. Shots against went way down and he ended up slumping.

Miller seems to be the type who "has to" stand on his head. Look what happened in St. Louis. Shots against went way down and he ended up slumping.
- stashu

He started 7-1 with them though.

I know his numbers free fell, but so did the teams, I think they scored 6 total goals in their last 6 regular season games.

IMO he will end up a disaster in Vancouver anyway.... Vancouver is on their way down to the bottom sooner than later.


Edit: St. Louis scored 8 total goals in their final 8 games

He started 7-1 with them though.

I know his numbers free fell, but so did the teams, I think they scored 6 total goals in their last 6 regular season games.

IMO he will end up a disaster in Vancouver anyway.... Vancouver is on their way down to the bottom sooner than later.
- sbroads24

They lost their heart-and-soul guy in Kesler, in my opinion. I don't know how they will be considered any sort of contender in the west against Anaheim, LA, San Jose in their division. They must be hoping for 8th and a miracle.

Miller seems to be the type who "has to" stand on his head. Look what happened in St. Louis. Shots against went way down and he ended up slumping.
- stashu

He was perfectly fine until his entire team got injured.

Nolan is the tank system, Rolston was the "how badly can i screw this up so that everything by comparison looks great" system
- Sabresfan-365

I think this is pretty accurate.

It wasn't offensive hockey and it wasn't defensive hockey, honestly I'm not sure if it was hockey.
- jaumiller

I don't know how he ended up as our coach

Wouldn't Enroth's have been higher then too? You can't make excuses for one of the goalies, but not the other. The both played behind the same team.
- HonkFortheGoose

yeah, I believe his gaa would've been higher than 2.82...

miller's sv% was .923, a rather high number for a 2.72 gaa..

enroth's was .911

It wasn't offensive hockey and it wasn't defensive hockey, honestly I'm not sure if it was hockey.
- jaumiller

the hockey was just plain offensive to us fans

They lost their heart-and-soul guy in Kesler, in my opinion. I don't know how they will be considered any sort of contender in the west against Anaheim, LA, San Jose in their division. They must be hoping for 8th and a miracle.
- thatsapickle

They are dumb. They could have been in the McDavid hunt this season by moving another asset or 2 and not signing Miller. Now they look like they are just bad enough to miss the playoffs

It's taken 2 different teams to the post season.

Mike Babcocks system here would be tanking as well if he was here.

Until Nolan has a talented team fall on their face, I can't by any means say he's a bad coach
- sbroads24

They barely made the playoffs in 07 and goaltending + Jason Blake's un realistic career year helped out. They could have just easily been a 9th place disappointment.

And though I wasn't watching them, I can only conclude that 96-97 was all Hasek.


I get what you're saying and yes Babcock system probably would be tanking here as well but thats the point. When you're team is rebuilding there's no point in trying to force a system on them, they're just not talented enough. So you settle for getting a guy who can get effort out of them since the skill isn't there.

Edit: Not saying he's good/bad but more that he's the ideal coach for a team with very little talent and a gm who wants a high pick without ticking off the fans.

They barely made the playoffs in 07 and goaltending + Jason Blake's un realistic career year helped out. They could have just easily been a 9th place disappointment.

And though I wasn't watching them, I can only conclude that 96-97 was all Hasek.


I get what you're saying and yes Babcock system probably would be tanking here as well but thats the point. When you're team is rebuilding there's no point in trying to force a system on them, they're just not talented enough. So you settle for getting a guy who can get effort out of them since the skill isn't there.
- Sabresfan-365

Nolan has had a few guys have those uncharacteristic seasons under him. I wonder how much of a coincidence it really is