Elliotte Friedman on Barry Trotz, Bruce Boudreau and Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Hockey Night in Canada Insider Elliotte Friedman joined the guys to chat about the firing of Barry Trotz, if Bruce Boudreau will return to the Canucks and OEL’s future.
OEL only wanted two teams if moved. He is on one and the other is the Bruins. At his price tag he is going no where. He took the heat off Hughs this year having to play against top lines and in turn Hughs had a career year. This is one of the big reason OEL was brought in.
I'm not surprised, and I think Lou is next. Why? Lou first. He has mismanaged cap, and lost Toews. If Boychuk didn't retire, we would have lost someone else. Then he gives Eberle away while making extending injury prone Cal C a priority. That killed Barzals scoring again. Those 2 were developing good chemistry. The teams lack of scoring sunk them. He signed a bunch of grit and let scoring walk,
Also, his draft picks haven't been stellar, and he hasn't had much success improving the team thru trades, or getting something for players at the deadline. He's been living on Snows picks. I think ownership will wait for the new coach and the draft, then tell Lou he's on the clock. Don't be shocked if Snow comes back as GM, if just temporarily.
Trots:
First, forget about the "13 road games to start the season" nonsense. It's the metro. Devils, Rangers, Flyers and Caps are basically home games, and traveling to Bridgeport isn't really hitting the road.
I started to lose faith in Trots last year when Lee was injured and he put Leo on the top line. That killed the scoring. During the Semis last year, he played an injured Pageau, a pathetic Zajac, and D-man Leo while sitting Wahlstrom. When the Isles lost game 7, all Trotz talked about was that goal getting thru. He made it all about a defensive failure? What about the lack of scoring? Why wasn't the power play fixed long ago? I honestly think Trots started losing the room at the end of last season.
Also, Trotz hasn't shown much skill at bringing young forward talent along quickly. They are in the lineup, 1 or 2 mistakes later they are out. I also sense real frustration from Barzal, Beau and Wahlstrom, and perhaps the entire team is tired of trying to win as defensemen first, goal scorers second. The team is out of balance.
He turned the entire team into defensemen, and many have forgotten how to score…..or are too afraid to commit to the play because it may result in a rush the other way. Trotz just doesn't have faith in the team to carry out the offensive part of the game….the part he can't control.
If there's one thing OEL wasn't supposed to be, it's a strong defensive defenseman and he was that for sure, and it turns out, the team wasn't and isn't great defensively, so problem solved, I guess. Too expensive? sure, but who else is taking on that contract without a pick or prospect we can't afford to give up? If we can move him for a decent return and we don't have to give up picks or prospects, I suppose, but in the absence of that, we should be looking elsewhere to cut costs. I know everyone loves JT Miller, and for good reason, but he's not going to be a 99 point player for long, as he'll be 30 going into his next contract. Not many players are like Mike Gartner or Brendan Shanahan. Most players are done in terms of offensive threats by the time they're 32 or 33. If he's resigned to a 6 year contract, that's 3 years max of good production at best, followed by 3 more of dead cap. Loui Ericsson, anyone? Have we not learned our lesson yet? I know we like to feel like we're in a romance sometimes with these players, but in the end, what matters is the Stanley Cup. We don't have one in 52 years. Until that gets sorted out, I'm not concerned with keeping individual players, as long as they're treated like valued assets and we can get a good return for them.
With Trotz on the market, ill bet Pierre Dorion is really thinking hard about getting this guy over DJ Smith. The difference is day and night coaching. Deja Vu with the Sens. Horrible 3 years, sens snag Gauthier and Martin and the team turned on a dime. Trotz could make the Sens a threat to the wild card race next season.
Yzerman was going after Lambert. Lou knew that if he lost him to Detroit that there goes the future coach of the isles that’ll take them to the cup—and he fired Trotz.
OEL was solid defensively and was effective on the 2nd unit PP directing puck to the net, when the 1st unit was stagnant. Myers should be moved instead, because his production dropped to bottom of the pit.
23 Comments
Elliot is always interesting
I took a picture and sent it to my buddies too🤣🤣 whats her Instagram?!?!
What instagram thing are they talking about? Lol. (sorry, I'm out of the loop)
Would be great if they could move OEL but don't see any chance in that. Contract is way to shitty
OEL only wanted two teams if moved. He is on one and the other is the Bruins. At his price tag he is going no where. He took the heat off Hughs this year having to play against top lines and in turn Hughs had a career year. This is one of the big reason OEL was brought in.
