here is what I think right or wrong but its more than my gut (I do have an a pretty good backyard/BBQ network
)
Cassidy for all my rants and his failure as the coach of the Capitals does have strengths
I think he is smart enough- I know he is smart enough to realize what is at stake here.
Sweeney has always been a second chance guy.
Pandolfo is in control here and he is a nice compliment to Cassidy/Dean as far as position players.
I am not sure about this statement because it was recent but 'who actually brought in the veterans the past few years for Providence?
Sweeney so far has a loaded roster in Providence with a bunch of kids coming in like Hickman, Cave, Accari, Blidth, Vitrano to join a half dozen holdovers like Griffith, Koko, Randall, Ferlin, Phillips etc....so they are young and I don't think the pressure is on Cassidy to so much win as develop. I therefore don't see a bunch of older players who Cassidy could clog the development of others with by leaning on to win. I think teaching and developing trumps the AHL trophy BUT that winning atmosphere is important to development. there is a balance at play here- and it should benefit Cassidy, especially if he is working as close to his boss as I expect. He should coach unplugged and be able to teach kids rather than run out Stuart and Johnson
My educated belief is Pandolfo will work well with him and I assume vice versa.
Providence will certainly want to win but they want guys that can help Boston and it looks like every roster spot is important for someone who may play in Boston.
Life is to short to wish Cassidy to fail- as far as Knight goes, I hope and expect him to to well in Minnesota and you never know he's a Sweeney guy.
I don't feel confident of my prediction Cassidy will be let go this season. Sometimes new regimes come in like Benning in Vancouver and they give it a year. But Sweeney knows Cassidy as well as anyone.
My bud who scouts said to me last year, there is a lot to like about Cassidy- he likes him. But he can be a yeller and he does play favorites at least that is the perception.
Sometimes we need to be saved from our selves.
Chiarelli landed on his feet in ruby red slippers and I believe Knight will also.
I think Cassidy has a legit chance to be an important part of this organization however, me and my boys have yet to see Sweeney acknowledge him and I don't care how hard posters try and link articles by Diiver or whatever. He hasn't.
Chiarelli out and Sweeney in ironically may be the best thing for Cassidy in a weird way- we shall see.
If it sounds like I am flipping I was at every DC practice and Cassidy was front and center and tied to Pandolfo and they seemed like on the face of it they were very good. Pandolfo comes with a reputation as a high quality person and excellent teacher. I know one of the parents yesterday told me their kid really thought very highly of Jay (never Pandolofo, which I thought was kind of cool) repeated multiple times.
