Interesting, but I feel like a key comparison was left out. How have "non-winners" fared in comparison? Wouldn't the same socially complex dynamics affect them too? And the "non-winners", despite leveraging the socially complex dynamics, weren't able to win. That would make me think that "non-winners" would fare even worse with a new team. Of course, it's also possible that the "non-winner" was unable to win because he couldn't leverage the socially complex dynamics.
Another thing to consider is that the "proven winners" built great teams or coached or led them. That means that when they moved, they were likely opposing those same great teams, and I'll bet they didn't all move to teams of similar caliber.
There are way too many things at play here to draw any conclusions. Nonetheless I'd like to take this opportunity to make sure McPhee never sees this article or the next two words out of his mouth will be either "Mark French" or "Dean Evason".
'Socially complex dynamics' is a pretty vague catch-all. Agree that analysing non-winners would make it more revealing. Breaking down those that were fired from NHL head coaching gigs from former assistants and head coaches in other leagues upon being hired would be necessary.
My gut sense is that internal promotions aren't any more effective than hiring away up-and-coming talents from other organizations provided there's highly competent and flexible upper level management. For every Byslma or Hartley there are two or three that were plucked from elsewhere. It's why only self-delusion would suggest Evason & French are capable hires, largely because of their lack of developmental coherence as a franchise.
Back to the field, Tom Renney is my new front-runner. McPhee knows him and that may not force him to leave his comfort zone. Smart man...maybe a little soft. I'm not sure the front office is capable of truly taking a step back, setting the right course and making the best hire available. It would require a level of self-evaluation they haven't shown much previously.
Why isn't the obvious choice included in the poll: Dean Evason?
We all know it's going to be him. That's why they're unconcerned. They can paint Evason as a continuation of the direction the team was headed in during the playoffs.
Let's face it: nothing will change around here. Evason will be promoted, and McPhee will continue on.
At some point next season, we'll be told the team is engaged in a 3 year plan: and we need to be patient.
After Evason fails, we'll see Kolzig brought in to coach, and told that it'll take an additional 2 years.
Nothing ever really changes in Capsland. It's damn depressing!
I still laugh thinking Dean googling around made his way to the poll, and couldn't believe he wasn't on it. Sigh. But I tend to think if it was going to be him, it would have been him in November.
Sticking to my guns, Gus Bonzai Jarvis or Casey Jones.
I keep thinking that something is going to completely come out of left field that none of us are expecting and quite frankly with some of the random crap we're throwing at the wall on here.....it scares the hell outta me
Nothing will happen until the Cup is awarded. Hopefully they've been vetting extensively thus far and have the field narrowed significantly.
I'd hope so, if there isn't a coach hired before the July 1st FA period I think we can kiss our idea's of signing anyone of worth goodbye. I mean who would sign here without knowing for sure what there role would be in a system? I at least would have trouble with that being a Parise (big pipedream) or Suter.
We're probably not signing anyone worth anything if we don't have a coach at the draft. I'm betting a record number of ufa's are traded before July 1st.
We're probably not signing anyone worth anything if we don't have a coach at the draft. I'm betting a record number of ufa's are traded before July 1st.
Well its pretty smart for the management to wait to see if any HCs get fired. Todd McLellan has a chance of being fired and I'd put them up there of people would get Laich the **** out of here or at least.
Todd McLellan isn't f*ing getting fired and you may have to cross Hartley off the list. You just know the HC will be someone with no NHL coaching experience, that's all GMGM knows.
Come on GMGM...go Pat Riley style and take the reigns for a laugh...
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George McPhee....The Teflon GM. 15 years of failure and counting....
6 - Number of playoff series the Capitals have won since George McPhee took over as General Manager in 1997 (which makes him the third-longest-tenured GM in the League), three of which came in McPhee's first season on the job.
Well its pretty smart for the management to wait to see if any HCs get fired.
I don't think anyone else is getting fired. If there's reason to wait it's for guys like Mike Sullivan whose season just ended or a Dallas Eakins that's still coaching.
I don't like that Hartley is about to be off the market and GMGM is just sitting back. This is going to be just like the FA market. There will be 3-4 coaches that can help us go off the market. Then GMGM will dumpster dive.
I don't really think MacT is really a front runner. I think that's just who people want, and I don't really want him. Evason or Johnson wouldn't shock me, but I would like to see Mike Sullivan, Dallas Eakins, maybe Guy Carbonneau. Hell, I don't even know. I really don't. But given the fact that there hasn't been much talk, it seems like they are waiting on someone. Maybe for Dallas Eakins to finish up in the AHL, maybe they are getting ready to talk to Sullivan. Or perhaps Oates/Robinson in NJ? Hopefully it gets sorted out before the draft/free agency
Washington GM George McPhee isn’t in any hurry to find a replacement for coach Dale Hunter, who returned to his junior hockey team in London, Ontario, after guiding the Capitals to a first-round upset of the Boston Bruins and a seven-game series loss to the New York Rangers in the second round.
“I don’t know whether it’ll be done in a few weeks or a month, six weeks,” he said. "Take our time and try and do it right."
It’s not important to get a coach in place by the draft in late June or by the time free agency starts on July 1, McPhee said.
