Armstrong and Hitchcock step to the podium tomorrow to announce a contract extension?

MIZDSP wrote:Armstrong and Hitchcock step to the podium tomorrow to announce a contract extension?

I'll probably laugh manically and just go for a long long walk. One I might never return from.

ratonmono wrote:

MIZDSP wrote:Armstrong and Hitchcock step to the podium tomorrow to announce a contract extension?

I'll probably laugh manically and just go for a long long walk. One I might never return from.

My reaction will be reserved for the offseason as a whole. I can see a scenario where they extend Hitch. Its not like there's a bunch of Cup winning coaches available. Quite the opposite in fact.

I would say DA and hitch will be gone next year then.

I'd say they ran out of ideas.

I have no problem with Hitch being extended.

It's not like he told Allen to play shitty in a couple games, Oshie to fall down all the time, Bortomir to be too hurt to play, Tarasenko to play some shitty defense, etc....

I think Hitch's system is strong and balanced...we just have guys who can't hack it in the second season.

Wouldn't bother me, because it would almost certainly mean for once, the players were going to pay the price

I would actually be OK with it, because it means the players are finally being held accountable. The biggest problem I have with Armstrong is not addressing the problem last year because the writing was already on the wall that this core does not have the killer instinct required to go deep in the playoffs. And unless Babcock or Claude Julien are available I really don't see an upgrade available for the head coach position.

If Hitch is willing to adjust his gameplan again...he supposedly did that this year, I'd be ok with Hitch staying. We know a few players are going...moving between 2-4 guys is enough of a shake up to me.
Let's be honest.....Hitch behind the bench at least guarantees us a playoff spot next year. There is no guarantee that another coach can do that for us. I really have no interest in Bylsma, McCLellan, or God help us...Randy fucking Carlyle....talk about a nightmare scenario for guys like Jaskin and Fabbri. Carlyle can't be hired somewhere else fast enough for me.
If Hitch stays...I want all new assistants with a more offensive game plan.

NHLTIM wrote:If Hitch is willing to adjust his gameplan again...he supposedly did that this year, I'd be ok with Hitch staying. We know a few players are going...moving between 2-4 guys is enough of a shake up to me.
Let's be honest.....Hitch behind the bench at least guarantees us a playoff spot next year. There is no guarantee that another coach can do that for us. I really have no interest in Bylsma, McCLellan, or God help us...Randy fucking Carlyle....talk about a nightmare scenario for guys like Jaskin and Fabbri. Carlyle can't be hired somewhere else fast enough for me.
If Hitch stays...I want all new assistants with a more offensive game plan.

As long as Brad Fucking Shaw goes, I am fine. This guy has been the one constant through all of this shit. HIs "backing in" defensive philosophy is an absolute joke.

NHLTIM wrote:If Hitch is willing to adjust his gameplan again...he supposedly did that this year, I'd be ok with Hitch staying. We know a few players are going...moving between 2-4 guys is enough of a shake up to me.
Let's be honest.....Hitch behind the bench at least guarantees us a playoff spot next year. There is no guarantee that another coach can do that for us. I really have no interest in Bylsma, McCLellan, or God help us...Randy fucking Carlyle....talk about a nightmare scenario for guys like Jaskin and Fabbri. Carlyle can't be hired somewhere else fast enough for me.
If Hitch stays...I want all new assistants with a more offensive game plan.

What about Dave Lowry?

ratonmono wrote:

NHLTIM wrote:If Hitch is willing to adjust his gameplan again...he supposedly did that this year, I'd be ok with Hitch staying. We know a few players are going...moving between 2-4 guys is enough of a shake up to me.
Let's be honest.....Hitch behind the bench at least guarantees us a playoff spot next year. There is no guarantee that another coach can do that for us. I really have no interest in Bylsma, McCLellan, or God help us...Randy fucking Carlyle....talk about a nightmare scenario for guys like Jaskin and Fabbri. Carlyle can't be hired somewhere else fast enough for me.
If Hitch stays...I want all new assistants with a more offensive game plan.

What about Dave Lowry?

He's on the fast track...not sure he's ready just yet. If they want to change it up and bring in a young fresh coach...I'm fine with that and I'm sure Lowry will be making the jump to the NHL sooner than later.
I'll bring up this name....how about former Blues video coach, Jamie Kompon? Left the Blues and won Cups with Chicago and LA as an assistant and then took off to get some head coaching experience with Portland in the WHL.

NHLTIM wrote:

ratonmono wrote:

NHLTIM wrote:If Hitch is willing to adjust his gameplan again...he supposedly did that this year, I'd be ok with Hitch staying. We know a few players are going...moving between 2-4 guys is enough of a shake up to me.
Let's be honest.....Hitch behind the bench at least guarantees us a playoff spot next year. There is no guarantee that another coach can do that for us. I really have no interest in Bylsma, McCLellan, or God help us...Randy fucking Carlyle....talk about a nightmare scenario for guys like Jaskin and Fabbri. Carlyle can't be hired somewhere else fast enough for me.
If Hitch stays...I want all new assistants with a more offensive game plan.

What about Dave Lowry?

