The term used was get better and improve
- MJL

I'd say becoming a top-pair player would be both getting better and improving in his case.

Norris trophy for sure, right about the same season that Straka takes the Art Ross, Cousins the Hart and Alderson the Selke.
- BiggE

Why so negative chum?

I'm not a great fan of Berube's passive approach behind the bench, where you "don't get results by yelling at a guy".

There are guys who respond to a pep talk, and there are guys who respond to a coach getting in their face. Some guys even respond to a coach getting in someone else's face. The trick is figuring out who's who.
- tangent_man

Not sure how any of us know what Berube's approach is behind the bench.

Why so negative chum?

- mayorofangrytown

WE DON'T LIKE YER KINDA OPTIMISM ROUND ERE!

Not sure how any of us know what Berube's approach is behind the bench.
- MJL

It's quite visible 82+ times a year. He usually walks out of the dressing room, makes a 90 degree turn, and proceeds to stand for the most part, sometimes slightly shifting or slowly changing his footing, relaying information to players and assistants as he sees fit.

I disagree that Berube has a system tailored towards one type of player. Berube's system and style of play is very similar to what the top teams in the League play. Versus Laviolette's over agressive style and system. If anything Berube's system is one that a wide variety of players can play.
- MJL

I just wish Berube would be more open to trying something different. They are winless in 4 games. Would it really be so horrible to try the teams only 2 creative players, Giroux and Voracek, on different lines. Even if you are determined to make a winger out of B Schenn, why not try:

Schenn-Giroux-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Voracek
Umberger-Bellemare-Raffl
Rinaldo-Jones-Akeson

It's not like they'd be breaking up the forward lines of the 85-86 Edmonton Oilers!

Why so negative chum?

- mayorofangrytown

CommissionerOfPositiveCity?

It's quite visible 82+ times a year. He usually walks out of the dressing room, makes a 90 degree turn, and proceeds to stand for the most part, sometimes slightly shifting or slowly changing his footing, relaying information to players and assistants as he sees fit.
- jmatchett383

i could do that!

Why so negative chum?

- mayorofangrytown

Need more coffee

i could do that!
- stayinthefnnet

Get back to your lawyering.

I'd say becoming a top-pair player would be both getting better and improving in his case.
- jmatchett383

It would, but it's about reality. If Akeson can become a better all around player, and become a player who can chip in some offense and score some goals, that would be improving. But that's far different from stating that a player is going to drastically bypass his potential. Such as Matt Konan becoming a top pair defenseman. Sometimes I'm amazed at the stuff that needs ot be explained.

Wish we could find the next Scotty Bowman to be our next coach.

Very successful with the Blues in the late 60's playing a physical brand of defense first hockey

Very successful in Montreal in the mid and late 70s playing an uptempo game.

Very successful with Pittsburgh in 91-92, had enough sense not to tinker much with Johnson's already existing and winning system while managing a team loaded with superstars

Very successful with Detroit in the late 90s, seamlessly incorporated a very Russian/European style into their game and was able to adapt to the newer breed of NHL players.

Obviously, coaches like Bowman are few and far between, but I'm just tired of one dimensional coaches like Lavy and Berube who seem clueless when it comes to getting the most out of the talent on their rosters.
- BiggE

I still miss Lavi. Hell of a coach, despite his flaws.

It's quite visible 82+ times a year. He usually walks out of the dressing room, makes a 90 degree turn, and proceeds to stand for the most part, sometimes slightly shifting or slowly changing his footing, relaying information to players and assistants as he sees fit.
- jmatchett383

but which way does he turn? This is important

I think it is hard to blame Berube for this team. He was given a team and probably told to make it work. With the shift and making sure our prospects develop better he probably can't have guys he would like. Hell we already know he would prefer not to have Vinny by stating Vinny needed to change and fit the system. This team is flawed. Pieces to mix well. This is going to be a two or three year process until prospects are seen as ready and players are moved. Come TDL we could see it start depending on this teams record. But I can't fault Berube for trying to work with what he has.

It's quite visible 82+ times a year. He usually walks out of the dressing room, makes a 90 degree turn, and proceeds to stand for the most part, sometimes slightly shifting or slowly changing his footing, relaying information to players and assistants as he sees fit.
- jmatchett383

I still miss Lavi. Hell of a coach, despite his flaws.
- Tomahawk

Yes he is provided you supply him with the players that can play his uptempo, attack system.

New lines (listed LW-C-RW, in order of TOI):

Jones - Couturier - Simmonds
Schenn - Umberger - Rinaldo
Voracek - Read - Couturier
Lecavalier - Giroux - the rest

The other team will be so (frank)ing confused that they'll just forfeit.
- jmatchett383

No Art Ross Akeson???

I just wish Berube would be more open to trying something different. They are winless in 4 games. Would it really be so horrible to try the teams only 2 creative players, Giroux and Voracek, on different lines. Even if you are determined to make a winger out of B Schenn, why not try:

Schenn-Giroux-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Voracek
Umberger-Bellemare-Raffl
Rinaldo-Jones-Akeson

It's not like they'd be breaking up the forward lines of the 85-86 Edmonton Oilers!
- BiggE

Line combos and who plays with who, and the system a team plays, are two different things. Do you even know what system Brube uses and the intracacies of it?

It would, but it's about reality. If Akeson can become a better all around player, and become a player who can chip in some offense and score some goals, that would be improving. But that's far different from stating that a player is going to drastically bypass his potential. Such as Matt Konan becoming a top pair defenseman. Sometimes I'm amazed at the stuff that needs ot be explained.
- MJL

So it's insane to expect a player to bypass his potential (which is very open-ended), but it's totally fine to expect a player noted for his offensive prowess and defensive deficiencies to turn his entire game around and become a defensive player while still scoring goals playing on lines not noted for scoring?

Hot it.

but which way does he turn? This is important
- BulliesPhan87

It depends if it's a home game or away game.

I still miss Lavi. Hell of a coach, despite his flaws.
- Tomahawk

I don't miss three forwards below the goal line and Grossmann with the green light to pinch.

No Art Ross Akeson???


- johndewar

"the rest"

I just wish Berube would be more open to trying something different. They are winless in 4 games. Would it really be so horrible to try the teams only 2 creative players, Giroux and Voracek, on different lines. Even if you are determined to make a winger out of B Schenn, why not try:

Schenn-Giroux-Simmonds
Read-Couturier-Voracek
Umberger-Bellemare-Raffl
Rinaldo-Jones-Akeson

It's not like they'd be breaking up the forward lines of the 85-86 Edmonton Oilers!
- BiggE

I'm all for having the conversation about splitting G and Jake up at this point. I think it's overdue going back to last year.

I don't miss three forwards below the goal line and Grossmann with the green light to pinch.
- Feanor

“We are not a conservative team, we are a let's (frank)ing giddy up and go type of team."

WE DON'T LIKE YER KINDA OPTIMISM ROUND ERE!
- jmatchett383

Listen, we have Umberger, Bellemare, Jones, Schultz, Del Zotto and Akeson. Those are the kind of additions that push a bubble team straight up the standings. Players that can grow into major pieces on a Championship team given time. These aren't patches you just discard in a few years while stumbling through several seasons of lottery picks.