News Article: Mike Babcock Pretty Much Confirms Melnyk Involved In MacLean Firing

[Minister of Offence]

So much spin on such a harmless quote.

All owners meddle. Some a little more than others. I don't doubt that Melnyk had a hand in Cameron's hiring and promotion, and I don't doubt he pushed Murray to make some changes to get the team to win. It's the nature of pro sports; billionaires who are used to running the show and managing their investments aren't often comfortable taking a back seat when they don't like their organization's performance or direction.

I'm not even a fan of Melnyk, and I happen to believe he meddles too much. At some point, though, we have to look at other teams and realize Melnyk isn't a Pocklington or a Ballard.

I'm sure most here would meddle if they were billionaire owner. You just hire the GM to do the day to day work. Nothing significant goes through without owner approval

 

[Samsquanch]

I'm sure most here would meddle if they were billionaire owner. You just hire the GM to do the day to day work. Nothing significant goes through without owner approval

Yep. Melnyk is justa passionate guy, and more open about it than most owners.

That being said, I really he wish he would just shut his mouth and stay out of it as much as he can. That and to sell the team to a richer man

 

[Lenny the Lynx]

The reaction on here to the firing has been just bizarre

It's like he is the first coach ever to be fired in nhl history

 

[Inkling]

I'm giving cameron a chance. Because I literally have no choice. I can't fire him.

That's pretty much the wisest statement to be found in this thread. I'm with you. Time will tell.

 

[h2]

The reaction on here to the firing has been just bizarre

It's like he is the first coach ever to be fired in nhl history

Fans have a right to react however they want. Nothing wrong with that. Given the optics of the whole situation, it's even justified.

However, as I mentioned earlier, I will give Cameron a fair shake and hope things work out. If he sucks tho, he better get fired regardless of his connection with Melnyk.

 

[Korpse]

Do you guys really think an experienced GM like Murray would act like the owners puppet? I'm sure Melnyk had some input on Cameron getting the job but I'm not sure he said to Bryan " I want Paul gone and Dave in" and Murray just obliged.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

This team is Bryan Murray's legacy project I have to think

Better to acquiese to the owner on the coach than to quit on principle

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

Melnyk is too skinny to be Skeletor.

If anything, he's Sly Sludge from Captain Planet:

Seriously though, I get your points. I just wanted to reset the arguments in the pro & anti-Melnyk camps. Emotions can get high, sometimes it's good to step away for a second and try and bring the debate back to reasonable talking points.

That picture is frighteningly accurate.

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

Title is misleading. Sounds like Babcock is just making assumptions. Wheres the "pretty much confirmation". I think MacLean was fired because the team has been giving up tons of chances for years and saw no improvement to start the season plus we just had a 4 game losing streak. I think 100 percent that Cameron was only hired because Melnyk though.

 

[jbeck5]

The reaction on here to the firing has been just bizarre

It's like he is the first coach ever to be fired in nhl history

It would have been funnier if you said *in sens history.

I don't know why.

 

[Karlsson2Turris*]

Apparantly Melnyk wanted Maclean gone since Februrary 2014 (the Boston blowout loss).

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

Apparantly Melnyk wanted Maclean gone since Februrary 2014 (the Boston blowout loss).

source?

 

[krapsik]

Apparantly Melnyk wanted Maclean gone since Februrary 2014 (the Boston blowout loss).

If this is true, that sucks. Push Melnyk harder, we could even maded PO last season.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Apparantly Melnyk wanted Maclean gone since Februrary 2014 (the Boston blowout loss).

I don't remember that game. Why would that one be so bad.....we always lose against Boston anyways.

Anyone have a refresher?

 

[Benjamin]

source?

Like the 1st or 2nd page in this thread and it was the Montreal game. We collapsed to like 5 goals against in 5mins.

 

[Dysentery]

Wait, why does anyone give a **** what Babcock says??

Why is this even a thread? Obviously Melnyk was involved.

I don't want some former NHL coach to coach this team. Its ridiculous the recycling of coaches. Some posters here even suggested Jack Martin to come back..lol insane.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Like the 1st or 2nd page in this thread and it was the Montreal game. We collapsed to like 5 goals against in 5mins.

ugh...that one I remember. Eugene should've had the zebras fired after that one.

