herb wrote:So, sounds like either Tortorella or Stevens will be the next Canucks head coach. I have no idea who I would prefer. Neither has the kind of pedigree or track record that says they’re no brainer hires.
While I've thought Torts was a joke during his time in NY, I'm more and more coming around to him being my top choice.
I strongly believe that a simple coaching change can make a big impact without major personnel changes. Therrien-to-Bylsma being the best example, but as I stated above every Cup-winning coach since the 1970s spent less than 4 years with their team before winning the Cup.
If you accept that major roster changes won't be made (due to cap problems and an extremely weak FA market), and that coaching changes to the locker room culture can put a team over the top, then Torts is the best short-term solution. He obviously has a shelf-life with players, and his caustic approach might be what this group of players needs to shake them out of the overly-casual style.
The gamble with Torts is whether he can get better performances out of the 2nd line wingers (whoever they may be), Bieksa, and Edler. If those guys don't respond, tune him out and end up riding the pine a lot of nights I think we're screwed. I expect a career year out of Hamhuis, who will be the biggest beneficiary of double-shifts when one of the d-men get benched for a brain fart. Kesler is also Torts' kind of player and could do extremely well.
Also in Torts defence, however much the Rangers were spending each year they've been a shitty team riding a hot goalie for the past decade. Sather has been decent at the draft, but his need for The Big Deal has killed his team. And at the end of the day, he's one of the only available coaches who has a Cup ring.