BY FAN FUEL – HOCKEY CENTRAL INSIDERS
Welcome to Hockey Central: Ask the Insiders where fans get to pick the topics. This week, the Insiders answered several questions including whether Peter Laviolette is in danger of being fired by the Flyers; why Mikhail Grabovski is in Randy Carlyle’s doghouse; should the Capitals buy out Alex Ovechkin and what they love and hate about the new NHL realignment.
Patrick asks: How tense are things in Philadelphia? Do you believe the buzz that Peter Laviolette is in danger of losing his job?
Nick Kypreos: Show me a coach who feels job security in Philadelphia and I’ll show you a fool. Peter Laviolette is no different than any coach in a demanding market that’s failing but I wouldn’t fire this guy. First, let me say I like this coach and don’t blame him for this mess. When you lose Chris Pronger you lose a guy who dictates half the game. They knew that and that’s why they offer sheeted Weber. Luke Schenn isn’t ready to be a 2-3 defenceman but is asked to be one. As painful as this sounds to Ed Snider, Philly needs to take their lumps and regroup this summer.
Scott Morrison: I would imagine things are quite tense in Philadelphia, where the owner does not like losing and certainly would not be amused by missing the playoffs entirely. I don’t think Laviolette is in danger at this point. They have gaping holes, especially on defence with the absence of Chris Pronger. I think you try to plug the holes before you fire the coach. They don’t strike me as being a team that is a coaching change away from getting dramatically better. Having said that…
Neil Smith: The Flyers chances of making the playoffs are slim to none now that they are five points out of eighth and have played the most games in the conference. As far as Peter Laviolette, whether it’s fair or unfair, the Flyers don’t sit still when they underachieve. This means a probable coaching change at the end of the season.
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Brian Lawton: I believe that any time expectations miss the mark for what the organizational goals are then everyone is in jeopardy of being fired. Clearly the Flyers are a proud franchise that coming into this season believed very strongly in the group of players they have. The loss of Chris Pronger can never be mitigated although the organization went out and tried to replace him in one swoop with Shea Weber by the offer sheet they made to him. Regardless of a lack of success with that offer sheet, it was still expected that this team would challenge to be a top four team in the East not 11th where they currently sit.
Success hasn’t happened for the club and it puts everyone on the hot seat. In my opinion, no way Peter gets fired during the regular season as he is just too good a coach. However, when you get to the post mortem after the season then I would suspect that every key role in the organization will be reviewed closely and ultimately someone will be found guilty. It may be right and it may not, but as hockey professionals working in this business we all accept that as a possible outcome.
Is that fair? Of course not, but if you’re looking for fair try a civil servant’s job with no pressure that has you home every day by five not coaching a National Hockey League team with a passionate city like Philadelphia living and dying on your every game, wanting nothing more than another Cup for their incredible classy owner Mr. Snider. I personally don’t believe Peter gets fired at that time either but all bets are off when your team doesn’t perform to the level that is consistent with a great Flyers organization!
Mike Duncan asks: Guys, what is with Randy Carlyle’s hatred for Mikhail Grabovksi? I realize that he’s not putting up the numbers he used to – but he is playing as a defensive forward this year. The other night against Winnipeg with 10 players taking the shootout, Randy decides to use Phaneuf instead of Grabovski? What gives?
Nick Kypreos: What do you mean Mike, all coaches don’t love their players? I think we know the answer to that but at the same time you’d hope if you’re Dave Nonis, Carlyle would mask it a little more than running half your team in a shootout before looking to your second highest paid player on your team. Carlton the Bear had a better chance of having his named called by Randy before Grabo did. There’s a stubborn quality in every high intense coaches that pins himself against his high end talent and it’s always been a risky strategy. I’ve seen it before in my career where a coach tries to draw the best out of a player by embarrassing the #@*t out of him first. Keenan was a master at this. In 1994 he drove Brian Leetch nuts with the things he would say and do but if my memory serves me correct we also won the Stanley Cup and Leetch won the Conn Smythe. Coincidence? The danger for all high strung, win at all costs coaches is if Grabo goes the other way and completely shuts down. Then you lose him for good.
Doug MacLean: It obvious that the coach is not happy with Grabovski and I don’t blame him. His play has dropped off and the coach is sending a strong message. Now, does the GM make the next move with this player?
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Marianne asks: If you were the GM of the Capitals, would you consider buying out Alexander Ovechkin’s contract come season’s end (assuming he continues to be outside the top 50 in league scoring)?
