2009 NHL off-season trades, rumours, draft thread

THAT Jacques Martin?

 

The latest rage seems to be hiring AHL coaches --- Dan Bylsma, Bruce Boudreau, Randy Carlyle, Scott Gordon, etc.

As for the junior coaches, DeBoer did a decent job with Florida last year and I thought Craig Hartsburg should have gotten a longer shot before being canned with a rebuilding team.

Wonder if the Canadiens seriously considered Patrick Roy or wanted a more experienced guy? That team will be an interesting case to watch. Lots of free agents. So which way do they go? Bring in vets for a short-term boost or commit to a long-term rebuilding project?

Wonder who will get the Minnesota Wild job now that they hired Fletcher as the GM?

 

It came down to Crawford and Martin. Martin is boring as shit and Crawford plays uptempo hockey. It's bad for the game when teams hire coaches like Martin.

 

I guess Gainey figured to play uptempo hockey like the Habs have recently, you need a goalie.

 

So does Dave Tippett keep his job or does Nieuwendyk go for the splashy change right out of the gate?

 

Hmmmm, tough call there. Tippett's record is pretty decent over the years, compared to some other current coaches. But the team is entering a major rebuilding stage, which is puzzling as to why they keep Mike Modano around.

Also, if you are a first-time GM, do you really want your first move of note to be firing a veteran coach? It sort of would send the message "I know better than all of you".

 

What? Yeah, that's the ticket, send the face of the franchise since it was in Minnesota packing.

 

I thought he was a free agent.

 

Whether he is or not, you work out a fair deal, and make the effort to make sure he's with the franchise for life.

Just because the team's rebuilding, you don't dump one of the faces of the franchise.

 

Ladies and gentlegaymen, may I present Viktor Hedman.

 

The possibility was floated today due to the fact Nieuwendyk did not come out and say Tippett would definitely be back. However, I agree that it wouldn't be a good move to can him without letting him have a chance to coach what would most likely be a a less injury-riddled and Sean Avery-riddled team.

Modano's not going anywhere. He has one year left on his contract. This season will be a victory lap.

 

Please, Islanders, for all that's good in the world, please take Tavares or Duchene.

Yours sincerely,

Brian Lawton.