The Pacific Division Thread

[Bollocks]

Carle is obviously outstanding at developing and getting the most out of his young players... something the Kings have been missing for years! And the guy just wins!

The only problem is the Kings will most likely only have a handful of young players with untapped potential on the roster next season. Byfield, Clarke, Laf, Helenius, maybe Turcotte...that's about it. Sure, it's very important for them to improve, I just don't see Carle wanting to coach a veteran team, nor Ken wanting to hire a NHL rookie coach that has never coached players that are well in their 20s, let alone 30s.

 

[DryKing]

The only problem is the Kings will most likely only have a handful of young players with untapped potential on the roster next season. Byfield, Clarke, Laf, Helenius, maybe Turcotte...that's about it. Sure, it's very important for them to improve, I just don't see Carle wanting to coach a veteran team, nor Ken wanting to hire a NHL rookie coach that has never coached players that are well in their 20s, let alone 30s.

True, but it's also hard to think the Kings will find the type of success the Organization desires until players like Brz, Woolley, Slukynsky, George, Booth, Wright, etc are ready to make an impact on the roster.

Plus Byfield, Clarke, Laf are some of the most essential players when it come to this team's success next season.

Unless Ken is delusional (which he may be considering he claimed to make zero mistakes last season), or pulls of some wonderful trades/signings in the offseason, and thinks this team is a contender going into next season, it would do the Organization well to have a coach who is strong when it comes to development.

Question would be, can a coach who has found a way to motivate youth also be able to motivate vets. That part, I agree with you, is a big gamble.

 

[Ice Rhino]

True, but it's also hard to think the Kings will find the type of success the Organization desires until players like Brz, Woolley, Slukynsky, George, Booth, Wright, etc are ready to make an impact on the roster.

Plus Byfield, Clarke, Laf are some of the most essential players when it come to this team's success next season.

Unless Ken is delusional (which he may be considering he claimed to make zero mistakes last season), or pulls of some wonderful trades/signings in the offseason, and thinks this team is a contender going into next season, it would do the Organization well to have a coach who is strong when it comes to development.

Question would be, can a coach who has found a way to motivate youth also be able to motivate vets. That part, I agree with you, is a big gamble.

Ooof. It just makes me wince to hear that Ken feels he made no mistakes last year. He made 4-8 million of them on defence.

 

[Clif]

Holland said he had no regrets, not that he made no mistakes. Not a good answer. Shouldn’t have said it. But there is a difference.

 

[KernCoKingFan]

Vancouver just hired Manny Malhotra as coach to replace Adam Foote (Per NHL app).

 

[Bollocks]

True, but it's also hard to think the Kings will find the type of success the Organization desires until players like Brz, Woolley, Slukynsky, George, Booth, Wright, etc are ready to make an impact on the roster.

Plus Byfield, Clarke, Laf are some of the most essential players when it come to this team's success next season.

Unless Ken is delusional (which he may be considering he claimed to make zero mistakes last season), or pulls of some wonderful trades/signings in the offseason, and thinks this team is a contender going into next season, it would do the Organization well to have a coach who is strong when it comes to development.

Question would be, can a coach who has found a way to motivate youth also be able to motivate vets. That part, I agree with you, is a big gamble.

I don't have much confidence that Ken will overhaul the roster enough to make this team an attractive option for an up-and-coming coach like Carle. I also don't think Ken has enough b***s to go with a rookie coach either.

Can you imagine being Carle? A rookie college coach choosing a team where the pressure to succeed is high and not that much to work with, especially not anything you're very familiar with? I'd steer away as far as possible if I were him.

So IMO that's two very big reasons Carle isn't Kings' coach next season.

At the very least Ken would have to trade DD if he were to bring in a coach like Carle. Can you imagine how much authority a 35yo college coach would have over a 36yo stubborn Doughty? I also can't imagine it's easy to handle a superstar Russian vet and an undisciplined, unpredictable and inconsistent Swiss dangler.

So I think it's going to be either DJ or someone from outside with plenty of NHL experience.

 

[Clif]

I don't have much confidence that Ken will overhaul the roster enough to make this team an attractive option for an up-and-coming coach like Carle. I also don't think Ken has enough b***s to go with a rookie coach either.

