Exactly. ‘Blowback’ is a laughable way to characterize anything the timid Edmonton msm says anyway. Some posters are just working overtime on the theory that the coach is the biggest problem in town. Same guys who loved him when he was hired mind you. Kinda funny.
I don't know if I fall into the camp you describe here since I definitely think Chiarelli is a bigger problem than McLellan and also don't think this decision was media driven, but I don't see why it's such a crime to adjust your opinion on the coach as time goes on. I was very happy with McLellan's hiring and would now prefer to have him turfed/wanted him gone after last season.
To zero in on some specific coaching issues I have - do you disagree with any of the below?
1. The lines, particularly lines 2-4 (especially stapling Lucic to Draisaitl) make no sense.
2. The powerplay continues to be run incomprehensibly stupidly. WHY ARE WE STILL RUNNING 5 RIGHT SHOTS FROM THE WRONG HALF WALL ON PP1?
3. Puljujarvi seems to be one of the only players being held to a very high standard of accountability (I suspect you disagree here but I figure I should mention it)
4. The team seems to be coached to push more dump and chase and ring the puck up the boards, particularly the defence.
5. The team seemed to completely lack any sort of jump or hustle in game 1. (Arguable if this is coaching or not, IMO it is if this continues to be a problem over say, 5-10 games).