Hordichuk_24
Registered User
An official announcement will be made tomorrow. This isn't surprising at all to me. There has been a real power struggle behind the scenes for several years now. This was inevitable.
Bellerive coming back kind of makes sense now.
Rocko604 said:Hords, can you shed more light on the power struggle? I've been out of the loop for a while, only following on social media. This is first I've heard about it.
A lot more sense. The second I saw that trade I was completely baffled. Even Bellerive's parents told the Giants not to draft his younger brother (if they were in the position to do so) because they wouldn't allow him to play for Hay. Then I heard Bellerive was excited to return to Vancouver and figured that was a load of B.S. Now given the circumstances it makes sense.
I can't say a whole lot as most of this isn't public knowledge. All I'll say is there has been a conflict of interest the past few seasons on style of play and a certain brand of hockey. Hay is rather stubborn and opposed to change or doing things differently and it made progress much more difficult. That and the fact a lot of parents and players refuse to play for Hay. I think that alone speaks volumes.
Anyway I've always been a Don Hay fan and I appreciate everything he has done for the organization. But change was necessary for both parties, IMO.
The bold blows me away. I didn't know that. Wow.
Makes sense. The adapt or you don't play philosophy wasn't a secret but I didn't know he took it to the point guys didn't want to play for him.
Rocko604 said:Ewen is suggesting they'll get a "rock star" replacement. Unless it's Mike Johnston (which it won't be), I fully expect an ex-NHL head coach to come in.
Steve Ewen just wrote an article shedding a little more light on what I was saying earlier. He also includes a few more players that had issues with Hay. He even mentions someone like Marc Crawford as a potential replacement. That was a name that didn't cross my mind.
You would be amazed by exactly how many players/parents feel this way. I had no idea either until I was informed by someone within the organization. Bellerive is a perfect example of this. It doesn't end there. Several trades the Giants made over the past two or three seasons were because of this. Blake Orban is another. A few more off the top of my head Ast, Kudrna, Tvrdon and Fisenko. There are plenty more.
Hay is a my way or the highway type of coach. There isn't much grey area or leniency in the way he coaches. You either adapt or you don't play. That doesn't rub off very well particularly on the present day hockey player. Sometimes I think that attitude sucks the skill out of certain players. Which is why certain players left the Giants via trade and had success elsewhere.
As far as a new coach the list of candidates will be plentiful. I have a feeling Toigo will hire a big name guy. What that means exactly I don't know. Big name as in NHL experience? Or big name as far as WHL coaching standards? If the latter maybe a guy like recently fired Hitmen coach Mike Williamson? Something tells me it'll be a bigger name guy with pro coaching experience. We will have to wait and see.
Marc Crawford?
Marc Crawford?
Rocko604 said:Coming back home to coach and be with his family would be an attraction, but can ownership offer a deal comparable to what he's making tax-free in Switzerland? That remains to be seen.
You would be amazed by exactly how many players/parents feel this way. I had no idea either until I was informed by someone within the organization. Bellerive is a perfect example of this. It doesn't end there. Several trades the Giants made over the past two or three seasons were because of this. Blake Orban is another. A few more off the top of my head Ast, Kudrna, Tvrdon and Fisenko. There are plenty more.
Hay is a my way or the highway type of coach. There isn't much grey area or leniency in the way he coaches. You either adapt or you don't play. That doesn't rub off very well particularly on the present day hockey player. Sometimes I think that attitude sucks the skill out of certain players. Which is why certain players left the Giants via trade and had success elsewhere.
As far as a new coach the list of candidates will be plentiful. I have a feeling Toigo will hire a big name guy. What that means exactly I don't know. Big name as in NHL experience? Or big name as far as WHL coaching standards? If the latter maybe a guy like recently fired Hitmen coach Mike Williamson? Something tells me it'll be a bigger name guy with pro coaching experience. We will have to wait and see.
Osipov played a little more the second half of the season but to be honest I'm surprised he returned to the Giants after the Christmas break. There were rumblings he was considering staying in Russia. Hay also drove out the Giants other European forward Andreas Eder. He barely gave him a chance. Last I knew they still own his rights but I doubt he'll want to return given how he was treated. Then again maybe the fact Hay is gone will be enough to entice him to come back? Who knows. If the Giants select a player in the euro draft that will clear up that situation one way or another.
You would be amazed by exactly how many players/parents feel this way. I had no idea either until I was informed by someone within the organization. Bellerive is a perfect example of this. It doesn't end there. Several trades the Giants made over the past two or three seasons were because of this. Blake Orban is another. A few more off the top of my head Ast, Kudrna, Tvrdon and Fisenko. There are plenty more.
Hay is a my way or the highway type of coach. There isn't much grey area or leniency in the way he coaches. You either adapt or you don't play. That doesn't rub off very well particularly on the present day hockey player. Sometimes I think that attitude sucks the skill out of certain players. Which is why certain players left the Giants via trade and had success elsewhere.
As far as a new coach the list of candidates will be plentiful. I have a feeling Toigo will hire a big name guy. What that means exactly I don't know. Big name as in NHL experience? Or big name as far as WHL coaching standards? If the latter maybe a guy like recently fired Hitmen coach Mike Williamson? Something tells me it'll be a bigger name guy with pro coaching experience. We will have to wait and see.
So the first guy is an undersized Junior player who MAY score 40 points and people are excited to lose one of the best Junior coaches in the league. And are any of the other players really that important. Hay seems to have done a hell of a job with the franchise and produced many NHL players. I didn't see many of them leaving and complaining about the coach.
This whole woe is me attitude by the players never ceases to amaze me. Maybe they should all vote before the season, along with their parents, who the coach will be and if they don't like the result they can just stay at home waiting on the competition ribbons and trophies.
So the first guy is an undersized Junior player who MAY score 40 points and people are excited to lose one of the best Junior coaches in the league.
Beatle17 said:I didn't see many of them leaving and complaining about the coach.
Beatle17 said:This whole woe is me attitude by the players never ceases to amaze me. Maybe they should all vote before the season, along with their parents, who the coach will be and if they don't like the result they can just stay at home waiting on the competition ribbons and trophies.
Don Hay reminds me of Brent Sutter. Both are respected coaches , both coached players to the NHL, both had success in the ....past. Will it be possible for them to look at the top teams in the WHL, look how they move the puck , less dumping and chasing and more skill and speed? Just wondering.