- Jun 10, 2014
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Most would agree. No coach is really all that great. Coaches have their particular system and strengths with certain types of player but no matter what a coach is only ever as good as his roster. If the players execute a system then they will win. If they don't, they likely wont win.
I saw a study not long ago, think it was on NHL Numbers, that coaching changes has virtually no major impact on a teams play. That the major impacts tend to came from player changes. You want to shake up a roster you make some trades. Most people would attribute the Islanders recent success to Barry Trotz. But maybe simply moving Tavares out. And adding Martin, Komorov, Filpulla, Toews and Lehner had a far greater effect.
Generally speaking I think you are right. Most coaches who make it to the NHL are so near equal that shuffling them around makes little or no difference. They all know the same systems and have similar strengths and weaknesses. I think some coaches may have intangibles that go beyond the systems. I don't know whether it is motivational or whether some are better at using the players they are given, rather than needing outstanding players.
I will credit the coaching change in StL, not because Berube is so good, but because Yeo was bad. I will credit Trotz in NY too. Not necessarily because he is so good but because he was the coach that team needed. Right guy, right place, right time. And I think he is one of the better coaches.