Polaris922 Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 1) What is the GM Challenge? 2) Would you rather have Regis? 3) At least Blysma is gone (so you can redirect your biotching to Rutherford....joking). Actually yes I'd rather have Regis. As I said in the other threads nobody knows players like Regis does. And I'd rather try a variable than a guy who didn't make the playoffs 13 of 18 tries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadDevil Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 The thing I don't understand is Rutherford saying he's probably only going to be there 2-3 years. Is he just a stopgap until somebody else in the front office is ready to take over? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilldoc Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 Last years summer bracket of forum topics. This year we may do a Most Valuable Agitator bracket.http://www.hockeyforums.net/index.php/forum/161-summer-gm-challenge/ Ahh...now that would be fun! Sounds like a wonderful topic, considering there are so many leading candidates out there. This could be one of the more interesting debates out there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanflyer Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 Actually yes I'd rather have Regis. As I said in the other threads nobody knows players like Regis does. And I'd rather try a variable than a guy who didn't make the playoffs 13 of 18 tries. Interesting and good points. We (flyers fans) joke about Pierre, but your comments are spot on. Water under the damn now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nossagog Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 @nossagog like this! I may have to take out the ears too so I don't have to listen to his presser's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J0e Th0rnton Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 Good choice, he has done as well as can be expected with a small market team, it will be interesting to see how he does with a club with a payroll and the best player in the game. Good choice, glad to see they have him in place. Now the Bylsma watch is on............I'd hire Bylsma to coach our powerplay. But that's all.Woodcroft is BLAH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J0e Th0rnton Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 Its a great hire for the Pens. I appreciate that they did there due diligence in getting the right guy, but I in this rare instance I think they screwed the pooch. What I mean is that 99 times out of 100, you get your GM and then get your new coach. I think it was disingenuous of the pens organization to leave Blysma wafting in the wind while most knew he was gone. Normally, you want to get your GM first and let him hire a new coach. In this instance, I think the Pens screwed up because if I was President, I would have gone immediately after Barry Trotz after firing Shero. I think any GM new hire would have zero qualms with "inheriting" a newly selected coach of Trotz stature instead of selecting their own. Trotz is the perfect coach for the Pens. As a Flyers fan, I am contented, because had they got Trotz, I could easily see more rings on the Pens fingers. That said, Rutherford is very astute and certainly find an adequate person to run the team behind the bench. Why the pens did not fire Blysma at the same time as Shero is beyond me. Its like his neck was 3/4 severed and just listing in the wind. Not a cool thing to do. That's the thing. As a Sharks fan, we played Nashville in the first round several times and I found some of Trotz playoff lines and decisions to be less astute than I expected. In fact, at times I wanted to kiss him because he would almost give us home ice advantage with the matchups we wanted instead of vice versa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanflyer Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 That's the thing. As a Sharks fan, we played Nashville in the first round several times and I found some of Trotz playoff lines and decisions to be less astute than I expected. In fact, at times I wanted to kiss him because he would almost give us home ice advantage with the matchups we wanted instead of vice versa. You have a much closer view than I. But, Trotz was always coaching a team on a shoestring budget- unlike San Jose. From afar, I really respected what he accomplished and the style of play of his teams with a limited talent pool. I never was able to dissect his ability down to line match-ups (laziness on my part). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B21 Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Thoughts.... It's the safe pick. Not a "wow" pick but not an "OMG why him?" pick either. Botterill was promoted to Associate GM. Guerin and Fitzgerald to Assistant GM. Rutherford was very straightforward in saying this is a 2-3 year gig for him and that the Pens have 3 guys who will be very good GM candidates in the near future. Sounds like the plan is to groom Botterill behind Rutherford and have him take over the reigns in a few years. I have no problem with that. I wouldn't even be shocked if the GM spot has already been promised to Botterill once Rutherford steps down (assuming all goes well in the next few years). I'm glad Bylsma is gone but they could have handled it better. They left it up to the new GM who "decided" to fire Byslma the morning of the announcement. Sounds like that decision was made by Lemieux/Burkle but Rutherford didn't have an issue with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nossagog Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 I'd hire Bylsma to coach our powerplay. But that's all.Woodcroft is BLAH.Really? You would actually WANT a perimeter passing power play??? They may have had a good % power play, but it was more of because of talent rather than a power play system. Not much in net front presence, and not alot of play in the slot. Get it in deep, grind grind grind, pass the perimeter, and take a shot from the point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanflyer Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 I'm glad Bylsma is gone but they could have handled it better. I agree with that. Its fine you they don't want to ride that horse anymore (so to speak), for better or worse, he performed his job with success. Some might say that anyone could given the talent of the Pens, but nonetheless, he deserved better. I am disappointed in Mario in how he handled this situation. Particularly given that there are vacancies in the Head Coaching jobs in the NHL. Give the guy a chance to land on his feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 They left it up to the new GM who "decided" to fire Byslma the morning of the announcement. Sounds like that decision was made by Lemieux/Burkle but Rutherford didn't have an issue with itYeah, that's likely what happened. I have a hunch right after the playoff exit, Mario made up his mind to fire Bylsma, but wanted a new GM to be formally carrying out the execution, so to speak. Not sure why this