Again, I don't think Berube is a horrible coach by any stretch, but I just don't think he's that good.

He left an utterly ineffective Matt Read and Umberger both in the lineup and on the 2nd pp unit for way too long. He benched MDZ for at least 4-5 games too many, I'm pretty sure he'd already gotten the point by then. Playing VLC on a 4th line was just pointless, if you can't work him into the top 6, he's basically useless. His handling of, and comments about Mason down the stretch were at the very least questionable.

Again, he's not the worst coach out there, I just think he's far from the best as well.
- BiggE

I'll ask the same question I've asked a hundred times, that nobody can answer. Or at least ignores what the answer is. Who did he have to replace Umberger and Read in the lineup? As far as Del Zotto, none of us are at practice to see if Del Zotto fixed the issues to know how long it took for him to get the point. I would've liked to have gotten him back in sooner also, but you know what, to Del Zotto's credit mostly, it worked. Let's ignore that it worked though, because that doesn't fit the narrative. There were stretches of games with the Bellemare line with Lecavalier were providing the most offensive zone pressure other then the Giroux line, so it wasn't a waste of time.
I see zero issue with how Mason was handled. Look at the season he had?

There is a recurring theme here. Blaming Berube for playing the players he was given to play!

Agreed. If he truly hasn't made a decision on Berube, he really has made one.

If he really is waiting for Babcock or McLellan, what happens if he doesn't land them? Berube's already on the hot seat, what happens next year if there's an influx of kids? Does Berube coch to keep his job or develop the kids?

The other factor, and I say this as no fan of Berube, is if they don't make a move until June or July, he doesn't have much time to get a new gig. That's not fair to him, after years of faithful service.

I get being patient, but this is a dog and pony show.
- Jsaquella

It's not going to take that long.

You can fire Berube and hire the next coach in a few days, a few weeks or even in June. They do not have to be simultaneous events.
- BiggE

Hexy is playing a very hard poker game keeping a straight face. There is passion in his words but not at the risk of showing his hand. I want Berube gone but he is getting support from players ( or are they just following the company line??)

Once the draft lottery is done then things start moving.

Yeah, what if he knows the lottery is "arranged" for the Flyers, LOL.

Oh well, we do the same thing we have done since May 1975

WAIT

If Babcock gets resigned I'd be looking hard at Blashill from Grand Rapids
- JAKEw1234

I'll ask the same question I've asked a hundred times, that nobody can answer. Or at least ignores what the answer is. Who did he have to replace Umberger and Read in the lineup? As far as Del Zotto, none of us are at practice to see if Del Zotto fixed the issues to know how long it took for him to get the point. I would've liked to have gotten him back in sooner also, but you know what, to Del Zotto's credit mostly, it worked. Let's ignore that it worked though, because that doesn't fit the narrative. There were stretches of games with the Bellemare line with Lecavalier were providing the most offensive zone pressure other then the Giroux line, so it wasn't a waste of time.
I see zero issue with how Mason was handled. Look at the season he had?

There is a recurring theme here. Blaming Berube for playing the players he was given to play!
- MJL

Agree.

He didn't have a wealth of players to substitute in for guys that were struggling.

It's not going to take that long.
- Feanor

If he's waiting for Babcock, and they make a deep run, it could take until early June.

Agree.

He didn't have a wealth of players to substitute in for guys that were struggling.
- J35Bacher

Babcock would have found a way to put the pieces of a dysfunctional lineup that didn't fit together, to make it work! Coaches are only so good. They're not miracle workers.

sorry if asked already, can someone summarize the press conf and what was said please.

Babcock would have found a way to put the pieces of a dysfunctional lineup that didn't fit together, to make it work! Coaches are only so good. They're not miracle workers.
- MJL

I just don't think he is in a rush. Right now all the coaches are still under contract who you would think would be on the list.

I don't want to just change coaches for the sake of doing it. If they have a target I want them to follow the plan. If that mean waiting to make sure someone like McLellan or Babcock become available, ok

Agreed. If he truly hasn't made a decision on Berube, he really has made one.

If he really is waiting for Babcock or McLellan, what happens if he doesn't land them? Berube's already on the hot seat, what happens next year if there's an influx of kids? Does Berube coch to keep his job or develop the kids?

The other factor, and I say this as no fan of Berube, is if they don't make a move until June or July, he doesn't have much time to get a new gig. That's not fair to him, after years of faithful service.

I get being patient, but this is a dog and pony show.
- Jsaquella

Guess no streaking for you tomorrow?

sorry if asked already, can someone summarize the press conf and what was said please.
- rinaldo

No decision on Berube, Surgery for Gudas & Bellemare, hinted at Vinny being gone, one way or another.

