Just a quick question guys - why are you happy about this? I thought he made a good job this year. Was watching a lot of your games as long as I was pimpin for you to make the POs after you let Modano and Turco walk...
Thanks for the responses.
In some respects he's not a terrible coach but he makes some very odd decisions and seems to have a difficult time learning from poor decisions. His preference for certain players over others, either in terms of ice time or healthy scratch/in the lineup, were questionable. The team also had a tendency to not play their best until they were kicked in the teeth. One of the most annoying things for me was that he would put in the 4th line right after goals scored for and goals scored against, and they got scored on or gave up prime scoring chances in these circumstances far too often (not learning from poor decisions).
All in all, Crawford did a baseline job. With the financial state of the team we need someone who is a "plus" coach.
Dunno much about Niskanen`s confidence, but I heard you fans weren`t satisfied with him, so why head coach should?
I disagree with Frozen Failure about Niskanen in regards to Crawford. Niskanen was a headcase before Crawford came aboard. Crawford may not have known the right buttons to push with Nisky but he certainly didn't create a problem where one did not exist prior.
Nisky departure was financial-he sucked but was better than Woy and younger-he is a 5/6 on a normal team with a decent defense and a decent system that is consistentwhich the stars are not. he cannot find the puck and his man at the same time but his coaching has been limited to what brand of cigarettes Zubie taught him to smoke
Crawford seems like a fall guy to me for larger problems: the lack of depth on the blue line, the budget shortfalls this team had, and the injuries this year. I really doubt many other coaches would have been able to change the culture here and get consistent results any better.
Looking at it logically, you can't fault him for the mentality of Turco and Modano, whom the Stars couldn't wait to move on and when they did move them on, they didn't bring in a lot of talent to improve a non-playoff team last year. Burish is still a third-liner at best, Ott was given likely too much coin for his role, and it was hard to add pieces and make moves that weren't lateral at best. Basically, you've given Crow one year without the "distractions" to make the playoffs with a similar team and it came fairly close.
I don't see coaching as the overarching factor in this team not making the playoffs and that's why I don't think it's going to change if you bring in Desjardins, DeBoer, Richards, someone unknown, or someone proven. This team makes the playoffs if everyone is healthy, but it doesn't go a lot farther in its present construction. It may take some real personnel moves to change that.
To those talking up Gulutzan please place your coach scouting report here. What kind of system does he run? What is he like on the bench? Tendencies, i.e. playing veterans, going with the hot hand, special teams...whatever you've got I'm curious. I think he's the front runner among internal candidates.
And for anyone with an opinion on this particular matter: Wiki lists him as 39 (40 in August), do you consider this insignificant, a plus, a negative?
but he was a lot more of an active part of the problem that Tippett ever was.
I don't get this comment. I blame Tippett for ruining Turco. He played him and played him, and when a guy is giving up 4 goals a game you will ruin his confidence.
Now if you want to blame other players (ie Turco or Modano) for ruining Tippett I could see that....
Sure he overplayed Benn, but who else was going to have energy out there?
Sure he played Lehtonen alot towards the end, and you may say all season, but that is what #1 goalies due. When games are a must you use your #1... He was not responsible for Lehtonen being unable to catch up with pucks from the point.
I will say though that I think it was time Crawford went, He just seemed like he was ok with how things ended up in the end, and I personally do not see it that way. The Stars should neve rhave been in the position they found themselves in in March, and should have never of came out with that lackluster of a game on Sunday
Crawford's mistakes can be rationalized and twisted to relieve him of any perceived guilt, but can anyone think of an example of something he did well? I'm drawing a blank here.
Didn't expect it to happen, and this quick?? Nice, this is good news and i'm looking forward for our future. Never thought Crawford was a smart move but I'm glad Nieuwy relieved him this early. Better now than doing it in the middle of next season when the playoffs is out of reach.
Interesting to see who will be our next coach? I wouldn't be surprised or disappointed if it's Desjardins. Maybe even Carbonneau or Muller?
Well, I'm not too surprised this happened. I didn't want him here from Day 1 and I never liked the hiring.
I just hope Joe does his homework on this and interviews as many candidates as possible. Hell, he may wait and awhile to see which teams are elminated from the playoffs and go from there. Paul McLean in Detroit is one example of a coach I'd see getting a chance.
To those talking up Gulutzan please place your coach scouting report here. What kind of system does he run? What is he like on the bench? Tendencies, i.e. playing veterans, going with the hot hand, special teams...whatever you've got I'm curious. I think he's the front runner among internal candidates.
And for anyone with an opinion on this particular matter: Wiki lists him as 39 (40 in August), do you consider this insignificant, a plus, a negative?
I'll take some video for you guys during the playoffs that employ his strats.
Basically, he's a very defensive minded coach who also likes the spread the other teams D out and create a very quick transition game.
In the D zone its a protect the zet scenario. TONS of blocked shots, and always making sure the slot is clear of opponents.
Umbrella on the PP... surely I don't need to explain this one.
Forecheck changes throughout the game.. soo if we're tied or down one, it's 2 in and another high on the boards to force the play back to the defense to set up for a cycle.
If we have a 2 or more goal lead, it's an absolute trap that forces all pucks to be dumped.
He's not afraid to let the refs know he thinks the team is wronged.
If Desjardans were going to be promoted, why would they fire Crawford now instead of waiting a while to see how the ownership situation developes? I mean Desjardans is already under contract so what's the rush? I'd bet it's Pete DeBoer.
I'll take some video for you guys during the playoffs that employ his strats.
Basically, he's a very defensive minded coach who also likes the spread the other teams D out and create a very quick transition game.
In the D zone its a protect the zet scenario. TONS of blocked shots, and always making sure the slot is clear of opponents.
Umbrella on the PP... surely I don't need to explain this one.
Forecheck changes throughout the game.. soo if we're tied or down one, it's 2 in and another high on the boards to force the play back to the defense to set up for a cycle.
If we have a 2 or more goal lead, it's an absolute trap that forces all pucks to be dumped.
He's not afraid to let the refs know he thinks the team is wronged.
yeah DeBoer seems to make sense. You can bet it's going to be someone with legitimate experiance, the Stars are obviously still operating in compete mode on a moving forward basis (whether that's the right idea for them is questionable).
I wouldn't mind Desjardans as a fallback, but there seems to be a couple of very capable coaches on the market in Pete DeBoer and Todd Richards.
