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Post by Vampyre on Apr 3, 2007 10:44:20 GMT -5
What was up with that firing, eh.
Nothing like doing a good job for a team and getting canned for it.
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Post by Devils on Apr 3, 2007 10:50:45 GMT -5
As a fan I am perhaps a little more understanding of why Lou made the move. For one thing, the team has been playing a soft brand of hockey over the last month or so. Granted, there have been plenty of injuries and no shortage of farm callups, but a team like NJ is all business and this is not the kind of hockey expected going into the playoffs. Winning 4 of 5 is nice and all, but sloppy wins there. Putting Lou behind the bench will scare the boys into playing NJ Devils hockey and there isn't a team in the league that wants to face off against a NJ team that is playing 100% I'd say they have been at about 70% lately.
Another idea I have is something that could be a great long shot. Recently Lou has been talking with Pat Burns and Larry Robinson, two coaches I would rather see behind the bench. Maybe he is making room to bring back Burns, maybe not. Either way this move can only improve the team's chances and I honestly don't give Julien much credit for the success of the team thus far.
Of course I could be completely wrong.
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Post by Vampyre on Apr 3, 2007 12:07:15 GMT -5
Don't forget who handicapped Julien to begin with because of the complete mess he made of the NJD salary structure. It's hard to blame Julien for the lack of depth available for call-up....that problem was lou's doing.
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Post by vancouverhotheads on Apr 3, 2007 12:51:52 GMT -5
I'm not sure why Claude Julien was hired to begin with. I'm not too shocked by this move. Lou's just doing his best Pat Reilly immitation. Wait until the team is doing well, then fire the head coach and take over the bench.
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Post by Devils on Apr 3, 2007 18:08:43 GMT -5
Again, this is about putting the team in the right frame of mind for the playoffs. Merely making the big dance is not enough for the Devils. Julien will remain with the team but not as a Coach. I really expect that Lou has a big replacement in mind already and we should see him in the start of next season. The game is every bit about mental and physical strength. Julien was good but didn't do anything that the team couldn't do without him. NJ is going to play its system regardless of who is coaching. Lou won't have it any other way.
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Post by panthersgm on Apr 3, 2007 18:40:45 GMT -5
thats ok now pittsberg will overtake them for the divison lead and win the division..then NJ faces ottawa in playoffs
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Post by majorsgm on Apr 3, 2007 19:18:17 GMT -5
this is the most selfish move that could be made. What a dink lou is being in firing him. Julien brought them this far and now that they are gonna make the playoffs he wants to take them over and win it being the coach because gms arent recognized as much when they win a cup. Julien should be the coach atleast till the end of the season. This is the worst move lou could do and no one will trust him after this move.
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Post by Devils on Apr 4, 2007 9:29:07 GMT -5
A lot of comentating from the misinformed here. Lou did it in 2000 and not only won the Cup, but has had no trouble hiring or firing coaches since. This is not a selfish move to get himself into the spotlight. Do some research and this will make more sense. He is the mastermind behind the team and always wil be the key piece. On this team the coach is secondary as no matter who is in charge they play the same exact system. This is a really good move for the team, and furthermore, the division title is as good as locked up. Penguins suck!
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Post by Vampyre on Apr 4, 2007 9:57:36 GMT -5
I'd hardly call myself un-informed....
If that's all it takes to coach the NJD to the post-season..... You've basically said that anyone with a pulse could coach this team because Lou pulls all the strings anyway and nobody has any other say in how things go. I can't see how any coach with even the littlest sense of his own worth would want to coach for a team when basically he's just there to take up space and then take the blame for losses instead of the real puppet master. This also means that it was not essential to remove Julien at this time, because he basically had nothing to do with the team's success, as he had no control over the system played by the club.
NJ's GM seems to get special treatment in the NHL for some reason, as evidenced by several occurrences this season and the news stories that have followed....he was basically given a mulligan after bungling the salary cap; he is one of major reasons that the idiotic schedule wasn't changed to be more in line with what the overwhelming majority of players, fans and GMs wanted; and, despite the style of game that the NHL wants to market, he has the Devils playing what is still essentially the Trap.
The Devils are a good team, though they play better than they are because of one factor more than any other....Martin Brodeur (who will likely retire one day as the best goaltender the league has ever seen). I wouldn't put anything past this team in the playoffs, but I doubt they get past the 2nd round unless they get a string of easy opponents.
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Post by Devils on Apr 4, 2007 12:05:53 GMT -5
Check your PM's chris. Now just to respond. "I'd hardly call myself un-informed...." Was not refering to you.
"You've basically said that anyone with a pulse could coach this team because Lou pulls all the strings anyway and nobody has any other say in how things go. I can't see how any coach with even the littlest sense of his own worth would want to coach for a team when basically he's just there to take up space and then take the blame for losses instead of the real puppet master. This also means that it was not essential to remove Julien at this time, because he basically had nothing to do with the team's success, as he had no control over the system played by the club."