Doug MacLean: Marianne, you can’t buy out Ovie. The cost is simply too much and the owner will never consider it. They have to continue to bring in players to surround him and this is getting old. The GM has some tough decisions to make.
Neil Smith: Firstly I believe that Mr. Leonsis, the majority owner of the Caps, would have to be convinced that buying out the “Great 8” was a prudent move at this point. Even if the GM believed he could use the money more wisely, it’s well known that the owner and Ovechkin have a friendship which would probably kill any thoughts of a buyout. However if that issue wasn’t present, I still wouldn’t buy out Alexander, as I still believe he is a very valuable asset within the NHL and still has value to the Caps.
Brian Lawton: No, I would not consider buying out Alexander Ovechkin because there is absolutely no reason to go there. Alex started off his career by recording four 100 point plus seasons in his first five years in the National Hockey League, including four 50 goal seasons in the first five years. I understand it is the last three years that has you concerned where Alex has recorded 85 points in year six, 65 in year seven and currently is on pace for what would be 67 points in full season.
This trend is obviously cause for concern with a player that has eight years left on his contract and is still owed $79 million. However, the reality is there are still several organizations in the National Hockey League that would take Alex in a heartbeat long before you would ever consider buying him out. Yes many hockey pundits are down on his play over the last two years in particular but he is still an elite player in this league capable of dominating again.
At only 27 years old and still in his prime perhaps we should look no further than the massive changes that have gone on with in the Capitals coaching ranks in the last 18 months as part of the reason for his down turn. Surely the lack of continuity has hurt his game as the management has tried to create a team identity for the players to rally around.
The Capitals have chosen to attempt to reinvent themselves from the high flying scoring machine they once were throughout Ovechkin’s first five years while under the tutelage of Bruce Boudreau. Following the lack of playoff success they had with this identity they switched to a very defensive minded team under Dale Hunter (which was impressive in their results but not in the style of play) to the latest change with Adam Oates which is supposed to be more of a hybrid of both those systems. Short term it has not had a positive effect on Alex the player or the Washington Capitals team. Clearly it is still too early to judge the results for the club, but in Alex’s case there has not been any positive uptick in his performance.
Of course there are two sides to the story with the second being the player’s responsibility to figure out a way to continue to play at a high level even when there are changes happening. There continue to be strong rumblings that Alex is not the once heralded eat, sleep and drink hockey player he was when he first entered the National Hockey League. This is not a new dynamic for a player of Alex’s stature as just like everyone else in life they change, grow and mature at different speeds and not always for the better.
However, the results can fool you because there is an evolution that occurs for anyone that would have the life experiences that Alex has had. The results are not always positive for how a player performs at their jobs. Sure some of the fire or at least the desire goes down as a player like Alex becomes independently wealthy already for what he has done but I am not willing to count Alex down and out. He will come back strong as he progresses through a growth phase as a human being more than anything. Someday this guy will win a Stanley Cup and it won’t be after the Capitals or anyone else ever buys him out because it won’t happen! There is just too much talent and too much desire in him as a hockey player for it not to happen!
Paul Neumann asks: If you were the Edmonton Oilers, would you trade Ryan Whitney at this point in his career and what would you expect to get back for him?
John Shannon: Well, Mr. Neumann (Love your salad dressing, by the way), one has to assume the Oilers are healthy enough on the blue line to trade away Whitney. If they are in a playoff race, they might want Whitney’s talent to help get through this injury-prone compacted schedule. And since he’s been back in the line-up, he has played better than anticipated. That said, if Steve Tambellini were to trade him, Whitney would only bring you a middle of the road prospect or a draft pick. I know the Oilers dearly want more toughness from their forwards, but I really doubt that Ryan will deliver that in a trade.
Marty McSorely: I am not sure if playing Ryan Whitney a lot now stops him from wanting out (his playing time earlier in the season was limited). I think they make him an offer that they feel comfortable with (their best effort from a live-with-his-salary standpoint) and if it does not get done they definitely move him. Get something. It’s no great accomplishment to keep him for two more months and have him move on.
Neil Smith: Ryan Whitney is a UFA on July 1st and has a salary of $4 million. He also has a “no trade” clause of some sort. I would try to move Whitney at the deadline in hopes of getting extra draft picks and/or young players with some potential. The chances of getting great value back for Whitney are slim, based upon his performance this season and that he is unrestricted after this season.