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

Like the 1st or 2nd page in this thread and it was the Montreal game. We collapsed to like 5 goals against in 5mins.

http://the6thsens.com/2014-articles...three-to-four-years-ago-by-eugene-melnyk.html

this? It seems like Murray really wanted to fire him. My undrstanding of that was that it was really hard for murray to keep faith in MacLean. As for ownership involved from Babcock it could just mean that Melnyk was sick of losing and wanted to see progress and that put pressure on Murray to fire MacLean. IDK I honestly think dont think Melnyk went to Murray and said fire MacLean because hes a bad coach.

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

I want to see someone come out and say Melnyk had MacLean fired so Cameron could coach. All this dancing around seems like speculation and assumptions.

 

[Zorf]

This is ridiculous. Why are we making mountains out of molehills?

Babcock said that ownership was involved? Obviously ownership was involved. The owner has to deal with the cost of continuing to pay the coach's salary. So yes, I'm sure Melnyk was involved when Murray decided he was going to fire Maclean and have Melnyk fork out a couple million for the guy to stay away.

How is this surprising to anyone?

 

[balaclava brian]

Just throwing this out there, but am I the only one who remembers this board lambasting MacLean for his horrible coaching decisions?

Remember? The juggling of lines that had great chemistry. Playing certain veteran players too much, while not playing more talented players enough? The horrible shooter choices in shoot-outs?

Not to mention no one seems to be debating that MacLean was fired because he lost the room - that he no longer communicated with the players and the players felt they were not being listened to.

Seems as if more people are upset Melnyk (the guy who saved this team from financial ruin, but admittedly seems awfully involved in hockey ops) MAY have had a hand in the firing on the guy.

Yeah, let's forget about the poor decisions MacLean made and how he lost the room but instead focus on that this was somehow all orchestrated by Melnyk.

It's obvious the hate for Melnyk not only out-weighs but also covers up the real reasons why MacLean was fired.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

Just throwing this out there, but am I the only one who remembers this board lambasting MacLean for his horrible coaching decisions?

Remember? The juggling of lines that had great chemistry. Playing certain veteran players too much, while not playing more talented players enough? The horrible shooter choices in shoot-outs?

Not to mention no one seems to be debating that MacLean was fired because he lost the room - that he no longer communicated with the players and the players felt they were not being listened to.

Seems as if more people are upset Melnyk (the guy who saved this team from financial ruin, but admittedly seems awfully involved in hockey ops) MAY have had a hand in the firing on the guy.

Yeah, let's forget about the poor decisions MacLean made and how he lost the room but instead focus on that this was somehow all orchestrated by Melnyk.

It's obvious the hate for Melnyk not only out-weighs but also covers up the real reasons why MacLean was fired.

Iirc, Maclean wasn't the one who picked the guys for the shootout.

 

[balaclava brian]

Iirc, Maclean wasn't the one who picked the guys for the shootout.

It's quotes in articles like this that lead me to believe otherwise.
http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/12/09/coach-paul-maclean-confident-in-shootout-choices

However, even if he wasn't the one choosing, as the Head Coach he has to take responsibility for the (abysmal) results of the team's shootout record during his tenure. I admit though, the team (and choices) have seemed better as of late (Lehner becoming better?) - however, there were still a few head scratchers recently..

 

[officeglen]

I want to see someone come out and say Melnyk had MacLean fired so Cameron could coach

Because it wouldn't be true

Melnyk was complaining to Murray about team performance, paying millions to some players who were doing little, ticket revenue less than projections, the Canadian $, and possible team dissension. Murray talked to the leaders of the room and determined there was a problem. First choice was Luke.

 

[Qward]

So to be clear...
Murry tells Melnyk it is time to rebuild and Melynk takes this opportunity to strip the budget to league minimum.
They hire MacLean and he somehow gets us into the playoffs where Melnyk himself said is the only time the team makes money.
Year two, lock out, MacLean gets us into the playoffs despite half the team being on IR, gets to second round and wins Jack Adams, while the team is STILL in the bottom payroll.
We lose Alfie (probably because of Melynk) and the team drops a big stinker and we just barely miss out on the playoffs despite being at the bottom of the league in the payroll and Melynk's reaction is to fire him so he can get his puppet of a head coach in?

Every time I get mad at Murray, Melnyk magically rears his head and shows he is the cause.