Can you imagine being Carle? A rookie college coach choosing a team where the pressure to succeed is high and not that much to work with, especially not anything you're very familiar with? I'd steer away as far as possible if I were him.

So IMO that's two very big reasons Carle isn't Kings' coach next season.

At the very least Ken would have to trade DD if he were to bring in a coach like Carle. Can you imagine how much authority a 35yo college coach would have over a 36yo stubborn Doughty? I also can't imagine it's easy to handle a superstar Russian vet and an undisciplined, unpredictable and inconsistent Swiss dangler.

So I think it's going to be either DJ or someone from outside with plenty of NHL experience.

If Carle couldn’t coach Doughty, Panarin, and Fiala then he doesn’t belong in the NHL anywhere. You have to coach NHL players. You think Matthews is a boy scout? How about MacKinnon if Bednar gets fired?

LA would be the lowest pressure spot of anywhere he could go. The media in TOR would be 20x harder to deal with than Doughty wanting minutes. He’d get a semi serious question from Bernstein and Andrew Knoll every other month.

Bigger issue is what stage is he looking for. If Bednar goes, the DU coach moving up to the Denver NHL team is a great story, would be minimal movement for his family, and he’d have an obviously competitive roster.

One other thing about TOR is how does the new guy break in Gavin McKenna? And what is that team doing? Trying to be competitive again now, or a mini rebuild short enough so Matthews doesn’t leave in two years? Or a longer rebuild and move Matthews in a blockbuster.

Brand new GM who was once disgraced in AZ. You’ve got to execute his vision, which isn’t clear yet, and answer to an insane and jilted fanbase. That TOR job is going to be the hardest coaching job in the league full stop.

 

[VCRW]

I don't have much confidence that Ken will overhaul the roster enough to make this team an attractive option for an up-and-coming coach like Carle. I also don't think Ken has enough b***s to go with a rookie coach either.

Can you imagine being Carle? A rookie college coach choosing a team where the pressure to succeed is high and not that much to work with, especially not anything you're very familiar with? I'd steer away as far as possible if I were him.

So IMO that's two very big reasons Carle isn't Kings' coach next season.

At the very least Ken would have to trade DD if he were to bring in a coach like Carle. Can you imagine how much authority a 35yo college coach would have over a 36yo stubborn Doughty? I also can't imagine it's easy to handle a superstar Russian vet and an undisciplined, unpredictable and inconsistent Swiss dangler.

So I think it's going to be either DJ or someone from outside with plenty of NHL experience.

I disagree that there is “pressure” on a team that is largely ignored by both local and national media. AEG seems satisfied just to sell seats. That makes L.A. a perfect place for a young coach looking to redefine the team identity.

 

[Bollocks]

If Carle couldn’t coach Doughty, Panarin, and Fiala then he doesn’t belong in the NHL anywhere. You have to coach NHL players. You think Matthews is a boy scout? How about MacKinnon if Bednar gets fired?

Carle wouldn't be asked to demote their roles, though (MacKinnon, Matthews...). They would still be the drivers of the team. They would make his job easier.

Doughty, while not (yet) terrible, isn't a top pairing D-man anymore, but it seems like he think he still is. He should play 20 minutes per game tops. Would a rookie coach that's 1 year younger than Drew be able to set him straight? I doubt it.

And to both of you, @Clif and @VCRW - the pressure is on Carle to succeed. A rookie GM wants to lay a solid foundation for a long and successful career. He already has a bullseye on his head from multiple NHL teams. Why would he choose LA Kings, where he would be hired to win and would be handed a sub-par team to do that? And he'd have a 2-year timeline of a GM that would hire him and then a bunch of question marks...

It's not about the media or fans berating him. It's about his resume. It would be like jumping head first in muddy water...

 

[NothingBut5Hole]

Carle wouldn't be asked to demote their roles, though (MacKinnon, Matthews...). They would still be the drivers of the team. They would make his job easier.

Doughty, while not (yet) terrible, isn't a top pairing D-man anymore, but it seems like he think he still is. He should play 20 minutes per game tops. Would a rookie coach that's 1 year younger than Drew be able to set him straight? I doubt it.

