Worst Coach Candidates
About 50+ games in the season these are the top 3 coaches that need to be gone when the season is done. This is based on the team’s performance, standings and the players’ response to their coach.
Number One: Paul Maurice (Toronto)
“Everyone has to relax….go home, get some tea or chamomile whatever you drink and relax…..this team will be ready and compete for the Stanley Cup”
Hate to bring that up but its a bold statement coming from a coach who didn’t lead his team to the playoffs last year. Paul Maurice seems to make all the wrong decisions, whether scratching players or the weirdest line combos. How about those weird statements after they loose a game? “we’ve been playing good the last 14 games or so…” You haven’t been winning, Period.
Power Play : 14.3%
You cannot say that Toronto has NO talent in the line-up. Sundin, Blake, Antropov, Ponikarovsky can all put the puck in the net. They are good players but Paul Maurice just isn’t using them right and can’t get the PP organized. Special teams is a key to success in the new NHL. Paul Maurice should have been fired before JFJ in my opinion but hopefully Toronto will get a coach who straitens this team out.
Number Two: Marc Crawford (LA)
Probably the team with the most young talent in the NHL. With players like Kopitar, Frolov, Brown, Cammalleri & O’Sullivan its hard not to think they would be a high-flying team before the season started. One weak point is Goaltending, until LA gets a veteran goaltender they would still be struggling.
Marc Crawford should have the finger pointed at him. Los Angeles has allowed the most goals in the NHL thus far. Hard to believe when they have pretty decent talent on the blue line such as, Blake,Visnovsky,Johnson, Preissing and Stuart. This team has a bright future but Marc Crawford’s style of coaching just isn’t working and it shows on the ice. They need a fresh start with a reliable coach & goaltender.
Number Three: John Torterella (Tampa Bay)
How do you loose when you have 3 of the best players in the league?
Maybe the players are fed up hearing the same old song and dance. Give credit to Torterella, he did bring a cup to Tampa Bay in ’04 but since then the team has fell apart. Constantly calling out his players/goaltenders publicly and not playing the secondary players enough. The big 3 average together close to 30 minutes of ice-time per game.
Anyone who has watched the Lightning play can always see their coach yelling, cursing and pointing at players when they do something wrong or falter. Hopefully when the sale of the franchise comes through the team can get back on track. Tampa bay has a very good fan base and deserves better, especially having one of their players in the scoring race.
Feel free to mention any other coach, there are others but I am just mentioning the 3 that standout.