Canadiens1958
Registered User
This thread will attempt to look at coaching as it has evolved or mutated from the onset of the original 6 era to date.
The overall perception is that coaching today is much better. However when asked to qualify the perception most observers cannot. There may be a few comments thrown about regarding systems, game management and other generalities but specifics are lacking.
Will start by making a key distinction. There is a huge difference between better coaching and appropriate coaching. Better is simply better whereas appropriate is either position or time specific. In today's NHL the head coach is surrounded by a variety of assistant coaches - offense, defense, goalie, video, etc. Each may be appropriate for the area of responsibility but is each well rounded or better than some of the older coaches that ran the team solo?
To start I will look at two coaches from this season. Jacques Lemaire and Dan Bylsma.
Jacques Lemaire came out of retirement to replace John McLean as head coach of a floundering Devils team. McLean had sufficient experience for the job - didn't simply fall off the zamboni, but the results were not there.Lemaire took over a team that was hopelessly out of the play-offs and with a bit of tinkering almost brought the team into the play-offs.He improved their offense and defense by focusing on the little things, proper body positioning on offense and defense, taking the proper angles and lanes on offense and defense,etc. Plus he brought his superior game management to the rink every game, striving to get the best possible match-ups every moment. Nothing revolutionary or out of the ordinary. Just basic coaching 101 done better than anyone else.
Dan Bylsma. Coaches nightmare, two best players - Crosby and Malkin injured and lost for the second half of the season.Basically had to re-work the teams game and approach while threading water yet managed to compete and put his team in a position to have home ice advantage and a 3-1 lead in the opening round before another bright young coach, Guy Boucher, made the necessary adjustments.
How would you rate their performances and how would you compare them to similar performances of great O6 coaches? Example Punch Imlach leading the 1959 Leafs to a surprise play-off spot, then the SC finals. Toe Blake at the start of the 1961-62 season without Doug Harvey and Jean Beliveau hurt, missing the first 27 games, keeping the Canadiens in a position to finish first.
The overall perception is that coaching today is much better. However when asked to qualify the perception most observers cannot. There may be a few comments thrown about regarding systems, game management and other generalities but specifics are lacking.
Will start by making a key distinction. There is a huge difference between better coaching and appropriate coaching. Better is simply better whereas appropriate is either position or time specific. In today's NHL the head coach is surrounded by a variety of assistant coaches - offense, defense, goalie, video, etc. Each may be appropriate for the area of responsibility but is each well rounded or better than some of the older coaches that ran the team solo?
To start I will look at two coaches from this season. Jacques Lemaire and Dan Bylsma.
Jacques Lemaire came out of retirement to replace John McLean as head coach of a floundering Devils team. McLean had sufficient experience for the job - didn't simply fall off the zamboni, but the results were not there.Lemaire took over a team that was hopelessly out of the play-offs and with a bit of tinkering almost brought the team into the play-offs.He improved their offense and defense by focusing on the little things, proper body positioning on offense and defense, taking the proper angles and lanes on offense and defense,etc. Plus he brought his superior game management to the rink every game, striving to get the best possible match-ups every moment. Nothing revolutionary or out of the ordinary. Just basic coaching 101 done better than anyone else.
Dan Bylsma. Coaches nightmare, two best players - Crosby and Malkin injured and lost for the second half of the season.Basically had to re-work the teams game and approach while threading water yet managed to compete and put his team in a position to have home ice advantage and a 3-1 lead in the opening round before another bright young coach, Guy Boucher, made the necessary adjustments.
How would you rate their performances and how would you compare them to similar performances of great O6 coaches? Example Punch Imlach leading the 1959 Leafs to a surprise play-off spot, then the SC finals. Toe Blake at the start of the 1961-62 season without Doug Harvey and Jean Beliveau hurt, missing the first 27 games, keeping the Canadiens in a position to finish first.
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