Bill Meltzer: Clean-out Day Roundup, Sanheim, Briere and More

Bill Meltzer: Clean-out Day Roundup, Sanheim, Briere and More
- bmeltzer

Berube's blunt-and somewhat nonsensical-criticisms of players yesterday afternoon sounded like a guy who was getting in his shots before he gets fired.

It's things like his comments about Couturier that leave me feeling he's not suited to be a head coach, at least at this point. He seems to gloss over that Couturier is handed the toughest defensive role in the NHL(in terms of zone starts and level of competition) and continues to not accept that such a workload is going to cut into a guy's production. He compared Couturier to a veteran star like Patrice Bergeron, which is hardly fair, given the age difference, and the fact that Bergeron didn't play as D-heavy a role.

He flat out ignored that Couturier had played with two injured/ineffective wingers for the bulk of the season, too. An assessment like that is like tying a ball and chain to a track star and then blaming him for not winning the race.

Berube could use a PR coach, with some of his comments, but I don't think that has much to do with how good of a coach he is. He is demanding of his players and straight forward, and lets them know what it expected. Berube doesn't like excuses for any player. In case of Couturier, yes, his deployment affects his out put. At the same time, there is room for improvement, in his offensive game. He didn't finish well this year. Berube may be blunt, but he's not wrong.

Zone starts need to be taken in context. Other things have to be looked at, including overall starts for the team, and total shifts at ES that a player had, versus zone start shifts.

Berube's blunt-and somewhat nonsensical-criticisms of players yesterday afternoon sounded like a guy who was getting in his shots before he gets fired.

It's things like his comments about Couturier that leave me feeling he's not suited to be a head coach, at least at this point. He seems to gloss over that Couturier is handed the toughest defensive role in the NHL(in terms of zone starts and level of competition) and continues to not accept that such a workload is going to cut into a guy's production. He compared Couturier to a veteran star like Patrice Bergeron, which is hardly fair, given the age difference, and the fact that Bergeron didn't play as D-heavy a role.

He flat out ignored that Couturier had played with two injured/ineffective wingers for the bulk of the season, too. An assessment like that is like tying a ball and chain to a track star and then blaming him for not winning the race.
- Jsaquella

Not to mention that Bergeron plays with Brad Marchand and Reilly Smith on most nights.

The comparisons to Bergeron show how out of touch Berube is. At 22 years old Couturier is supposed to score as heavily as one of the league's best players, an All-Star and Olympian who's 29, even though Bergeron gets easier usage, and much more PP time and plays with much better players.

Not to mention that Bergeron plays with Brad Marchand and Reilly Smith on most nights.
- MBFlyerfan

Yep. It just bugs me how Berube ignores his own faults and lays the blame on the players.

Nobody with intelligence has ever said Berube Is the only problem, but he is part of the problem. He was handed a mediocre roster. He failed too often to put players in the best possible position to succeed.

Yep. It just bugs me how Berube ignores his own faults and lays the blame on the players.

Nobody with intelligence has ever said Berube Is the only problem, but he is part of the problem. He was handed a mediocre roster. He failed too often to put players in the best possible position to succeed.
- Jsaquella

Sounds like the team ripped him in the exit interviews...

Hexy is a patient man when making decisions..can you imagine car shopping with him?

It's simply false to state that Berube ignores his own faults and lays blame on the players. He's giving specific answers to specific questions. If he's asked about Couturier, he gives his opinion on Couturier.
It's also false to say he failed too often to put players in the best position. He had a flawed roster, made even worse with injuries that weakened a key player like Read, and Umberger was never healthy. The idea is to try and get a balanced lineup. The lineup was a bad mix of players. Some fans are criticizing the coach for not being able to do something that really wasn't possible, with the mix of players on the team.

Berube's blunt-and somewhat nonsensical-criticisms of players yesterday afternoon sounded like a guy who was getting in his shots before he gets fired.

