Coaching staff shakeup?

[Unstable]

I haven't watched lately, but are the Lightning really in trouble, or just come down to earth a bit from an unexpectedly hot start?

 

[CC321]

I haven't watched lately, but are the Lightning really in trouble, or just come down to earth a bit from an unexpectedly hot start?

Too early to tell. It's a talented team, they could be a powerhouse or they could be underachievers. They haven't decided what they want to be yet.

 

[LightningStrikes]

11 games.

 

[LTIR Trickery]

I think Boucher should look at rehauling his coaching staff. Ever since Wayne had to leave this team hasn't been the same.

Now this here is a statement to consider. Something is a little off, and i'm not sure what, but you're right it has not been the same since WF left.

 

[LTIR Trickery]

I haven't watched lately, but are the Lightning really in trouble, or just come down to earth a bit from an unexpectedly hot start?

Its one thing to get beat by a certain style of team (fast, tight checking) but the way they're losing is completely undisciplined. A simple pass by Carle last night to nobody on the second goal of the night by Callahan (check the highlights). Not moving our feet. No resemblance of a possession game. Only seem to be looking to generate odd man rushes and then back way, way off. Its strange. They seemingly have abandoned everything that went right for them early.

 

[warlord6]

11 games.

Close to 25%

 

[The Wyzerhood]

Too soon for a coaching change, we just need to work on our forecheck, breakouts and offensive zone play. Stammer and Marty have just looked awful and it looks like they feel entitled to the ice time they are receiving. They are two of the leaders of this team and it's their responsibility to help turn things around - Boucher can only do so much as a coach and he's displaying all the patience you could ask for in his players. There's far too much complacency and not enough urgency; splitting Marty and Stammer up, in addition to a significant shave in their minutes can hopefully reignite their determination and passion.

 

[dbieon12]

Lol firing Boucher that'll fix her right up for sure yes siree

Not asking for him to be fired (yet), but it would be great to see or hear anything about strategy change - especially on the road.

Seriously - just put the players in a ****ing hotel when we play home games. They'll get used to the "road feel" while still having the home crowd. Then they don't get to go to their homes unless they can win on the road.

 

[Bolt32]

The fact that we can just dominate teams in home games, then come on the road and we lay a goose egg is a huge coaching problem. Boucher has the talent this year to have a really solid run, and yet when we watch them play its utterly depressing when on the road. If he needs an assistant I would hope Yzerman would demand that Boucher hires one ASAP or he finds one himself. If the problem persists I hate to say it, but I will see reason in getting rid of him..........

With that said, I would love to see Cooper coach in the NHL. Would love to see the crunch mentality on the Bolts right now.....

 

[Felonious Python]

I'm telling you guys, put Guy Boucher into honey badger mode and get him to stop giving a **** about favorites and personal history and this team will kick an unbelievable amount of ass.

He says this is a performance league, but we hear about the process after a loss.

That being said, I felt he was unneccessarily cutthroat in his approach when he first came to the team, so you can possibly go too far the other way.

Everything ends eventually. It's just a matter of when and how easily you let it.

 

[Rschmitz]

What makes this question relevant is Cooper down in Syracuse. Its worth pondering what the Lightning would look like with him at the helm....because lets face it he is going to get an NHL head coaching job either here or somewhere else.

Having said that, you've got to stick with Guy right now.

 

[Boltswin]

I am sick and don't feel like reading every post. I think I made it through about half of the first page.

I have a couple opinions that may or may not have been discussed, I apologize if they have.
I definitely think firing Boucher is the wrong decision. That said, I have been asking myself how long of a leash do I as a fan, and does management, give Boucher? He has earned a lot, but there could obviously come a time when letting him go is the right decision. I wonder what it would take for Boucher to lose favor with the pro Boucher side.

Secondly, I do not understand all of the talk of planning for the future. If you are always worried about the future you will never get anywhere. There has to be a now sometimes. So, when does the future we are always planning for come? This topic just confuses me, probably moreso right now that I feel like ****.

 

[Stammer Time*]

Head coach Guy Boucher has one more year remaining on his deal (he signed a four-year contract when he was hired) while assistants Dan LaCroix and Martin Raymond are in the final year of their deals.

http://www2.tbo.com/sports/lightnin...ings-trade-for-desjardins-sensible-ar-636607/

I hope Jean is in the last year of his deal also.

