- Jan 22, 2007
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In the right situation, Keenan had the knowledge and ability to get his team to punch above their weight (ex: Philly and Chicago). However, Mike wasn't versatile enough to achieve long-term success in the NHL.
Keenan absolutely needed "his type" of players to be successful. As a rookie coach in Philly, Keenan had a bunch of young, moldable horses with character that he could motivate to exceed expectations. He took a young Flyers squad to two Cups against the powerhouse Oil. The Flyers run in 1987 was one of the greatest non-Cup winning accomplishments of all-time IMO. They took the Oilers to the 3rd period of game 7, without their leading scorer Tim Kerr.
In Chicago, Keenan flourished with players that had similar character and attitude as those in Philly. He walked out of a room that had players like Tocchet, Poulin, Berube, Brown and Hextall and entered one that had Chelios, Suter, Roenick, Graham, Grimson and Belfour. Keenan fit these type of teams like a glove. He had much success with them. If the Flyers and Hawks didn't run into the juggernaut Oilers and Pens, Mike probably has two Cups before he arrives in the Big Apple.
He ultimately gelled with Messier, Leetch, Graves and Co. in NY, but, once again, needed to assemble "his type of team" in order to win. He jettisoned a bunch of young talent for dependable character vets who could get the Rags over the hump.
Great coach so far, with short shelf life. Then the wheels fall off the cart...
The St. Louis Blues were not the right fit for Keenan, mainly because they had another egomaniac in Brett Hull, who the players loved. Keenan and Hull clashed and the Blues were never going to win anything substantial with this type of friction. The Gretzky experiment in St. Louis failed and Keenan used players like Corson and Pronger to carry his club, but they couldn't do it.
After the Blues, Keenan was pretty much finished in my eyes. The game was starting to change and coaches like Mike were losing power by the day. Salaries were increasing and players were becoming more sensitive. Keenan couldn't rule with an iron fist through intimidation like he could during his early years.
Personally, as a Flyers fan, I absolutely LOVED Mike Keenan. He was the perfect coach for Philadelphia in the mid-80s.
Keenan absolutely needed "his type" of players to be successful. As a rookie coach in Philly, Keenan had a bunch of young, moldable horses with character that he could motivate to exceed expectations. He took a young Flyers squad to two Cups against the powerhouse Oil. The Flyers run in 1987 was one of the greatest non-Cup winning accomplishments of all-time IMO. They took the Oilers to the 3rd period of game 7, without their leading scorer Tim Kerr.
In Chicago, Keenan flourished with players that had similar character and attitude as those in Philly. He walked out of a room that had players like Tocchet, Poulin, Berube, Brown and Hextall and entered one that had Chelios, Suter, Roenick, Graham, Grimson and Belfour. Keenan fit these type of teams like a glove. He had much success with them. If the Flyers and Hawks didn't run into the juggernaut Oilers and Pens, Mike probably has two Cups before he arrives in the Big Apple.
He ultimately gelled with Messier, Leetch, Graves and Co. in NY, but, once again, needed to assemble "his type of team" in order to win. He jettisoned a bunch of young talent for dependable character vets who could get the Rags over the hump.
Great coach so far, with short shelf life. Then the wheels fall off the cart...
The St. Louis Blues were not the right fit for Keenan, mainly because they had another egomaniac in Brett Hull, who the players loved. Keenan and Hull clashed and the Blues were never going to win anything substantial with this type of friction. The Gretzky experiment in St. Louis failed and Keenan used players like Corson and Pronger to carry his club, but they couldn't do it.
After the Blues, Keenan was pretty much finished in my eyes. The game was starting to change and coaches like Mike were losing power by the day. Salaries were increasing and players were becoming more sensitive. Keenan couldn't rule with an iron fist through intimidation like he could during his early years.
Personally, as a Flyers fan, I absolutely LOVED Mike Keenan. He was the perfect coach for Philadelphia in the mid-80s.
