There was a preseason behind-the-scenes thing last year with the Devils, showed them lose their last preseason game vs a Swedish team or something, and the front office meetings around their last player cuts. There was a locker room segment with Hynes coming in. It got me pumped up watching it at the time. He is very good at using his voice dynamically to command attention and get players fired up. But on reflection, I remember he was pretty vague about whatever it was he wanted the team to actually do on the ice.
Now, maybe this was the way they edited things to protect teams’ strategy. But I came away thinking this guy was not a great hockey mind, and that he was more of a motivator than a coach. I think those guys run out of ears after a while.
I’m not sure what kind of coach Berube is in that regard. He doesn’t seem to like to listen to himself talk, like some do, which is good. He gives clear concise instructions. And if he’s not a great strategist, he has at least surrounded himself with guys who are. But right now Berube has this team winning on work and belief. It almost doesn’t matter who you put out for any given shift.