would make a difference who exactly fires the coach: the ownership otr a newly appointed GM, but here we have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J0e Th0rnton Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 You have a much closer view than I. But, Trotz was always coaching a team on a shoestring budget- unlike San Jose. From afar, I really respected what he accomplished and the style of play of his teams with a limited talent pool. I never was able to dissect his ability down to line match-ups (laziness on my part).They actually had a respectable defensive minded lineup when we played them. Kariya's last 2 decent years, Timonen when he was younger and better, Zidlicky, a young Weber and Suter, Forsberg at the trade deadline, Radulov actually played well in the playoffs. Grinders like Erat, Arnott, Dumont, Sullivan, Hartnell. But he put out some perplexing matches that seemed to favor the sharks. I was in disbelief when guys like Adam Hall and Vernon Fiddler were iced against the Michalek/Marleau/Bernier line. That and we molested them on the Powerplay. They had a league 5th best and 3rd best PK those years but he changed the PK style that worked for them to try to stop Thornton specifically and got stomped. Really? You would actually WANT a perimeter passing power play??? They may have had a good % power play, but it was more of because of talent rather than a power play system. Not much in net front presence, and not alot of play in the slot. Get it in deep, grind grind grind, pass the perimeter, and take a shot from the point.Rofl, that's really all we have now. If he could somehow get Demers to shoot from the PP, I would be impressed. As it is, they just pass it around now looking for the perfect opportunity that never comes. Marleau moves with the puck only to drop it back to Joe Thornton. Thornton gets double teamed, blocking all passing and shooting lanes and he has no choice but to pass it to Boyle, who passes to Pavelski on the other point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanflyer Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Marleau moves with the puck only to drop it back to Joe Thornton. Thornton gets double teamed, blocking all passing and shooting lanes and he has no choice but to pass it to Boyle, who passes to Pavelski on the other point doci doe? (sp) Funny, sounds allot like the Flyers PP (just with better talent)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaris922 Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Bylsma gets paid regardless thanks to his remaining contract. I don't consider paying a guy a couple million to do nothing as being screwed over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaris922 Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 The blog from Puck Daddy gave an interesting perspective on the hiring of Rutherford. some of the comments:Anyways PuckDaddy gives mention that training others was maybe part of Shero's shortcomings, and that Rutherford is probably is only there for a couple of years or so. I hope that's it. I have no faith in Rutherford at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radoran Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 You have a much closer view than I. But, Trotz was always coaching a team on a shoestring budget- unlike San Jose. From afar, I really respected what he accomplished and the style of play of his teams with a limited talent pool. I never was able to dissect his ability down to line match-ups (laziness on my part). I feel the same way. And I find Lindy Ruff to be in much the same position. Changing coaches at the chronic losing level doesn't really change much. San Jose is a prime example, just at a higher level than, say Nashville or especially Buffalo. I'm curious to see what he does. But there is a point at which you have to change/significantly augment players... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanflyer Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 I feel the same way. And I find Lindy Ruff to be in much the same position. Changing coaches at the chronic losing level doesn't really change much. San Jose is a prime example, just at a higher level than, say Nashville or especially Buffalo. I'm curious to see what he does. But there is a point at which you have to change/significantly augment players... Too bad he does not have Valarmov. That said, he will certainly dictate. Ovie will no longer be able to run the roost. I think this is the last go of it for him (ie. No more coaching changes- if there is a change to be made, it will be him playing for another team). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B21 Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 I agree with that. Its fine you they don't want to ride that horse anymore (so to speak), for better or worse, he performed his job with success. Some might say that anyone could given the talent of the Pens, but nonetheless, he deserved better. I am disappointed in Mario in how he handled this situation. Particularly given that there are vacancies in the Head Coaching jobs in the NHL. Give the guy a chance to land on his feet. Well there are still 3 openings and he is getting paid to not coach so I don't feel bad in that regard. The right thing to do would have been to let him go right away if that was the plan all along (looks like it was). I wouldn't be shocked if they just wanted to keep him from getting the Caps' job. If that's why, I can't get too upset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 @B21 The only problem with that theory is that it also prevented the Pens from getting Trotz, who was likely the best coach available. And I personally would have no problem with Byslma coaching another team in our division. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaris922 Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 (edited) Rumor mill is Rod Brind'Amour is a front runner for the Pens' bench... Edited June 9, 2014 by Polaris922 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyercanuck Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 @Polaris922 Thanks Polaris. Has BrindAmour actually ever coached anywhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanflyer Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 I wouldn't be shocked if they just wanted to keep him from getting the Caps' job. If that's why, I can't get too upset. As petty as that sounds, probably not to far off base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polaris922 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 @Polaris922 Thanks Polaris. Has BrindAmour actually ever coached anywhere?He's an assistant and development coach for the Hurricanes. That's all I know or could find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TropicalFruitGirl26 Posted June 10, 2014 Share Posted June 10, 2014 Awwwww....so with Rutherford in, means fanbases outside of Pittsburgh won't get to revel in endless Regis GM jokes!?Bummer....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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