JackSlater
Registered User
- Apr 27, 2010
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My recollection from the time, so take that for what it's worth, is that Lacroix was treated with kid gloves by Crawford despite being a very marginal NHLer on a very good NHL team. I just don't see it being something that Crawford liked and I recall reading once or twice that Lacroix still thought that his son could get more or better time. I don't think it compares to the ego clash, the biggest factor, when it comes to why Lacroix wanted Crawford gone, but I would have to imagine that it was a source of agitation.I checked Blood Feud, Dater for specifics on this, Eric-Lacroix-gate seems to have come to a head 4 games into 1998-99 the season after Crawford was fired for Hartley
They mention earlier that some of the Avs veterans felt Crawford was giving the kid gloves treatment to Eric on account of family connections, and Hartley basically shilled directly for Lacroix senior until the team leadership forced the issue.
Its possible Crawford may have been planning to put an end to that inconsistency with Lacroix but is there direct evidence for that?
While I do think that Lacoix as a GM is well beyond Crawford as a coach, it's a very awkward situation to put a coach in.