I'll ask the same question I've asked a hundred times, that nobody can answer. Or at least ignores what the answer is. Who did he have to replace Umberger and Read in the lineup? As far as Del Zotto, none of us are at practice to see if Del Zotto fixed the issues to know how long it took for him to get the point. I would've liked to have gotten him back in sooner also, but you know what, to Del Zotto's credit mostly, it worked. Let's ignore that it worked though, because that doesn't fit the narrative. There were stretches of games with the Bellemare line with Lecavalier were providing the most offensive zone pressure other then the Giroux line, so it wasn't a waste of time.
I see zero issue with how Mason was handled. Look at the season he had?

There is a recurring theme here. Blaming Berube for playing the players he was given to play!
- MJL

We all know how you feel Mrs. Berube. But please, tell us again.

If he's waiting for Babcock, and they make a deep run, it could take until early June.
- Jsaquella

Sorry if leight Sportsnet is reporting that sharks and mclellan are parting ways. Not sure if hexy would have interest if berube gets let go

Babcock would have found a way to put the pieces of a dysfunctional lineup that didn't fit together, to make it work! Coaches are only so good. They're not miracle workers.
- MJL

i disagree i think babcock would have had these guys playing better. if you respect a guy you play hard for them. i dont think this team respects "Chief".

Bottom line is i want the best coach coaching this team and with the available guys they can do much better than chief

Agree.

He didn't have a wealth of players to substitute in for guys that were struggling.
- J35Bacher

He could have replaced either Umberger or Read with Raffl on the pp. He also could have tried shifting Couturier down low and tried someone like Laughton on the point. Laughton often played the point on the pp in Junior. As far as the early season lineup goes, they had Blair Jones in the press box for much of the first few weeks. As bad as both Umberger and Read were playing at that point, I doubt he could have been any worse.

There are always options.

No decision on Berube, Surgery for Gudas & Bellemare, hinted at Vinny being gone, one way or another.
- Jsaquella

Wait.. what about surgery for gudas?

Guess no streaking for you tomorrow?

- BiggE

Nope.

I don't think Hextall has put himself in a good situation. Either Berube's a lame duck without a vote of confidence, a placeholder or getting fired with a smaller window of time to latch on elsewhere.

Even if he does stay, he knows and the players will know, that Berube was Hextall's consolation prize. That's not doing Berube a favor

No decision on Berube, Surgery for Gudas & Bellemare, hinted at Vinny being gone, one way or another.
- Jsaquella

thanks. gudas more surgery?
I assume no mention of propsects.

Sorry if leight Sportsnet is reporting that sharks and mclellan are parting ways. Not sure if hexy would have interest if berube gets let go
- Hextall271

There you go. An available upgrade to Craig Berube.

Sorry if leight Sportsnet is reporting that sharks and mclellan are parting ways. Not sure if hexy would have interest if berube gets let go
- Hextall271

McLellan said there's been discussions when asked today. Who knows?

I don't read much into what the players say. For the most part, they are pretty guarded when speaking to the media (for which I don't blame them at all!) and most players don't want to get the reputation as a guy who talks out of school about the coach. Players are taught from a very young age, that what happens in the locker room, stays in the locker room.

Even towards the end of the Keenan era, when most of the players couldn't stand the guy, they rarely said negative things about him to the media. To the GM sure, but not to the public. Hell, I want a Cup too, it's been way to long. I just don't think that Craig Berube is the coach that will lead you to one.
- BiggE

I agree, that's all true. But you don't usually hear such praise of a coach a team doesn't like. They usually elect to defer the question to the GM, saying that's out of our control.

Jake said that Chief is the reason his conditioning was much better and he had the season he had. Simmer said that Chief is a good players coach, talks to them straight and even Mason said similar things. White obviously loves him because he rewarded him with PP time for all his effort.

I'm not really defending Chief, just saying I believe with the praise coming from the leadership group that it is most likely genuine.

Wait.. what about surgery for gudas?
- benjichronic

Just a clean up. They found some loose meniscus, similar to Mason's procedure.

i disagree i think babcock would have had these guys playing better. if you respect a guy you play hard for them. i dont think this team respects "Chief"
- PhillaBully

I agree. VLC has been a well liked and well respected player his entire career. I very much doubt the players feel like he deserved to be treated the way Berube treated him.

He could have replaced either Umberger or Read with Raffl on the pp. He also could have tried shifting Couturier down low and tried someone like Laughton on the point. Laughton often played the point on the pp in Junior. As far as the early season lineup goes, they had Blair Jones in the press box for much of the first few weeks. As bad as both Umberger and Read were playing at that point, I doubt he could have been any worse.

There are always options.
- BiggE

Wasn't the PP top 7 in the league?

Babcock would have found a way to put the pieces of a dysfunctional lineup that didn't fit together, to make it work! Coaches are only so good. They're not miracle workers.
- MJL

Coming from the same guy who defends Holmgren ad nauseam. Now Berube has a "dysfunctional lineup". Can't make it up.