Bill, I haven't been one to blame Berube for much (I'm not a fan of how the roster is constituted), but if this team is still floundering going into December, do you think Hextall thinks about making a change behind the bench?
- johndewar

FWIW, I can't see him making a change during the season unless things completely fall apart ala 06-07. Even then, I think he would just name an interim coach for the rest of this year. However, unless they really turn things around, I think Hextall will want to bring in his own guy after this year.

Zezel and I are having some fun in the Leafs thread right now about criticism of Kessel, and the frightening thing is it took some of Leafs nation about 30 minutes to figure out we weren't serious.

Saddest part? I started by calling Dee Karl a superblogger. My goodness, if you didn't pick up that clue, you are beyond help.
- Atomic Wedgie

You are right. No UFA wants to come to Toronto. Why would you? The media is a F'N joke and I am sorry but Leaf fans ( not all) but most can be very overbearing. All fan bases have their idiots but Toronto seems to have a bundle., and you are so right about " no one wants to hear truth" I live here and I hear it every day.
There is NO WAY Stamkos will come home to play. All that talk ( media BS) earlier in summer about him looking at TO after his deal is up. He would be a gluten for punishment to play there
- 3flyerkids

The percentage of idiocy amongst Leafs fans is the same as any fan base. It's just the sheer numbers that cause the problem.

The thing about playing in Toronto is that when things are going well, there is no better place to play.

Sadly, that hasn't been the case for a decade.

FWIW, I can't see him making a change during the season unless things completely fall apart ala 06-07. Even then, I think he would just name an interim coach for the rest of this year. However, unless they really turn things around, I think Hextall will want to bring in his own guy after this year.
- BiggE

I hope it's true that his contract is up after this year.

I don't know if I'd go with "classless". It seems like "classless" is hockey's version of the "c" word.

I think "silly" more accurately describes it.
- johndewar

They went about it like a bunch of kids. They know the media here is a circus. They are just setting themselves up.

Zezel and I are having some fun in the Leafs thread right now about criticism of Kessel, and the frightening thing is it took some of Leafs nation about 30 minutes to figure out we weren't serious.

Saddest part? I started by calling Dee Karl a superblogger. My goodness, if you didn't pick up that clue, you are beyond help.
- Atomic Wedgie

I commend your trolling ability, however, MJL has us both beat.

I commend your trolling ability, however, MJL has us both beat.
- rangerdanger94

Trolling couched in an backhanded compliment.

IMO Berube would have to win a playoff round to stay as head coach. Whatever his contract is, Hextall will have no trouble moving him somewhere else in the organization if he wants to bring in his own guy.

The percentage of idiocy amongst Leafs fans is the same as any fan base. It's just the sheer numbers that cause the problem.

The thing about playing in Toronto is that when things are going well, there is no better place to play.

Sadly, that hasn't been the case for a decade.
- Atomic Wedgie

Some of the questions the media asks are completely unprofessional.

"Are you trying to get your coach fired?"

IMO Berube would have to win a playoff round to stay as head coach. Whatever his contract is, Hextall will have no trouble moving him somewhere else in the organization if he wants to bring in his own guy.
- Feanor

So what you're saying is Berube aint coaching past this season?

Some of the questions the media asks are completely unprofessional.

"Are you trying to get your coach fired?"
- PhillySportsGuy

Exactly, the media here is something to behold. I can't see why a top notch UFA would ever want to play here...especially if he is from Toronto.
You can't take a crap without someone following you

Some of the questions the media asks are completely unprofessional.

"Are you trying to get your coach fired?"
- PhillySportsGuy

This is another reason why I really miss Pronger, handling the idiots in the media!

I can just see him staring at that reporter and saying something like: "Are you ever going to pay back your parents the money they wasted on journalism school?"

This is another reason why I really miss Pronger, handling the idiots in the media!

I can just see him staring at that reporter and saying something like: "Are you ever going to pay back your parents the money they wasted on journalism school?"
- BiggE

Then I love when the reporters say things like "athletes always give the same boring responses. I don't understand why they aren't more honest with us."