Tell me one thing that has changed over the last 2 seasons with 3 different Devils coaches. If you can think of something substantial I would love to hear it. I only mention 2 seasons because of the major changes to the game. As far as why Julien was moved, it was clearly to get the team motivated and in the right mental state. Nobody in that locker room is going to take a shift off with Lou on the bench. It was clearly the right move.
"NJ's GM seems to get special treatment in the NHL for some reason, as evidenced by several occurrences this season and the news stories that have followed....he was basically given a mulligan after bungling the salary cap; he is one of major reasons that the idiotic schedule wasn't changed to be more in line with what the overwhelming majority of players, fans and GMs wanted; and, despite the style of game that the NHL wants to market, he has the Devils playing what is still essentially the Trap."
Defense wins hockey games. I can't fault the guy for making the trap work in the new style of hockey. That's what the Devils do to near perfection and just because some teams hate to play it doesn't mean it needs to be changed. I can't think of too many Devils fans who don't love that style of play. As to special treatment to Lou, well I can't argue either way on that point. I don't know what goes on behind closed doors and won't pretend that I do.
"The Devils are a good team, though they play better than they are because of one factor more than any other....Martin Brodeur (who will likely retire one day as the best goaltender the league has ever seen). I wouldn't put anything past this team in the playoffs, but I doubt they get past the 2nd round unless they get a string of easy opponents. "
I agree that Marty is the best in the world. Having a strong defensive system in front of him has really helped him, and he is the team, no question. I hope you are wrong about your prediction. I think a weaker team would find a way to take out the Devils sooner than a stronger team to be honest. The Devils always step up their game against top opponents. A team like the Penguins could end NJ whereas I think a NJ Buffalo matchup would be great to watch.
Not trying to cause problems, just backing up the GM of my team with a different point of view.
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Post by Vampyre on Apr 4, 2007 12:22:48 GMT -5
No big deal Mark, I enjoy a good debate. ;D
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Post by helionsgm on Apr 4, 2007 12:58:03 GMT -5
I can't think of too many Devils fans who don't love that style of play. If they could win with a completely different style Devils fans would love that style too... Apparently winning gets fans
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Post by vancouverhotheads on Apr 4, 2007 13:37:22 GMT -5
I can't think of too many Devils fans who don't love that style of play. If they could win with a completely different style Devils fans would love that style too... Apparently winning gets fans The trouble is that the "system" has helped drag hockey into the depths of oblivion and other fans of the game have been lost along the way because of the boring hockey. There is a reason they've tried to eliminate the trap (in a very half-assed manner) - it's worse than sitting at work listening to crappy old guys talk about the past. Devils fans, Wild fans, and now Canucks fans are the only ones who love that style. It's bittersweet for me to see the Canucks have so much success this year as they're playing the same system. This doesn't mean I like the direction the NHL has taken since the lockout. But that's a different topic for a different thread.
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Post by Devils on Apr 4, 2007 17:07:28 GMT -5
You know something...I don't know what is so boring about the trap to be honest. Great defensive plays are every bit as entertaining to me as great offensive flare. I think it's sloppy to win 6-4 when you can win 3-1. To me it's more controlled and skilled when you can keep the opposition down on the scoreboard. I just can't get excited about a team that can't keep pucks out of their own net.
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Post by vancouverhotheads on Apr 4, 2007 17:36:27 GMT -5
You know something...I don't know what is so boring about the trap to be honest. Great defensive plays are every bit as entertaining to me as great offensive flare. I think it's sloppy to win 6-4 when you can win 3-1. To me it's more controlled and skilled when you can keep the opposition down on the scoreboard. I just can't get excited about a team that can't keep pucks out of their own net. Don't get me wrong, a great defensive play is great to see. I was watching a game on ESPN Classics or the NHL Network or whatever it was and it was the Leafs/Kings Game 6 of their 1993 conference final series. Bill Berg and another Leaf were in on a two on one on Rob Blake and Blake made a great diving play to break up the rush. It was an exceptional play and one that had a definite impact on the game and eventually the series as LA ended up pulling it out. I love to see guys make great plays based on reactions and reading the play. There is a difference between the great defensive plays and the great defensive systems, however. Defensive systems are predictable and result in soccer on ice. There is little flow to the game. The systems suffocate the skill out of the game. For example, there was game the Devils played here in Vancouver where they held the Canucks to 8 shots on goal for the entire game. It was easily the most boring game I have ever seen. It wasn't because of all the great defensive plays that were made, it was because New Jersey had mastered the hook/hold/clutch/grab/trap/clog-up-the-neutral-zone style of play. I don't think it was the most boring game just because I'm a homer Canucks fan, it was just suffocating defense. I don't know how one can get excited about a game with 3 or 4 scoring chances for both teams total like it was in that game. No forecheck, no offense, just wait for the mistakes and capitalize. On a side note, I watched the '87 Canada Cup Final for the millionth time last week. I've always regarded it as one of the greatest games I've ever seen. I still think it is however Canada sure got a lot of breaks from the officials and I don't think I've ever seen more blatant hooking and holding than there was in that game. People who think the 80's didn't have any hooking or holding need to look no further than that game. I think guys have just improved at getting away with it.
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