No it really doesn't. A poor showing in the playoffs followed by two terrible seasons where everyone in the City has been questioning the coaches decision making. A coaching change was necessary.
- CanuckDon

I dont think Willie deserved it, but the media made it pretty hard for him to return. Even down to the last couple games they were criticizing who was being matched against McDavid this weekend, but then at the same time embracing the tank

No it really doesn't. A poor showing in the playoffs followed by two terrible seasons where everyone in the City has been questioning the coaches decision making. A coaching change was necessary.
- CanuckDon

I find it odd that we always question the deployment of certain players but never question why they're on the roster to begin with.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...te,&sort=timeOnIcePerGame

Here's the TOI/GP summary. As usual, things are grossly exaggerated in here.

Nope, just a move to appease season ticket holders. Only about appeasing the fans who want a fall guy
- NorthNuck

strange deployment decisions, a love affair with Dorset, Vey, Megna, Chaput and Bartowksi. Insubordination. Got massively outcoached in his one playoff series. Willie is getting exactly what he deserves.

Apparently it happened because Backes was standing up for a teammate that Hitch was being an ass to.

I would just really prefer to avoid having the players band together against or be divided because of a coach. Nor would I want any excuse to have players avoid coming to VAN, whether they are free agents, college kids, or vets; this team no longer has the bargaining power to get "hometown discounts" and will need to overpay (in money or opportunity) to attract players
- WhiteLie

This is exactly why you want a good players coach.

Wasnt it filpula who blocked his trade to toronto because he hated babcock so much? So prime example of what your talking about just a few weeks ago.

I find it odd that we always question the deployment of certain players but never question why they're on the roster to begin with.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...te,&sort=timeOnIcePerGame

Here's the TOI/GP summary. As usual, things are grossly exaggerated in here.
- golfingsince

The fact we have a terrible roster doesn't mean Willie is a good coach. Easier to fire the coach than 20 players.

strange deployment decisions, a love affair with Dorset, Vey, Megna, Chaput and Bartowksi. Insubordination. Got massively outcoached in his one playoff series. Willie is getting exactly what he deserves.
- CanuckDon

That part if true or a bigger issue behind the scenes mean he will have a very tough time ever getting an NHL job again.

I find it odd that we always question the deployment of certain players but never question why they're on the roster to begin with.

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...te,&sort=timeOnIcePerGame

Here's the TOI/GP summary. As usual, things are grossly exaggerated in here.
- golfingsince

I think its facinating that the Horvat was 2nd on the team in total number of shifts this season, only 13 less than Sutter in same amount of games played and 128 more than Henrik who played one more game than them both.

Wasnt Horvat not being used enough?

Sell the team to Jim Pattison. Fire TL and JB.

strange deployment decisions, a love affair with Dorset, Vey, Megna, Chaput and Bartowksi. Insubordination. Got massively outcoached in his one playoff series. Willie is getting exactly what he deserves.
- CanuckDon

From all accounts inside the team the players liked him and he was doing a pretty decent job of helping the young guys along based on the years Granlund, Baertschi, Horvat, Stecher, Tryamkin had. We know we're not competing for a cup next year so I don't care what kind of a playoff coach he is.

Heard too many stories about how hated he was that I dont think we need to risk him pushing the wrong buttons with some of our top prospects.

My brother is down in the states for school and was chatting to an NCAA kid who was at Blues prospect camp a few years back who told him that was wasnt going to sign there because they heard of a physical altercation between Hitch and Backes. I dont want a notoriously hated guy involved with the organization at all, regardless of how soft Vancouver is
- WhiteLie

This.

I'm anti-Hitch.

The fact we have a terrible roster doesn't mean Willie is a good coach. Easier to fire the coach than 20 players.
- CanuckDon

Well that's strange logic, give the guy a bunch of crap and then blame him for not making prime rib dinner from it..

Well that's strange logic, give the guy a bunch of crap and then blame him for not making prime rib dinner from it..
- Makita

That part if true or a bigger issue behind the scenes mean he will have a very tough time ever getting an NHL job again.
- mauryballstein

It will be interesting...it seemed pretty obvious that Linden was not pleased with Willie this year. I think he will sign on as an assistant coach somewhere. He is a nice, hardworking guy but he was in over his head as a head coach.

The fact we have a terrible roster doesn't mean Willie is a good coach. Easier to fire the coach than 20 players.
- CanuckDon

This so called love affair he has with certain players has them at 21st or worse for TOI/gp.

Again, you can't make chicken stew out of chicken poop.

Well that's strange logic, give the guy a bunch of crap and then blame him for not making prime rib dinner from it..
- Makita

No it really isn't. Linden needs to hire the best coach to work with our young players through the rebuild. Obviously the organization feels it isn't willie. This isn't about wins and losses for franksakes

No it really isn't. Linden needs to hire the best coach to work with our young players through the rebuild. Obviously the organization feels it isn't willie. This isn't about wins and losses for franksakes
- CanuckDon

Enter Travis Green.

This so called love affair he has with certain players has them at 21st or worse for TOI/gp.

Again, you can't make chicken stew out of chicken poop.
- golfingsince

You win Golfing. Willie will almost certainly win the Jack Adams next season. He is a brilliant strategist and leader

This is exactly why you want a good players coach.

Wasnt it filpula who blocked his trade to toronto because he hated babcock so much? So prime example of what your talking about just a few weeks ago.
- mauryballstein

I think its becoming more important than ever. The next generation of players is from the new era where commands will not stimulate the proper response. Call it soft, coddled, or whatever, the days of Iron Mike are gone. I think Willie was great at connecting with his players, they seemed genuinely like him for that. Got to hope the next one has a little more fortune on his side

Enter Travis Green.
- NorthNuck

I think he is too Green. I am not an expert on the subject but there has to be a better option out there.

I think its becoming more important than ever. The next generation of players is from the new era where commands will not stimulate the proper response. Call it soft, coddled, or whatever, the days of Iron Mike are gone. I think Willie was great at connecting with his players, they seemed genuinely like him for that. Got to hope the next one has a little more fortune on his side
- WhiteLie

Let's keep the toxic country club atmosphere going feeling, it's all about the players feelings

Let's keep the toxic country club atmosphere going feeling, it's all about the players feelings
- CanuckDon

You're never going to win a Stanley cup with a bunch of disgruntled players who aren't motivated by the coach.

You win Golfing. Willie will almost certainly win the Jack Adams next season. He is a brilliant strategist and leader
- CanuckDon

Nice deflection. Nobody is crying that he got fired, we could all see it coming from miles away.

Oddly enough, it's been the coach's fault for 3 straight coaches now. We keep getting worse.

Maybe the team just sucks and the coach is an easy scapegoat.

You're never going to win a Stanley cup with a bunch of disgruntled players who aren't motivated by the coach.
- NorthNuck

It's not a coaches job to be friends with the players. It's a balancing act.

Nice deflection. Nobody is crying that he got fired, we could all see it coming from miles away.

Oddly enough, it's been the coach's fault for 3 straight coaches now. We keep getting worse.

Maybe the team just sucks and the coach is an easy scapegoat.
- golfingsince

I already agreed with you.

Well that's strange logic, give the guy a bunch of crap and then blame him for not making prime rib dinner from it..
- Makita

That's exactly it. Willie got a pretty questionable roster in the PO's the year after the Torts fiasco. Not a small feat.