He's on the fast track...not sure he's ready just yet. If they want to change it up and bring in a young fresh coach...I'm fine with that and I'm sure Lowry will be making the jump to the NHL sooner than later.
I'll bring up this name....how about former Blues video coach, Jamie Kompon? Left the Blues and won Cups with Chicago and LA as an assistant and then took off to get some head coaching experience with Portland in the WHL.

I don't know about Kompon. I wonder if he has enough bench experience. I agree no Carlyle. I'd be fine with McLellan and even Byslma. Julien might be available too but he's just Hitch with less hair. I wonder if Scott Walker might be a good choice, he loves Fabbri I know that much.

barnburner wrote:Wouldn't bother me, because it would almost certainly mean for once, the players were going to pay the price

I think Hitch's expiration date on this team is due but I really want to see some players gone and that would certainly be the case if Hitch is retained.

Battra wrote:I have no problem with Hitch being extended.

It's not like he told Allen to play shitty in a couple games, Oshie to fall down all the time, Bortomir to be too hurt to play, Tarasenko to play some shitty defense, etc....

I think Hitch's system is strong and balanced...we just have guys who can't hack it in the second season.

Agree that several members of the current group can't hack it in Hitch's system, at least when it matters.

If the current coach can't adapt his system to utilize the players he has, why do we want him? Especially when that coach hasn't led the team to a win in the second round in his 4 years here.

Worth noting that Hitch was let go from Philly and Columbus after 4 yrs.

Notebly Blue wrote:

Battra wrote:I have no problem with Hitch being extended.

It's not like he told Allen to play shitty in a couple games, Oshie to fall down all the time, Bortomir to be too hurt to play, Tarasenko to play some shitty defense, etc....

I think Hitch's system is strong and balanced...we just have guys who can't hack it in the second season.

Agree that several members of the current group can't hack it in Hitch's system, at least when it matters.

If the current coach can't adapt his system to utilize the players he has, why do we want him? Especially when that coach hasn't led the team to a win in the second round in his 4 years here.

Worth noting that Hitch was let go from Philly and Columbus after 4 yrs.

I think his system is very good.

He made changes, adjustments, and there were times when our boys dominated...but too many of them seemed to think that their fame would bulldoze the Wild.

You can't fault the coach if the team gives a half assed effort.

Eh, after four years of playoff futility, yea, I can put a lot of the blame on the coach. He had four years to figure out how to motivate the lazy elements on the team. Sorry, but that don't add up.

His system didn't work with Philly and Columbus and he was escorted out after four years on both occasions. We are seeing the same thing here. A good, balanced system means nothing without players who will / can go on the ice and execute. I think it is foolish to believe he is going to suddenly have the players who can / will execute his strategy.

Interesting read in JR's DejaBlue column on the pd site

Shatty backs Hitch 100%, says this is 100% on us, the players.
Oshie, on the other hand, slithers around, trying to deflect the blame on Hitch, whining in his best Sgt. schultz voice, "Nothing! I know nothing!"

Some players are stand up guys.
Some aren't.

barnburner wrote:Interesting read in JR's DejaBlue column on the pd site

Shatty backs Hitch 100%, says this is 100% on us, the players.
Oshie, on the other hand, slithers around, trying to deflect the blame on Hitch, whining in his best Sgt. schultz voice, "Nothing! I know nothing!"

Some players are stand up guys.
Some aren't.

One of the reasons why Shatty will be here for a long long time and why Oshie will be elsewhere soon. Shatty deserves that C as far as I'm concerned.

ratonmono wrote:

barnburner wrote:Interesting read in JR's DejaBlue column on the pd site

Shatty backs Hitch 100%, says this is 100% on us, the players.
Oshie, on the other hand, slithers around, trying to deflect the blame on Hitch, whining in his best Sgt. schultz voice, "Nothing! I know nothing!"

Some players are stand up guys.
Some aren't.

One of the reasons why Shatty will be here for a long long time and why Oshie will be elsewhere soon. Shatty deserves that C as far as I'm concerned.

I agree.

barnburner wrote:

ratonmono wrote:

barnburner wrote:Interesting read in JR's DejaBlue column on the pd site

Shatty backs Hitch 100%, says this is 100% on us, the players.
Oshie, on the other hand, slithers around, trying to deflect the blame on Hitch, whining in his best Sgt. schultz voice, "Nothing! I know nothing!"

Some players are stand up guys.
Some aren't.

One of the reasons why Shatty will be here for a long long time and why Oshie will be elsewhere soon. Shatty deserves that C as far as I'm concerned.

I agree.

Shattenkirk is a leader and a winner and it isn't surprising that he didn't come up from the Blues system. Jarmo never quite figured out that those intangibles are integral to the makeup of a quality player.

I dont think you can Just do one, fire or trade. This team, crazy as it sounds considering reg season success, needs change on both ends.

That said, IF they keep Hitch, and change the roster, I'd assume he'd have a hot seat and last shot for sure.

Jim Matheson @NHLbyMatty · 3h 3 hours ago
If Ken Hitchcock and Doug Armstrong are speaking together Tuesday doesn't that sound like no coaching change in St. Louis?

NHLTIM wrote:Jim Matheson @NHLbyMatty · 3h 3 hours ago
If Ken Hitchcock and Doug Armstrong are speaking together Tuesday doesn't that sound like no coaching change in St. Louis?

unless its to announce a new position for Hitch? Perhaps as an advisor. Heard the Blues have room for a few more VPs