Why Guy Carbonneau Could Be A Good Fit In New Jersey
by Kevin Sellathamby on Jul 6, 2011 7:46 PM EDT
in Devils Issues, Views & Analysis
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PrintEarlier today, Chicoutimi Sagueneens head coach and president Guy Carbonneau resigned. Immediately after, many had tied Carbonneau's resignation to the currently vacant New Jersey Devils head coaching position- even Tom Gullitti of Fire and Ice brought it up. However, Carbonneau immediately denied the rumors about if the Devils had asked him to become the new head coach. Of course, while I have been on the pro-Carbonneau bandwagon for a while, I am somewhat happy that he might be in consideration for the job. Considering the Florida Panthers hired Craig Ramsay, another favourite for the job, Carbonneau's stock is likely rising in the Devils camp. Here are a few points about why Carbonneau should coach the Devils
Former Montreal Canadiens Coach- History Repeats Itself?
Greg Wyshynski pointed this out in his article- the Devils have been known to go to the Montreal Canadiens for head coaches. Guys like Jacques Lemaire, Larry Robinson, Pat Burns and Claude Julien have been part of the Montreal Canadiens. Considering Lou didn't buck the recent trend of drafting Swedes in the first round by drafting Adam Larsson, maybe Lou goes back to the Habs for their next head coach.
He Can Run A Power Play
During his time in Montreal, one stat sticks out- his team's power play percentage. Of Course, the Habs did have Power Play Specialist Andrei Markov healthy and functional during the time. They also benefitted from massive seasons from Sheldon Souray, Michael Ryder and Mark Streit. However, after guys like them and Saku Koivu, he didn't have much help. Alex Kovalev was Alex Kovalev- either a dominant scoring forward or a below average offensive forward. Most of his forwards outside of Kovalev (when he did play) were either above average or just average. While the Devils don't have a legit PP specialist like Markov, they do have two top tier forwards- Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise (if and when he re-signs). Another factor to consider is Matt Taormina- considering Carbonneau found Streit's niche as a PP specialist, Taormina could potentially thrive in that role given by Carbonneau, seeing as he was effective in limited time that role.
Offense from the Blueline
With Carbonneau's teams in Montreal, they featured prominent offensive defensemen. Souray, Streit and Markov had great seasons with Montreal- all leading to each of them getting paid: Souray with Edmonton, Markov with Montreal and Streit with the Isles. Even an average offensive defenseman like Roman Hamrlik was able to put up over 30 points on the blue line. Current Free Agent Bust and terrible puck mover Mike Komisarek averaged 18 points during the two full seasons during Carbonneau's reign (he was injured during Carbonneau's last season). Considering Andy Greene is the only defenseman under contract that has put up more than 30 points, it would be nice to see some offense from the blue line.
A better Situation for Carbonneau
Montreal is a crazy hockey town. They riot after massive upsets. They bring the police in when the league is unable to enforce any justice on a player. New Jersey isn't Montreal. When you look at Montreal's implosion that lead to Carbonneau's firing, a lot of it had to do with the Players and the team's lack of discipline. Alex Kovalev's mind wandered. Guys like Carey Price, Chris Higgins and Mike Komisarek spent more time getting drunk at clubs. Of course, Carbonneau was more or less the sacrificial goat. In New Jersey, the team doesn't have the same kind of problems- the Devils do not have a player as confused as Alex Kovalev, and they don't have any partying problems. The Devils give him a more favourable situation than the one he had in Montreal- especially considering the team's biggest locker room problem, Jamie Langenbrunner, is no longer a Devil. Additionally, most of the focus will still be on Ilya Kovalchuk, who still has to shut some haters up about his $100 Million contract.
What Do You Think
While Carbonneau isn't the only coach, he might be one of the favourites right now. While he has denied talking with the Devils, maybe he will get a call from them some time soon. With all that being said, would you like Carbonneau to be the head coach of the Devils? Would he benefit from not being in the craziness that is Montreal? Would you rather have Therrien, Hitchock or Eaves as the head coach? What do you think?