And to both of you, @Clif and @VCRW - the pressure is on Carle to succeed. A rookie GM wants to lay a solid foundation for a long and successful career. He already has a bullseye on his head from multiple NHL teams. Why would he choose LA Kings, where he would be hired to win and would be handed a sub-par team to do that? And he'd have a 2-year timeline of a GM that would hire him and then a bunch of question marks...

It's not about the media or fans berating him. It's about his resume. It would be like jumping head first in muddy water...

For DD, it sounds like a conversation that needs to happen with the GM in terms of his role moving forward that could impact if he stays in LA. IMO, a younger coach could bring in a fresher style of play and allow some of the players to play and create and provide input at the beginning before becoming the next Torts and just charging into the opposing team's locker room looking for a fight!

This team is middle of the pack when it comes to being a serious contender for the cup every year, even in 12 & 14 so I don't expect that much to change and neither should anyone else. The moment this team starts to win Division Championships.....run!

 

[Clif]

Carle wouldn't be asked to demote their roles, though (MacKinnon, Matthews...). They would still be the drivers of the team. They would make his job easier.

Doughty, while not (yet) terrible, isn't a top pairing D-man anymore, but it seems like he think he still is. He should play 20 minutes per game tops. Would a rookie coach that's 1 year younger than Drew be able to set him straight? I doubt it.

And to both of you, @Clif and @VCRW - the pressure is on Carle to succeed. A rookie GM wants to lay a solid foundation for a long and successful career. He already has a bullseye on his head from multiple NHL teams. Why would he choose LA Kings, where he would be hired to win and would be handed a sub-par team to do that? And he'd have a 2-year timeline of a GM that would hire him and then a bunch of question marks...

It's not about the media or fans berating him. It's about his resume. It would be like jumping head first in muddy water...

First oft I think some of the stuff with Doughty is overblown. He played a humble 3rd pairing role in the Olympics with pride and has said that he knows Clarke is going to pass him for playing time when he’s ready. This is probably going to be less about Doughty’s acceptance than it is a coach who won’t keep deferring to the old guard. It’s actually a good thing Kopitar is now retired, current hole at center be damned.

He does certainly have interest, so I am curious on where he chooses to go. And you’re right he’d be in a position to push a flawed team forward if he lands here, but no matter what direction TOR is going it’s going to be way more of a hill to climb if ends up there. We’ll see how bold he is.

 

[What party?]

For DD, it sounds like a conversation that needs to happen with the GM in terms of his role moving forward that could impact if he stays in LA. IMO, a younger coach could bring in a fresher style of play and allow some of the players to play and create and provide input at the beginning before becoming the next Torts and just charging into the opposing team's locker room looking for a fight!

This team is middle of the pack when it comes to being a serious contender for the cup every year, even in 12 & 14 so I don't expect that much to change and neither should anyone else. The moment this team starts to win Division Championships.....run!

Being a horribly polarizing poster I can type this with zero remorse: The "upgrade" in coaching will be Berube, Ken's going to sell this hard and win. And let the chips fall where they may (read: doughty gets the "C").
(((dog drinking coffee in a room on fire image)))

 

[DryKing]

Holland said he had no regrets, not that he made no mistakes. Not a good answer. Shouldn’t have said it. But there is a difference.

Check out around 10:30 in the interview when asked about point regression from the previous season, after he took over.

 

[Clif]

View attachment 14623

Check out around 10:30 in the interview when asked about point regression from the previous season, after he took over.

Ah right - and he said the teams around them got better. I remember now.

Well I stand corrected. However, I still don’t really care, but I do have to admit to forgetting just how bad the quote was. But remember, if he was more explicit about mistakes he made now he’s talking about players on the roster right now who are therefor mistakes. Just not something most GMs are willing to do.

Blake never threw PLD or Cal too much under the bus. Then he suddenly was able to unperson them both.

 

[DryKing]

Ah right - and he said the teams around them got better. I remember now.

Well I stand corrected. However, I still don’t really care, but I do have to admit to forgetting just how bad the quote was. But remember, if he was more explicit about mistakes he made now he’s talking about players on the roster right now who are therefor mistakes. Just not something most GMs are willing to do.

