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7 Comments (3 conversations)
guadzilla
Man, these wins are so bitter-sweet. It’s great to see Michkov scoring in heaps and wonder at what his production would be like if he was paired with a legit 1C. 80-90 points is very realistic right there. Same for TK – he’s been making his own offense, pretty much.
But having come within sniffing distance of a top 3-4 pick, it’s also frustrating to see that pick get further away.
guadzilla
One of the challenges the Flyers face is that the coach they hire now is not the coach they will want when the team is competitive. And most coaching candidates are also likely aware of this, and the short job duration implied by this.
If Shaw is able to thread the needle in terms of teaching/developing the players and also maintaining the good habits/structure, he’d be a viable candidate for the next year or two, as a bridge coach. It’s hard to judge anything based on a few fun games when there is no more pressure on the players, though.
Bob MCH
You make a good point. The next coaching sequence should be a two stepper, first a developmental guy like Shaw, and second, once the talent is here, a top shelf experienced Cup winning guy who can manage a veteran team. That being the case, for me, Hilferty and Jones need to sit DB down, and focus him on acquisition of talent rather than a fun work environment for the players the last 6 games. They need to lose ’em all from here on out and get a top five pick.
How to do this? Name Shaw the coach for next year, right now, and then IR a half dozen of the better players. This is major league GM time, a huge opportunity is near, and he cannot screw it up. But based upon what we have seen from DB the past week, he is screwing it up. If Torts was toxic, keep him employed until May, lose out, then fire him. Now, given the present situation, DB is clueless, so this is where Jones and Hilferty can earn their pay. The team has to lose out. Period.
guadzilla
I genuinely believe that there is a very delicate balance between providing an environment for players to develop and also pushing them (especially those that need the push) to develop good habits. I still cringe at the memory of the Hakstol days, when the team played with no discipline and no development happened.
One of the reasons I was/am bothered about the Torts firing – and pushed back on Charlie’s post earlier – is that i really do want to know if he had lost the room, or if he was fired b/ of how he handled just 2-3 players (eg, York and Pelletier), or if it was something else. If the first reason, fair enough. If the second reason, then i dont think it bodes well for the Flyer rebuild if they are caving in over a few players who can’t handle tough coaching (especially from a coach who by all accounts actually DID care for his players).
guadzilla
As for the tank – I can’t really blame DB here. You can’t really tell athletes to lie down and lose. And he did do enough to tank: got rid of 2-3 good middle-6 players, ensured that there were no warm bodies to replace them…
Another reason why i am curious to know what exactly it was that led to the firing. I can’t imagine things went tits up so fast that the Torts went from being a part of the triumvirate to being persona non grata.
If the 10-game losing streak or even those quotes were indeed the trigger for firing Torts, then i am with you: DB has royally screwed this. It is one thing to not tank deliberately. But when your team is handing it to you on a silver platter and only a few game are left, just take it!!! This whole “gives them momentum for the next year” notion has been proven to be false across all sports.
Bob MCH
Exactly right. I have this bad feeling, that DB is another Matt Klentak. A weak inexperienced GM who just for some reason cannot get the job done that needs to be done. Yep, this high draft pick potential was given on a silver platter. Look at the Sixers. They may suck at trades and signings, but wow, they are putting on a clinic in how to intentionally tank. Simply IR the top dogs left on the team. They just sat Grimes for 3 games because he was playing too well, and gave them a win here and there. Maxey is done for the year over a minor item that normally he would play through. So they sat him. This is what DB has to do. Shaw cannot do it. DB has to. Jonesy has to. “Hey K, you look a little tired today, you are getting a day off.” Etc… DB has to think about what is best for the organization to win a cup, not what third line players need at the end of a long losing season. He should have kept Torts to the end. Major screw up by an inexperienced GM lacking savvy, finesse, and wisdom.
Bob MCH
These wins at the end of a meaningless season where a top five draft pick, an elite talent was possible, will now evaporate into a pick in the 10 to 15 area, is just wonderful. Great job DB and company! Why get elite talent, a 1-C, to play with Michkov on an elite first line and hope for a Cup, when you can go for mediocrity once again!! Nice job Flyers! Stupid is as stupid does. Just call DB “Forest.” You tank when you get this close, DB. Even the fledgling 76ers understand the concept. You IR all the talent that remains and lose out. Brutal GM work. Think like management, not like a player, DB, or go back to scouting, or whatever you did before taking the job.