IMO Berube would have to win a playoff round to stay as head coach. Whatever his contract is, Hextall will have no trouble moving him somewhere else in the organization if he wants to bring in his own guy.
- Feanor

Whether we want to assume that Hextall wants his own guy, or speculate on any other reason. The truth is, in most cases, coaches have a short shelf life. I think it all depends on progress, and if the team is moving forward. In my view, there is no question that the biggest issues with this team, is on the players, but we all know that coaches ultimately pay the price. If this team doesn't start to play consistent hockey, and if the mistakes that this team is making on a regular basis, aren't improved and/or fixed. We know who is going to pay the price for that. If they do fix those issues, then I can see Berube staying. Hextall isn't going to hold the weaknesses in the roster against Berube, in my opinion. So it depends on how they lose in the playoffs. If they make the playoffs, play a hard fought first round and get knocked out by a better team. Then I can see Berube surviving that. If they lose because of a similar situation to the last Rangers game, where they just didn't show up. Then it's hard to see Berube surviving that. If they continue the inconsistent play, and poor coverage mistakes all season and miss the playoffs. Berube is gone.

You are right. No UFA wants to come to Toronto. Why would you? The media is a F'N joke and I am sorry but Leaf fans ( not all) but most can be very overbearing. All fan bases have their idiots but Toronto seems to have a bundle., and you are so right about " no one wants to hear truth" I live here and I hear it every day.
There is NO WAY Stamkos will come home to play. All that talk ( media BS) earlier in summer about him looking at TO after his deal is up. He would be a gluten for punishment to play there
- 3flyerkids

how can you blame the Leafs fans for being that way? I admire the loyalty actually cause as much as we complain about no cups since 74-75, they have had 1 playoff appearance in 9 yrs, haven't won a cup since 66-67 and no cups since expansion. No finals appearances since expansion.

how can you blame the Leafs fans for being that way? I admire the loyalty actually cause as much as we complain about no cups since 74-75, they have had 1 playoff appearance in 9 yrs, haven't won a cup since 66-67 and no cups since expansion. No finals appearances since expansion.
- nastyflyergirl

rekt

Then I love when the reporters say things like "athletes always give the same boring responses. I don't understand why they aren't more honest with us."
- PhillySportsGuy

Eww.

(Fantastic talent and all, but there's a Zherdev kind of stink to him)
- Tomahawk

Far more consistent scorer than Nik was. He doesn't look like it, but he's also a pretty hard worker.

So what you're saying is Berube aint coaching past this season?
- rangerdanger94

i have this feeling they will keep him around. i think they should have kept hitchcock or lavy but i think berube is here for a couple years

The percentage of idiocy amongst Leafs fans is the same as any fan base. It's just the sheer numbers that cause the problem.

The thing about playing in Toronto is that when things are going well, there is no better place to play.

Sadly, that hasn't been the case for a decade.
- Atomic Wedgie

I miss Harold Ballard.

I miss Harold Ballard.
- 77rams

Said no one ever

Slap shots

With help from a 25-member panel, including this reporter, ESPN.com ranked the top 100 forwards, 50 defensemen, 30 coaches and 25 goalies as part of their #NHLrank. Claude Giroux finished 14th, Wayne Simmonds ranked 44th and Jake Voracek was 60th. Not surprising, no Flyers defenseman made the list, and goaltender Steve Mason also did not make the cut . . . Craig Berube came in as the 24th ranked coach among 30 teams, ahead of Willie Desjardins, Ted Nolan, Randy Carlyle, Bill Peters, Gerard Gallant and Dallas Eakins . . . Unemployed coaches, such as Dan Bylsma, were not included.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/phi....html#hSTdhM8WCdZXOT6K.99

Jake 60th? meh.

So what you're saying is Berube aint coaching past this season?
- rangerdanger94

I think that's going to depend on how much Hextall trusts Berube with the younger players coming along.

The guy was the coach that helped them turn it around when they fell off the cliff early last year.

The only reason I brought it up is because if this losing streak becomes something worse (and it could), Hextall doesn't have much recourse with changing the team around. It seems like the only lever he has to pull is to change out the coach.

Slap shots

With help from a 25-member panel, including this reporter, ESPN.com ranked the top 100 forwards, 50 defensemen, 30 coaches and 25 goalies as part of their #NHLrank. Claude Giroux finished 14th, Wayne Simmonds ranked 44th and Jake Voracek was 60th. Not surprising, no Flyers defenseman made the list, and goaltender Steve Mason also did not make the cut . . . Craig Berube came in as the 24th ranked coach among 30 teams, ahead of Willie Desjardins, Ted Nolan, Randy Carlyle, Bill Peters, Gerard Gallant and Dallas Eakins . . . Unemployed coaches, such as Dan Bylsma, were not included.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/phi....html#hSTdhM8WCdZXOT6K.99

Simmonds ahead of Voracek is just as laughable
Jake 60th? meh.
- nastyflyergirl

[quote=Jsaquella]


altho interesting tid bits in the article about Forsberg and Pronger

and yes I thought the same thing about Simmonds before Voracek. and these reporters wonder why most fans roll their eyes at them