Brian Lawton: I would not trade Ryan yet but the time is near. This is a player that should bring a strong return for the Oilers. Ryan has handled a difficult relationship as well as you can expect an athlete. It is clear the relationship with him and the team is fractured and now it is incumbent upon Ryan to play as hard and well as he can to attract interest from potential playoff teams that could use a puck moving defensemen with size and skill at the deadline. I believe he has started to do exactly that with four points in his last five games. The impending UFA is a sure bet to be moved at the deadline as the Oilers have already made it clear that will not be resigning him for next season.
I would expect to get back a draft pick for him or young prospect. If the right situation came together it could be as high as a second rounder but I would expect it to be more like a third.
John asks: With Dallas Eakins considered to be one of the hottest “next” NHL coaches, is there any way the Leafs can keep him as Randy Carlyle’s successor or will he be moving on the next time a few jobs open up?
Scott Morrison: Eakins is definitely considered a top coaching prospect. It’s possible the Leafs could keep him in the fold by making sure he was well compensated even at the AHL and perhaps he is given assurances he will be the next Leafs coach whenever it happens. Perhaps he gets elevated as an assistant, but I don’t think that is on his radar now because he wants to continue to improve his head coaching skills. Eakins also strikes me as a guy who won’t jump at the first offer, but will wait for the right one.
Jeff Marek: Dallas Eakins should probably be a coach at the NHL level already but getting one of those 30 jobs is a matter of timing. It’s actually timing + preparation but Eakins already has that. There are a few “next ones” behind benches in the AHL (John Cooper in Syracuse is another) and Eakins probably tops that list. Many believe, however, that Toronto will never hire a coach that doesn’t have NHL experience which certainly does not bode well for the Marlies coach but there are more than a few teams out there who have found success hiring directly out of the AHL. He’ll move on to another team as a head coach, I’m convinced. Should probably have happened already.
Peter asks: Now that the NHL realignment is official, what is your favourite thing about the plan and what do you like the least?
John Shannon: Peter, I really think my favourite aspect of the realignment is how the Red Wings have been re-united with Toronto, Montreal and Boston. Perhaps the league will build in some Saturday/Sunday back-to-back games like the mid-1960s to take advantage of the history of the rivalries. I also like the fact that every team in the league play at least one home and home series with each other.
What I hate the most? That’s easy. Florida and Tampa Bay playing with Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Boston, Buffalo and Detroit makes little sense to me. I don’t really buy the “snow bird” philosophy. I believe the two Florida teams have been sacrificed. Too bad.
Overall, I became less of an advocate of a major realignment now, because it is safe to assume there will be relocation or expansion (or both) in the not too distant future, and another realignment is inevitable.
Marty McSorely: The Good: Dallas needed some help from the “time zone nightmare” – travel, TV etc. Winnipeg an obvious one.
The Ugly: Tampa and Florida flying over Carolina and Washington to get to three Canadian teams. Does Jeremy Jacobs (who has a big place outside of Tampa and enjoys going to the Florida games) have that much influence?
Food for thought – Some people in the NHL want to increase the number of games within the division to further promote rivalries. So you heat up rivalries but try to eliminate fighting or give the MESSAGE that you are trying to eliminate fighting. Heat up rivalries but make sure nobody gets hit awkwardly or have any fights. The fans love the rivalry and they love that rivalries get spirited and physical. Just look at all the play New York and New Jersey got last year. If Toronto and Ottawa go from five games to eight games how do you not develop a solid dislike for the opposition and in most cases it is expected. What really is the message?
Ken asks: Were you surprised that the Sabres returned Mikhail Grigorenko to his junior team? Was it a mistake keeping in the NHL this season and now burning one year of his contract?
Jeff Marek: A little, but circumstances dictated that they really didn’t have much of a choice. As we all know, it wasn’t supposed to go this way for the Sabres this season. This was supposed to be a solid regular season team with plans for a run in the postseason. After the wheels came off the wagon and Buffalo fell off (playoffs are not even being whispered in Sabreland) attention turned to Grigorenko and what to do with a prized first round pick. Sure they’ve already burned off a year of his entry-level deal but they also needed to consider what was best for his development. Pretty obvious he wasn’t going to be in the lineup every night and also, probably not the best idea to have him around a losing (and negative) hockey culture this early in his career. Sending him back to the Quebec Remparts (and the QMJHL playoffs) is certainly the best thing for his development. Big changes are on the horizon for the Sabres, best not to have the 18-year-old centre around for the chaos.