With pick 811, NJ selects Larry Robinson, Assistant Coach
Larry was the only member of the Devil's coaching staff through all 3 cups - high profile assistant in 95, head coach in 00, special assignments in 03. *He failed at head coach because he was too nice to discipline his players, but is an all-time great assistant.
Full profile:
http://hfboards.com/showpost.php?p=2...7&postcount=47
Larry's role with the Swamp Devils*
1) change the defense in game
Larry was in charge of changing the defense for Lemaire as assistant in the 95 Cup run and did a great job of getting Scott Stevens out there against the best opposition at most time.
2) work with the defensemen
A) Read towards the bottom of the profile above about the influence Larry had on several of the great recent modern defensemen - Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, and Rob Blake. Ken Daneyko said he learned more from Jacques Lemaire and Robinson about hockey in their first two months in NJ than he did the rest of his life - and Ken was a multiyear veteran by this point!
Larry will really help Babe Pratt - who had the talent to be one of the best in the world and sometimes reached that level, but not consistently. *Larry will help him reach that level as often as possible.
B) He will help possible penalty liabilities Pratt and Ley play hard hitting hockey without taking unnecessary penalties. *Larry was part of the Devils coaching staff when they became the most disciplined team in the league and had a big part in channeling the rage of Stevens and Daneyko.
3) run the powerplay in practice
In 2000-01, larry's only full season in NJ, As head coach, they had the best PP in the league. *Elias and another forward roamed on the first unit, while the forwards on the second unit were more stationary - the exact plan for the Swamp Devils PP. I believe LA had a strong PP when Larry was there too.
-having Larry Robinson as assistant will allow Jaroslav Pitner to focus on implementing his left wing lock system and changing the forwards in game.*