It's things like his comments about Couturier that leave me feeling he's not suited to be a head coach, at least at this point. He seems to gloss over that Couturier is handed the toughest defensive role in the NHL(in terms of zone starts and level of competition) and continues to not accept that such a workload is going to cut into a guy's production. He compared Couturier to a veteran star like Patrice Bergeron, which is hardly fair, given the age difference, and the fact that Bergeron didn't play as D-heavy a role.

He flat out ignored that Couturier had played with two injured/ineffective wingers for the bulk of the season, too. An assessment like that is like tying a ball and chain to a track star and then blaming him for not winning the race.
- Jsaquella

Honestly, these are things Chief has said all season; mostly at the end of his pregame media availability (small group session separate from his post-morning skate availability to a generally much larger group of reporters). At the end of his late afternoon sessions, he frequently speaks candidly about things as the tape recorders are turned off.

What happened yesterday was that Berube simply took things he'd been saying quasi on/off record and laid it out for everyone. The Bergeron stuff, for instance, was specifically raised a few times.

Berube has a contentious relationship with one reporter in particular. That's where the testiest exchanges arose without Berube raising his voice. No doubt he felt he was being set up and responded sharply and emotionally while still trying to hold things together.

In regards to whether Couturier had the right linemates, Berube has said at times this season, although not yesterday-- "Look, good offensive players find ways to score. Period. Linemates aren't an excuse. Checking isn't an excuse -- battle through it."

Honestly, these are things Chief has said all season; mostly at the end of his pregame media availability (small group session separate from his post-morning skate availability to a generally much larger group of reporters). At the end of his late afternoon sessions, he frequently speaks candidly about things as the tape recorders are turned off.

What happened yesterday was that Berube simply took things he'd been saying quasi on/off record and laid it out for everyone. The Bergeron stuff, for instance, was specifically raised a few times.

Berube has a contentious relationship with one reporter in particular. That's where the testiest exchanges arose without Berube raising his voice. No doubt he felt he was being set up and responded sharply and emotionally while still trying to hold things together.

In regards to whether Couturier had the right linemates, Berube has said at times this season, although not yesterday-- "Look, good offensive players find ways to score. Period. Linemates aren't an excuse. Checking isn't an excuse -- battle through it."
- bmeltzer

Nothing wrong with any of that.

Honestly, these are things Chief has said all season; mostly at the end of his pregame media availability (small group session separate from his post-morning skate availability to a generally much larger group of reporters). At the end of his late afternoon sessions, he frequently speaks candidly about things as the tape recorders are turned off.

What happened yesterday was that Berube simply took things he'd been saying quasi on/off record and laid it out for everyone. The Bergeron stuff, for instance, was specifically raised a few times.

Berube has a contentious relationship with one reporter in particular. That's where the testiest exchanges arose without Berube raising his voice. No doubt he felt he was being set up and responded sharply and emotionally while still trying to hold things together.

In regards to whether Couturier had the right linemates, Berube has said at times this season, although not yesterday-- "Look, good offensive players find ways to score. Period. Linemates aren't an excuse. Checking isn't an excuse -- battle through it."
- bmeltzer

(frank)

Honestly, these are things Chief has said all season; mostly at the end of his pregame media availability (small group session separate from his post-morning skate availability to a generally much larger group of reporters). At the end of his late afternoon sessions, he frequently speaks candidly about things as the tape recorders are turned off.

What happened yesterday was that Berube simply took things he'd been saying quasi on/off record and laid it out for everyone. The Bergeron stuff, for instance, was specifically raised a few times.

Berube has a contentious relationship with one reporter in particular. That's where the testiest exchanges arose without Berube raising his voice. No doubt he felt he was being set up and responded sharply and emotionally while still trying to hold things together.

In regards to whether Couturier had the right linemates, Berube has said at times this season, although not yesterday-- "Look, good offensive players find ways to score. Period. Linemates aren't an excuse. Checking isn't an excuse -- battle through it."
- bmeltzer

Bill,

Do you agree, partially agree, or disagree with Berube's comments on Couturier? I personally think there is some merit to the comments. Some of Cout's problems are self-inflicted, meaning he sees himself as excelling in that role and falls back into defensive habits too easily.

