OldHat
Registered User
Of course I, as a fan, do not want a "yes man." But it's not my job on the line, so I can understand why he caved on the issue. That's all I'm saying. It's easy for you to criticize, but it's not your paycheck and it's not your passion on the line. Have you quit every job you've had when you disagreed with your boss?
Whether or not you feel it would be a positive to disagree with Oates, do you really anticipate that Kolzig would have been given another chance to be an NHL goalie coach?
I have been fortunate enough to have mostly had employment where it hasn't been as issue. I have had situations where I simply ignored instructions based on principle. I was lucky to have no repercussions, but I made those decisions knowing that there may be some.
This is not ordinary employment for Kolzig. If Olie needs that paycheck then he has managed his money terribly.
Who knows if he would have/will get another chance to be a goalie coach at the NHL level. Why not? I'm sure he would have an excellent reference in Prior and he had a long career as a player.
Telling a prospective employer that he quit or was fired because Oates wanted him to coach the goalies in a manner that was inconsistent with what he knew was right - would be detrimental to the player and the team is a positive in my book. It goes along with explaining his coaching philosophy and how he deals with players.
When Holtby was struggling - eyes were on Kolzig. Kolzig owned the changes he was pushing as his own. That is more damaging to a career than quitting or being let go because of philosophical differences.