Blake never threw PLD or Cal too much under the bus. Then he suddenly was able to unperson them both.

Nah you were correct, I misquoted him. Apologies. Just meant that was the specific section of the interview I was referring to.

I agree with you, though I would have liked him to say something such as "I feel we improved, but teams around us improved even more. What we need to target in the off-season is improving xyz (such as offensive generation from the backend."

You are right, though, I don't think it would be appropriate to call out players in public. Save that for behind closed doors.

 

[Bollocks]

First oft I think some of the stuff with Doughty is overblown. He played a humble 3rd pairing role in the Olympics with pride and has said that he knows Clarke is going to pass him for playing time when he’s ready. This is probably going to be less about Doughty’s acceptance than it is a coach who won’t keep deferring to the old guard. It’s actually a good thing Kopitar is now retired, current hole at center be damned.

He does certainly have interest, so I am curious on where he chooses to go. And you’re right he’d be in a position to push a flawed team forward if he lands here, but no matter what direction TOR is going it’s going to be way more of a hill to climb if ends up there. We’ll see how bold he is.

I'm not sure the only alternative would be Toronto. Just because TOR media is salivating about Carle that doesn't mean there's much to it. They're a bad fit, too...actually, even worse than the Kings. They have even worse prospect depth and are an even older team than the Kings. And the pressure there would be that much greater.

IMO Calgary makes much more sense for a coach like Carle. Stacked prospect pool, young team, underwhelming current coach. Maybe Blackhawks, too, despite Blashill being there for only one season, as his coaching record pretty much stinks. Youngest team, stacked prospect pool.

 

[Clif]

Nah you were correct, I misquoted him. Apologies. Just meant that was the specific section of the interview I was referring to.

I agree with you, though I would have liked him to say something such as "I feel we improved, but teams around us improved even more. What we need to target in the off-season is improving xyz (such as offensive generation from the backend."

You are right, though, I don't think it would be appropriate to call out players in public. Save that for behind closed doors.

Hey, definitely should have said it differently, with you there. The part about bad teams improving is funny to me because part of the reason the Sharks were flirting with a playoff spot was also because so many good teams got worse. This reality is different than how Ken spun it.

SJ made a leap, but not as a big of a fall as WPG made dropping from President’s winner to 8th overall draft pick. VGK, EDM, and LA all dropped off considerably. VAN got even worse, and CAL who almost made the playoffs the previous season wasn’t close this year.

There will be rebounds next year and a team like SJ needs to make smart moves to keep pushing. They are not preordained by any stretch.

 

[Clif]

I'm not sure the only alternative would be Toronto. Just because TOR media is salivating about Carle that doesn't mean there's much to it. They're a bad fit, too...actually, even worse than the Kings. They have even worse prospect depth and are an even older team than the Kings. And the pressure there would be that much greater.

IMO Calgary makes much more sense for a coach like Carle. Stacked prospect pool, young team, underwhelming current coach. Maybe Blackhawks, too, despite Blashill being there for only one season, as his coaching record pretty much stinks. Youngest team, stacked prospect pool.

If COL fires Bednar, and there’s a good chance they do, I’d think they’d be the favorite to land Carle.

You raise an interesting point in CAL and CHI. A rookie coach could break in with a rebuilding team and grow together. Less pressure to start for him, more promise down the road as he gets his bearings.

Unless he wants the pressure. If he ends up in TOR it will say a lot about him and it will be very interesting to watch.

 

[Bollocks]

If COL fires Bednar, and there’s a good chance they do, I’d think they’d be the favorite to land Carle.

You raise an interesting point in CAL and CHI. A rookie coach could break in with a rebuilding team and grow together. Less pressure to start for him, more promise down the road as he gets his bearings.

Unless he wants the pressure. If he ends up in TOR it will say a lot about him and it will be very interesting to watch.

Bednar is staying, or so I've read.

Agreed about him choosing TOR. It would either mean he's brave to the point of being naive, or high.

 

[ICE24]

it's my opinion that if Colorado was moving on from their coach, they would have done so. Stay tuned for a Colorado press conference.