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From what I’ve read, it seems like he’ll be a good fit. At this point, I feel like if it has taken this long, Lou must really be putting a lot of thought into this move (although he’s been known to wait a while before making a coaching decision).
Just curious .. is there a source that specifically has Carbonneau saying he hasn’t spoken with New Jersey? The only things I’ve seen are ambiguous (the twitter link in the article just says he doesn’t have the job).
This seems like weird timing, especially considering that prospect camp starts next week, and I’m fairly sure Lou wants to have his new coach in place before then.
Josh Rimer- the guy I mentioned is legit. Some of the beat writers RT’d him, so he should be a credible enough source.
Hell on Ice/In Lou We Trust/Twitter
Talking toilet, you may call me Jane.
by Kevin Sellathamby on Jul 6, 2011 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah, I saw that .. but .. I might be being too literal here. He never denies talking to the Devils. it says “he denies getting the Devils Head Coaching Job.”
That sounds like a very Lou-ish statement to me.
Anyway, I’m sure anything is a possibility at this point. I would like to get some Montreal fans’ take on his tenure there.
according to wikipedia
Carbonneau is waiting for the Devils to return his emails…
You have to imagine part of that is just media politics
Its not exactly the best idea to just tell the mainstream media everything. Especially if its just been loosely talked about.
I guess all I’m saying is that his saying he hasn’t talked with the Devils should have little bearing on the possibility of him actually doing so in the future.
I’d like to see him as coach. He’s won three cups, was great at special teams, was great on faceoffs, and played with some great players throughout his playing career. All that experience pays off.
Aside from the 3 Cups part, you could have been describing Adam Oates. Not that I don’t want Carbo, but at this point in time, any of the candidates Kevin mentioned would be acceptable. Hire someone who’s had success, and do it sooner rather than later.
Go Devils
Go Jets
Need to lose weight?
When you look at Montreal’s implosion that lead to Carbonneau’s firing, a lot of it had to do with the Players and the team’s lack of discipline. Alex Kovalev’s mind wandered. Guys like Carey Price, Chris Higgins and Mike Komisarek spent more time getting drunk at clubs.
This is a red flag for me. I’m sure Guy Carbonneau is a better coach than John MacLean, but we saw what happened when there wasn’t discipline and accountability on this club during the first 33 games of last season. I don’t want to go there again.
Argue all you want that this is a more mature team, a team with better veteran leaders and stronger leadership in general, and that it shouldn’t be an issue…. and you might be right. I’m still skeptical. This team needs a drill sergeant, and I don’t know that Carbonneau fits the bill.
Yeah i was just about to say the same thing. While the Devil’s disciplinary and locker room problems may have stemmed from something different than Montreal’s during Carbonneau’s tenure, he still lost the team and control of them.
You make a good point, but New Jersey isn’t Montreal. There you are thought of some kind of a god. It can be easy for some players to get big headed, and when the fans have something on you they make way too much out of it. Things can easily spiral out of control. Plus, maybe after his last coaching stint he will have made some tweeks to his tactics. Lots of coachs do that in there careers when they have a little adversity.
Keep in mind MacLame and what happened in Montreal are two different things- in Montreal it was a lack of discipline from the organization. After the season Gainey brought in all these veterans like Moen, Gionta and Gill- guys who don`t party all the time and the team had a shift to a more serious tone, and they’ve been more successful- heck Price has stopped partying and look what happened. With the Devils, it was a rookie coach trying to avoid losing the locker room to a malcontent captain- thus doing everything in his power to please him. The Devils have no party problems like the Canadiens did back then. If there’s a picture of Jacob Josefson smoking three cigarettes at once, please show me.