 

[Felonious Python]

If we're going to criticize Frantz Jean for the results of the goaltending, then that same criteria has to apply with the defense and Dan Lacroix. Defensemen regress in TB. (Hedman came back from Russia improved and you know he'll start slipping like everyone else as the season goes on.)

I hate criticizing them and I really want to like this entire coaching staff, but I can't look at the results and say that the process has been completely working.

 

[Stammer Time*]

If we're going to criticize Frantz Jean for the results of the goaltending, then that same criteria has to apply with the defense and Dan Lacroix. Defensemen regress in TB. (Hedman came back from Russia improved and you know he'll start slipping like everyone else as the season goes on.)

I hate criticizing them and I really want to like this entire coaching staff, but I can't look at the results and say that the process has been completely working.

I would be fine with an entire new assistant coaching staff (Minus Steve Thomas if he counts).

 

[Felonious Python]

I would be fine with an entire new assistant coaching staff (Minus Steve Thomas if he counts).

Maybe, but I think this elaborates the point that Lightning fans really want Guy Boucher to do well. Where else could you get fans to think about cleaning house of all assistants and still keep the head coach?

I know Boucher is in charge of PP, Lacroix is in charge of defense and PK, and Jean is goaltending, but what are Raymond's responsibilities? He's always the guy Boucher talks with on the bench when making decisions so he has a prominent role, but I'm not sure what you can really point to and say that he's been successful at it or not.

and I think I should point out that the issue with the defense isn't so much how they play, but in a meta, preparation sense. They start off hot to begin the year and gradually become a liability towards the end of the season.

 

[LightningStrikes]

I don't think anything will happen this season. Teams had just a couple days of training camp, the schedule is tighter than ever and, well, this season only has 48 games.

 

[TBLHoser]

Boucher said because of the schedule, they've only had 4 practices since the beginning of February which says a lot about their play also. I would think it would be the same for all teams wouldn't it???

 

[LightningStrikes]

Boucher said because of the schedule, they've only had 4 practices since the beginning of February which says a lot about their play also. I would think it would be the same for all teams wouldn't it???

It is. Other good teams (on paper) are slumping too: Philadelphia, Buffalo, Washington, Los Angeles, (Minnesota, Phoenix).

 

[LTIR Trickery]

Most of the teams who are playing well right now have had the least amount of offseason turnover.

 

[Coopers Gum]

What would you guys think if we brought in a PP specialist assistant coach? Our PP is getting to the point where I'd like to decline the penalty. The problem with it is it's either really hot or really cold. It needs to stay consistent. Can't hurt to give Guy new ideas, right?

 

[LightningStrikes]

What would you guys think if we brought in a PP specialist assistant coach? Our PP is getting to the point where I'd like to decline the penalty. The problem with it is it's either really hot or really cold. It needs to stay consistent. Can't hurt to give Guy new ideas, right?

This came up a season ago, already. I don't know why there hasn't been a change yet. Boucher once said the PP is "his baby". I love the guy (heh) but maybe it's time to let somebody else worry about the PP or at least give some input.

That said, our PP still ranks 5th in the league - thanks to our pure dominance on the PP at home (1st in the league - road PP: 26th and below 10%).

 

[CupsOverCash]

I dont think its been coaching. I think they are just struggling as a team to get the puck in the net. They havent capitalized on their opportunities like they were earlier this season. They also need to be more disciplined and stay out of the box but I feel like no matter what they will get calls. I think they need to be better prepared for adversity and expect it to happen. Nobody is in favor of this team doing anything, so they need to take it upon themselves and make it happen. They have the players and coaching to do it. Just need to snap themselves out of that funk and start playing 60 mins of hockey. The scoring will come, just keep throwing that puck at the net. Good things happen.

 

[Tampacuseforever]

At the beginning of the year Boucher was excited about the two power play units. The first unit never leaves the ice and the second gets about 30 seconds to make things happen, it time they even it up a little and show the opposition the two looks that Boucher talked about.

 

[LTIR Trickery]

I dont think its been coaching. I think they are just struggling as a team to get the puck in the net. They havent capitalized on their opportunities like they were earlier this season. They also need to be more disciplined and stay out of the box but I feel like no matter what they will get calls. I think they need to be better prepared for adversity and expect it to happen. Nobody is in favor of this team doing anything, so they need to take it upon themselves and make it happen. They have the players and coaching to do it. Just need to snap themselves out of that funk and start playing 60 mins of hockey. The scoring will come, just keep throwing that puck at the net. Good things happen.

What, no! Its Guys fault!