Yep, that would be one way of making your AHL team play the same way as your NHL team. Only question is whether Willie will see this as an opportunity/promotion or the opposite.
There might be better options out there, like Cunnyworth or that guy who ran the Blackhawks pp?
Cunneyworth would be a good AHL coach but he probably wants an associate job. Haviland is the same way. I think they should just have Gully and Willie have a cage match to see who should be the NHL coach.
Always kind of wondered what exactly Willie Desjardans was doing on the bench when Gully and Jerard got there - he didn't seem to have any obvious responsibility or control over any of the units. I think that the AHL would be a better place for him right now where he can showcase his coaching abilities and maybe take a job with another organization a few years down the line.
I'll be interested to see who they bring in to replace him. Both the PP and the PK are major areas for improvement.
Always kind of wondered what exactly Willie Desjardans was doing on the bench when Gully and Jerard got there - he didn't seem to have any obvious responsibility or control over any of the units. I think that the AHL would be a better place for him right now where he can showcase his coaching abilities and maybe take a job with another organization a few years down the line.
I'll be interested to see who they bring in to replace him. Both the PP and the PK are major areas for improvement.
The PK is fine now. Jerard took over the PK mid-season, and that unit did a 180. IIRC, when the PK actually was bad, they were splitting the PK responsibility between Desjardins and Jerard. IDK if it finally going to just one voice or if Jerard wasn't being heard early in the season, but it turned in a dominant unit when he took control.
The PK is fine now. Jerard took over the PK mid-season, and that unit did a 180. IIRC, when the PK actually was bad, they were splitting the PK responsibility between Desjardins and Jerard. IDK if it finally going to just one voice or if Jerard wasn't being heard early in the season, but it turned in a dominant unit when he took control.
yeah the goals against went down and the shots / chances against somewhat down as well, but it still seemed to me like the Stars got caught in their end running around for the full 2 minutes way more than what is normal.
Maybe that's just the contrast between other teams on the PP and our godawful PP units that could hardly ever get into the attacking zone with possession.
yeah the goals against went down and the shots / chances against somewhat down as well, but it still seemed to me like the Stars got caught in their end running around for the full 2 minutes way more than what is normal.
Maybe that's just the contrast between other teams on the PP and our godawful PP units that could hardly ever get into the attacking zone with possession.
Yeah we got inflated expectations of how feeble other teams PPs were supposed to be
I thought our PK was decent, but the contrast between being average on the kill and awful on the PP probably inflated opinion of the PK's effectiveness.
Yep, that would be one way of making your AHL team play the same way as your NHL team. Only question is whether Willie will see this as an opportunity/promotion or the opposite.
Hopefully there are a lot of "big picture" discussions taking place. If he truly feels a part of the organization and buys into the big picture of what's going on then I don't see how it could be a negative. He would be coaching a ton of talented players roughly the same age as those he coached in juniors - a job he would seem fit to succeed in.
This crop that's coming through starting with this next season is in my mind where the hopes and dreams of the Dallas Stars' Cup chances are placed. It starts with guys like Benn and Eriksson but there obviously must be a ton of turnover with the supporting cast before this thing gets where it needs to be. That starts with proper development, internal player assessment, subsequent role definition, and realistic expectations based on how these prospects perform in those roles. Part of me feels like this group of prospects is too important to trust to an outsider, especially when an option like Desjardins exists.
One other thing is this could be a career saver because if things go sour this year with the big club it's possible the entire coaching staff gets the axe. Willie taking himself out of that picture and having success at the AHL level could save him from the chopping block and put him in line to be NHL head coach successor, or at very least a candidate.