Hell on Ice/In Lou We Trust/Twitter
Talking toilet, you may call me Jane.
by Kevin Sellathamby on Jul 7, 2011 7:38 AM EDT up reply actions
There isn’t a leadership void right now where the “kids” are particularly capable of running amok. How long will those veterans be around to police things? Two years from now, I figure all the following are 99.9% likely to be gone: Salvador, Rolston, Zubrus, Hedberg. Brodeur and Elias and Colin White are all quite possibly gone as well (my opinion is that Elias is the most likely to remain after his present contract expires). Jamie Langenbrunner is already gone (say what you will about Captain Crybaby, he was a leader — you don’t get named Captain of Team USA without some credentials in that area). So who is your leadership for the next generation to ride herd on the youth of New Jersey?
I recall an incident last season where Mattias Tedenby skipped an optional skate because “he wanted to see the sun” or some other nonsense. If we’re going to turn the team over to “the next generation” over the next few years, who will be the elder statesmen preventing a repeat of the Montreal shenanigans I referenced above? Lou Lamorello can only do so much on his own…. and I don’t see a substantial leader out of the group of Parise, Zajac, Kovalchuk, Tallinder, and Volchenkov. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by the run of Devils’ captains and the leaders they were (Langenbrunner, Elias, Niedermayer, Stevens going back nearly two decades)…. but I worry that an otherwise talented bunch could be undermined by that same partying with a lack of “parental control” laid overtop.
I may be swinging at phantoms here. That being said, I’d prefer not to sow the seeds of dysfunction and have to deal with the consequences a few years down the line if I don’t have to.
….
Past that issue Carbonneau doesn’t really do anything for me, similar to a number of other candidates. His coaching record leaves something to be desired in my eyes, and I don’t see any particular reason to hire him and not some other random re-tread whose name is drawn from a hat.
Surprised you don’t see a substantial leader in one or both of Parise and Zajac. Can’t imagine Travis acting like 20 Cent Kane into the wee hours of the morning.
Past that issue Carbonneau doesn’t really do anything for me, similar to a number of other candidates. His coaching record leaves something to be desired in my eyes, and I don’t see any particular reason to hire him and not some other random re-tread whose name is drawn from a hat
Who would your top few candidates be if not a ‘re-tread’ or a rookie coach that we all fear?
Surprised you don’t see a substantial leader in one or both of Parise and Zajac.
I’m not saying either one is incapable of being that guy. I’m just saying that I haven’t seen any evidence yet, but I’m also saying absence of evidence =/= evidence of absence. Neither one has had to be much of a leader thus far in their New Jersey careers, because this team is saturated with veteran leadership. As I put in my post above, however, I think there’s going to be an exodus of most of that veteran personnel in the next few years with prospects from the system getting first crack at filling a majority of those roles.
Who would your top few candidates be if not a ‘re-tread’ or a rookie coach that we all fear?
I was quite pleased when the Mike Eaves rumours were floating about — I could get behind an Eaves coaching regime. The name I’ve submitted to ILWT several times is Dean Blais, currently the majordomo at Nebraska-Omaha (another WCHA program), but with a lengthy history of coaching success at the college level and some time working in the Columbus organization (and thus not a stranger to the NHL game).
I have no specific objection to a first-time NHL head coach. I would have some objection to someone without ANY head coaching experience, as I’m not sure this is the kind of job where you want someone to “learn as you go”.
Is wanting to see the sun really that big of a deal? If I recall Tedenby scored in the game he took the optional morning skate off.
I remember it being one of his better games in general throughout the whole season.
by undersuspicion426 on Jul 7, 2011 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Is wanting to see the sun really that big of a deal?
I don’t think the sun was making a one-day cameo appearance and disappearing again for six months like a hibernating bear.
(/sarcasm)
Seriously? I’d be more comfortable with a veteran pulling that particular stunt…. but I’d still be bothered. Coming from a kid who had played a handful of NHL games up until that point, a rookie who had been a healthy scratch on a number of occasions recently because the coach didn’t believe in him enough to trot him out there on a consistent basis? I don’t want to hear it from Mattias Tedenby at that point.
