Quote:
Originally Posted by bburton86
New Jersey???
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What about New Jersey? Lou Lamiorello is still there and hires coaches to run the same system that he and Jacques Lemaire popularized in the Swamp in the 90's. Also having Martin Brodeur is a luxury indeed.
I totally agree with what Handtrick has to say. A coach with a successful resume is going to want to use the same systems that have given him success in the past and unless they are similiar to those run by Trotz and Co. we're talking about rebuilding. Introducing a new system not only takes time (although having the team from training camp will go a long way), but it also takes either a complete or partial retooling of the roster with players that fit whatever system a new coach brings in.
Within our own division this summer we will see Columbus (Hitchcock and MacLean), St. Louis (Murray), and even to an extent Chicago (Savard - although he has been an assistant there for a while) jettison many players that no longer fit there system or have out lived their usefulness. Now, I'm not saying that every team doesn't change their roster from year-to-year, but it is common to see a major turnover during the summer anytime there is a midseason coaching change.
I'm really split on this issue, but I would be willing to accept giving Trotz a one-year extentsion with a short leash (ie: anything less than competing for the Central Division title again is not acceptable) given a retooling of roster with an emphasis on size on the wings, but without giving up our major threat of speed (big guys that can skate average to above average - Jason Ward, Taylor Pyatt, Jed Ortmeyer, etc) and the addition of at least one veteran stay-at-home physical defenseman.
But then again, I have my concerns as well. I'm glad to see that there has not been any snap decisions and that it appears that Leipold and Poile will take their time to discuss this decision and subsequently explore all of their options. As long as there is a definite direction of the franchise before the end of the playoffs I'll be happy. Should this remain in limbo heading into the draft, not only will we have trouble resigning some of our free agents that want to know what direction the franchise is headed, but we will also have difficulty signing unrestricted free agents on the open market and maybe even struggle to sign our European draft picks.
Just my thoughts, take them for what their worth