Elliotte Friedman was quick to throw his
"Partner" Jeff Marek under the bus taking no responsibility for his blunder.
I'm not surprised, and I think Lou is next. Why? Lou first. He has mismanaged cap, and lost Toews. If Boychuk didn't retire, we would have lost someone else. Then he gives Eberle away while making extending injury prone Cal C a priority. That killed Barzals scoring again. Those 2 were developing good chemistry. The teams lack of scoring sunk them. He signed a bunch of grit and let scoring walk,
Also, his draft picks haven't been stellar, and he hasn't had much success improving the team thru trades, or getting something for players at the deadline. He's been living on Snows picks. I think ownership will wait for the new coach and the draft, then tell Lou he's on the clock. Don't be shocked if Snow comes back as GM, if just temporarily.
Trots:
First, forget about the "13 road games to start the season" nonsense. It's the metro. Devils, Rangers, Flyers and Caps are basically home games, and traveling to Bridgeport isn't really hitting the road.
I started to lose faith in Trots last year when Lee was injured and he put Leo on the top line. That killed the scoring. During the Semis last year, he played an injured Pageau, a pathetic Zajac, and D-man Leo while sitting Wahlstrom. When the Isles lost game 7, all Trotz talked about was that goal getting thru. He made it all about a defensive failure? What about the lack of scoring? Why wasn't the power play fixed long ago? I honestly think Trots started losing the room at the end of last season.
Also, Trotz hasn't shown much skill at bringing young forward talent along quickly. They are in the lineup, 1 or 2 mistakes later they are out. I also sense real frustration from Barzal, Beau and Wahlstrom, and perhaps the entire team is tired of trying to win as defensemen first, goal scorers second. The team is out of balance.
He turned the entire team into defensemen, and many have forgotten how to score…..or are too afraid to commit to the play because it may result in a rush the other way. Trotz just doesn't have faith in the team to carry out the offensive part of the game….the part he can't control.
If there's one thing OEL wasn't supposed to be, it's a strong defensive defenseman and he was that for sure, and it turns out, the team wasn't and isn't great defensively, so problem solved, I guess. Too expensive? sure, but who else is taking on that contract without a pick or prospect we can't afford to give up? If we can move him for a decent return and we don't have to give up picks or prospects, I suppose, but in the absence of that, we should be looking elsewhere to cut costs. I know everyone loves JT Miller, and for good reason, but he's not going to be a 99 point player for long, as he'll be 30 going into his next contract. Not many players are like Mike Gartner or Brendan Shanahan. Most players are done in terms of offensive threats by the time they're 32 or 33. If he's resigned to a 6 year contract, that's 3 years max of good production at best, followed by 3 more of dead cap. Loui Ericsson, anyone? Have we not learned our lesson yet? I know we like to feel like we're in a romance sometimes with these players, but in the end, what matters is the Stanley Cup. We don't have one in 52 years. Until that gets sorted out, I'm not concerned with keeping individual players, as long as they're treated like valued assets and we can get a good return for them.
With Trotz on the market, ill bet Pierre Dorion is really thinking hard about getting this guy over DJ Smith. The difference is day and night coaching. Deja Vu with the Sens. Horrible 3 years, sens snag Gauthier and Martin and the team turned on a dime. Trotz could make the Sens a threat to the wild card race next season.
not detroit for trotz pls
I'm sure Stevie Y is also very interested in Trotz.
The penalties should be called, and not fucking evenly, they should just be called. Obviously, some teams are less responsible.
Wow you want to talk about a systems coach. I would love to see Barry Trotz as Canucks coach, if we lose BB
Islanders are going to suck next year. Barry Trotz was all they had going for them
Yzerman was going after Lambert. Lou knew that if he lost him to Detroit that there goes the future coach of the isles that’ll take them to the cup—and he fired Trotz.
Boudreau isn't going anywhere. The Canucks only missed the playoffs by (I believe) 3-5 points, so they aren't a TERRIBLE TEAM
Detroit will get Trotz
Elliotte Friedman always looks like he's just been moved by federal witness protection.
maybe bodyfat friedman could clean himself up next time hung over or not why not shave friedman?
OEL was solid defensively and was effective on the 2nd unit PP directing puck to the net, when the 1st unit was stagnant. Myers should be moved instead, because his production dropped to bottom of the pit.
Not a large Russian community in Vancouver. They seem to like going to California New York or Florida teams
I hear Elliot Friedman and Ron Maclean are very close if you know what I mean
If there's one thing