If Tedenby wants to skip an optional skate to “see the sun” in 2019, I’ll have a different opinion on the matter then.
This team needs a drill sergeant, and I don’t know that Carbonneau fits the bill.
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You! Clarkson! Drop and give me twenty you maggot! This is the NHL for God sakes! What are you looking at Kovy! You think you are special!?! You’re on defense for the rest of practice!!! Where the hell is Hedberg? HEDBERGGGGG!!!!
I hope to join Claude Lemieux in Hell one day for a beer....
Too bad this guy isn’t available…something about getting shot to death in a latrine.
by MyDogsNameIsKovy on Jul 6, 2011 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Triple Deke!!! lol
Fan of: New Jersey Devils, Tennessee Titans, New Jersey Nets, New York Mets, and the U
by NJD28 on Jul 7, 2011 2:35 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Some good points Kevin
A coach who had success with the PP and blueline production is very appealing. I would ask though what kind of upside does the Devils defensive core have? None of our guys are in Markov, Souray (in 2006) or Streit’s league offensively. Greene, Tallinder and Fayne offer some mobility and passing, but what kind of offensive output are they capable of?
Either way I hope one of these guys is on the right point on the PP next year. I couldn’t stand the idea of watching another year of Rolston gumming up the puck movement on the PP.
Guy or Eaves
Would like a coach in place before the prospects camp, if only to let everyone get a feel for each other.
Lemaire didn’t attend the prospects camp when he was coach in 09-10 per TG so I don’t think it’s too big of a deal. Still the timeline for a coach has been late this week or early next week. It is now late this week so I guess we have a little more to wait.
Puck Daddy now throwing out the possibility
of Michael Therrein as head coach. I suppose baseless speculation is the best way to fill up blog space.
Status quo.
I hope it is not Therrein, just something about having 2 superstars and still going nowhere worries me. It hints of not adapting your system to your players. I hope we get someone else.
He did make it to Game 7 in the SCF the year before he was fired, so it’s not like he went nowhere.
That said, I hope it’s not him also.
"I have an opinion and I know you have an answer, but in all honesty if you don’t know then don’t reply, because my opinion will always be better than your answer….and if you agree then highlight your response unless you don’t know."
game 6 but yeah I agree with you Therrien did take them to the finals. Bylsma took the same players to the cup though, so I don’t know who gets credit Crosby and the rest of the Penguins or Therrien for the 08 appearance.
I compare the Therrien/Bylsma to Jon Gruden winning the Super Bowl with the Bucs. It was Dungy’s team that won it, they just needed a different voice at the right time.
It would be weird to hire Therrien after all this time. The job has been vacant for almost three months now. What makes him a better candidate now then he was in mid-April?
It’s also important to note that Therrien was a scout within the Wild organization and that job went to their AHL coach Mike Yeo. Not sure if he was interviewed though.
In Lou We Trust: SBN Blog of the New Jersey Devils
Game 6, you’re right… that’s what I get for trusting my ever-failing memory.
Bylsma took the same players to the cup though
Not entirely. There were a few notable differences on the roster in 08-09 from 07-08 like +1 Billy Guerin and -1 Marian Hossa, and a few others I’m too pressed for time to properly do the required legwork to name… but you get the point. Plus there was the additional year of progress and playoff experience garnered by many of the returning players that shouldn’t be overlooked.
"I have an opinion and I know you have an answer, but in all honesty if you don’t know then don’t reply, because my opinion will always be better than your answer….and if you agree then highlight your response unless you don’t know."
That’s pretty much PD all year though isn’ t it?
In Lou We Trust: SBN Blog of the New Jersey Devils
by Tom Stivali on Jul 7, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I remember TG writing that Therrien was the only one he knew actually interviewed for the spot.
Go Devils
Go Jets
Need to lose weight?
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