I guess it’s all a matter of how you define success. It’s a very fair argument that PV hasn’t been given a roster that was ready to make the playoffs, just as it’s fair to say you start the season trying your hardest to make them. But it wasn’t that deep into the season when it was clear the playoffs were not a realistic goal.
At that point in this season success should be all about development of the younger players for the future. Instead PV instead rode vets even harder because he viewed HIS success as measured by wins. That was at the expense of development.
Most coaches (and managers) have some element of a carrot/stick approach. PV strikes me as an all stick approach (not Val ally but with actions). That can work, I suppose….maybe just not my ideal and not my ideal for a young team needing to grow. I’m hoping the new GM feels the same.
I really went into this year with no expectations. I veiwed Vincent as a guy that is just here until Columbus gets a different guy that they think will work. I don't know if he is riding vets for wins to help his cause, or to keep it so he isn't over exposing guys that he thinks can be good with some work. Just playing guys a ton to get better may or may not work, a lot also depends on the player.
Using Tarasov as an example, he was basically thrown to the wolves during the earlier Elvis fiasco. A lot of were looking at Tarasov and saying maybe this guy don't have it and we have to look elsewhere. As the season wore on, and he kept going out there, he started improving and playing like a guy that maybe does belong in the NHL.
Now I am not giving Vincent all the credit, but he did keep giving him time and Tarasov, to his credit, produced. You can say the goalie coach deserves credit also. Sticking with Tarasov though did show he isn't coaching scared, and also isn't putting pressure on guys that they can't make a mistake, and not coaching just to get himself wins.
Marchenko also. He has only missed 4 games, so I doubt the pressure to play without making mistakes is too great. Yeah, you don't want guys making a lot of mistakes, but he isn't benching people over one mistake. The coach has some input on helping a guy improve, but the player still has to put the work in too.
I don't know if what he is doing will work in the long run, or whether he even gets another chance next year, but I do think he is trying, and I am not going to fault him for that. He knows he doesn't have much of a shot, and he is trying to make the best out of having an inexperienced team. I am rooting for him to do well, but that doesn't mean I think he is a good or bad coach.