I'm wondering if some of Berube's comments were a public challenge to Couturier as much as an explanation to the media.

Hire Briere as the forwards coach. He can teach offense to this group and is respected!

sometimes young millionares can't handle the truth

Hire Briere as the forwards coach. He can teach offense to this group and is respected!
- Phigment

Briere is a skilled forward, and the team has really only one player - G - that plays a similar game.

In regards to whether Couturier had the right linemates, Berube has said at times this season, although not yesterday-- "Look, good offensive players find ways to score. Period. Linemates aren't an excuse. Checking isn't an excuse -- battle through it."
- bmeltzer

Let's apply Berube logic to Berube:

Good coaches get their teams in the playoffs. Period. The players aren't an excuse. Injuries aren't an excuse -- battle through it.

some of these young Flyer players really need some speed skating lessons

Let's apply Berube logic to Berube:

Good coaches get their teams in the playoffs. Period. The players aren't an excuse. Injuries aren't an excuse -- battle through it.
- Feanor

OK, that was pretty good.

Honestly, these are things Chief has said all season; mostly at the end of his pregame media availability (small group session separate from his post-morning skate availability to a generally much larger group of reporters). At the end of his late afternoon sessions, he frequently speaks candidly about things as the tape recorders are turned off.

What happened yesterday was that Berube simply took things he'd been saying quasi on/off record and laid it out for everyone. The Bergeron stuff, for instance, was specifically raised a few times.

Berube has a contentious relationship with one reporter in particular. That's where the testiest exchanges arose without Berube raising his voice. No doubt he felt he was being set up and responded sharply and emotionally while still trying to hold things together.

In regards to whether Couturier had the right linemates, Berube has said at times this season, although not yesterday-- "Look, good offensive players find ways to score. Period. Linemates aren't an excuse. Checking isn't an excuse -- battle through it."
- bmeltzer

I understand that he's said similar things all season long, and I understand he's got a contentious relationship with the Daily News writer.

At the same time, I still think it's nonsensical to dismiss that Couturier was handed a role that is one of the most difficult in the NHL, at age 22 and then gets compared to a 29 year old all star player, who plays a somewhat easier role and often plays with better players than Couturier had.

If Berube wants to compare Couturier to Bergeron fine, but don't simply point at the goal totals and blow off the usage factors-the insane D start ratio, the quality of linemates, the PP usage.

Couturier does need to be better. Nobody is denying that. But expecting him to be Bergeron with his usage is being out of touch with reality.

Let's apply Berube logic to Berube:

Good coaches get their teams in the playoffs. Period. The players aren't an excuse. Injuries aren't an excuse -- battle through it.
- Feanor

some of these young Flyer players really need some speed skating lessons
- vejim

Coots needs to go see Gary Roberts if he wants to take his game to the next level

Coots needs to go see Gary Roberts if he wants to take his game to the next level
- Just5

He should do that or seek out a power skating instructor, like Laura Stamm. Either option would be a good thing for him.

I understand that he's said similar things all season long, and I understand he's got a contentious relationship with the Daily News writer.

At the same time, I still think it's nonsensical to dismiss that Couturier was handed a role that is one of the most difficult in the NHL, at age 22 and then gets compared to a 29 year old all star player, who plays a somewhat easier role and often plays with better players than Couturier had.

If Berube wants to compare Couturier to Bergeron fine, but don't simply point at the goal totals and blow off the usage factors-the insane D start ratio, the quality of linemates, the PP usage.

Couturier does need to be better. Nobody is denying that. But expecting him to be Bergeron with his usage is being out of touch with reality.
- Jsaquella

It will be interesting to see what Hexy does at the draft and in the off-season. If he goes after a pure center then perhaps he too sees Couturier as a 3rd line, shut-down guy who has some offensive pop. If they go after a couple of pure wingers, that would suggest he is comfortable with G-Couts-Laughton long term.

Let's apply Berube logic to Berube:

Good coaches get their teams in the playoffs. Period. The players aren't an excuse. Injuries aren't an excuse -- battle through it.
- Feanor

This