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

Lol "just a clean up".

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
- Jsaquella

Yup, that's what I've been saying for the past hour or so, but apparently I'm clueless since I just can't seem to recognize the amazing job Berube did this past season. 84 points and an utter inability to win on the road. Yep, get the man into the hockey hall of fame pronto!

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

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
- PhillaBully

I don't think it was lack of respect, but I do feel that Berube made some poor personnel decisions. Leaving Umberger on 3rd line & 2nd PP Afo as long as he did, playing a clearly laboring Read as much as he did, the decisions with scratches were questionable.

I don't think he had a playoff team or especially good roster. But I also feel he didn't handle it as optimally as he could have.

Wasn't the PP top 7 in the league?
- J35Bacher

Yes, the first unit was absolutely fantastic. The 2nd unit was completely ineffective for most of the season however.

Lol "just a clean up".
- benjichronic

Tomorrow we will hear that the amputation went well and that he is day to day.

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

It's not fair to put that much responsibility on Laughton. It's hard enough breaking into the NHL, let alone being asked to do something like play the point on the PP. He could've inserted Raffl on the PP, doubt it would've mattered. The 2nd unit lacks a playmaker and catalyst for the 2nd unit.
Did you actually watch Blair Jones play?
Here's the bottom line, if he had played Blair Jones, Berube's critics, including yourself, would've criticized him for that. Why was he playing Blair Jones instead of Umberger? Didn't we just trade Hartnell for him?

There isn't always options. There were limited options, and he was given a roster that wasn't a good mix.

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

lol

Coming from the same guy who defends Holmgren ad nauseam. Now Berube has a "dysfunctional lineup". Can't make it up.
- PLindbergh31

shes just trolling...no other way to get attention from the guys.

Yes, the first unit was absolutely fantastic. The 2nd unit was completely ineffective for most of the season however.
- BiggE

Raffl in place of Umberger would've changed that?

I don't think it was lack of respect, but I do feel that Berube made some poor personnel decisions. Leaving Umberger on 3rd line & 2nd PP Afo as long as he did, playing a clearly laboring Read as much as he did, the decisions with scratches were questionable.

I don't think he had a playoff team or especially good roster. But I also feel he didn't handle it as optimally as he could have.
- Jsaquella

the road record to me says it all. when he cant match lines he cant win games. trashing mason could have caused the team a lot of damage. Thankfully mason has been professional about it.

Yup, that's what I've been saying for the past hour or so, but apparently I'm clueless since I just can't seem to recognize the amazing job Berube did this past season. 84 points and an utter inability to win on the road. Yep, get the man into the hockey hall of fame pronto!
- BiggE

The other issue is, if Berube is retained, he's going to have the mindset that he's coaching for his life. That can lead to short term decisions that hurt long term situations.

Whether he was great or bad, the GM basically hanging him out in limbo isn't a good place to be in.

Wasn't the PP top 7 in the league?
- J35Bacher

Credit to Berube!

Credit to Berube!

- MJL

or murray

or murray
- PhillaBully

Murray must be a hell of a coach, to make the PP good all the way from the AHL.

RE: the 2nd pp unit for much of the season

Would Raffl for Umberger or Read helped?
Would moving Couturier down low helped?
Would replacing AMac with L. Schenn or even Coburn have helped?
Would giving Akeson, a guy who actually has playmaking skills, a shot have helped?

Don't know, because BERUBE NEVER TRIED ANY OF THE ABOVE. JFC, just rolling out the same ineffective unit game after (frank)ing game is not an example of good coaching.

I thought Patrick Kane was going to miss 12 weeks. He's playing tonight, 7 weeks after the injury? WTF???

the road record to me says it all. when he cant match lines he cant win games. trashing mason could have caused the team a lot of damage. Thankfully mason has been professional about it.
- PhillaBully

That could be a factor in the road record.

I just feel Berube's better suited to be an assistant. He had a difficult task, no arguing that. It wasnt a good roster, and it wasn't like he fouled up the 1976 Habs. But I also don't feel he did a good job with what he did have

Murray must be a hell of a coach, to make the PP good all the way from the AHL.

- MJL

Mullen whoops

The other issue is, if Berube is retained, he's going to have the mindset that he's coaching for his life. That can lead to short term decisions that hurt long term situations.

Whether he was great or bad, the GM basically hanging him out in limbo isn't a good place to be in.
- Jsaquella

Agreed. If a decision is made in a week or 2, no big deal. However if he waits til late May or June or worse yet, brings him back as a lame duck, I just can't see how that helps the team whatsoever.

RE: the 2nd pp unit for much of the season

Would Raffl for Umberger or Read helped?
Would moving Couturier down low helped?
Would replacing AMac with L. Schenn or even Coburn have helped?
Would giving Akeson, a guy who actually has playmaking skills, a shot have helped?

Don't know, because BERUBE NEVER TRIED ANY OF THE ABOVE. JFC, just rolling out the same ineffective unit game after (frank)ing game is not an example of good coaching.
- BiggE

Berube did lose 12 straight games to dogpoop teams. If nothing else, he is consistent. Full marks for that right? RIGHT??

I thought Patrick Kane was going to miss 12 weeks. He's playing tonight, 7 weeks after the injury? WTF???
- PLindbergh31

Well he did wear that Superman cape a while back


Heck if he can help get Kimmo a cup and us another 2nd round pick, I'm all for it!

Berube did lose 12 straight games to dogpoop teams. If nothing else, he is consistent. Full marks for that right? RIGHT??
- PLindbergh31

Oh yeah, captain consistency for sure!

RE: the 2nd pp unit for much of the season

Would Raffl for Umberger or Read helped?
Would moving Couturier down low helped?
Would replacing AMac with L. Schenn or even Coburn have helped?
Would giving Akeson, a guy who actually has playmaking skills, a shot have helped?

Don't know, because BERUBE NEVER TRIED ANY OF THE ABOVE. JFC, just rolling out the same ineffective unit game after (frank)ing game is not an example of good coaching.
- BiggE

They lack the personnel to have a good 2nd unit PP. They don't have a playmaker or distributor of the puck. They don't have a good PP point man on the 2nd unit. The puck has to be established on the offensive zone, and then the right plays and puck movement need to be made to create good chances.
Anyone can just pick names out of a hat, and say see the coach is an idiot because he didn't try any of that.

Raffl in place of Umberger would've changed that?
- MJL

Probably but Berube just kept rolling the same the gold there.
The guy has to not be afraid to make adjustments and try new things!