Talking Points: Laviolette paid price for inconsistency
From Talking Points:
The news that the Hurricanes have called a press conference this morning to announce a coaching change comes as no surprise to anyone who watched this team play this season.
With each passing game, it was becoming clear that Peter Laviolette no longer possessed the ability to get this team to play hard on a regular, consistent basis. It’s also possible that wasn’t his fault.
He wasn’t given the most talented roster in the NHL to start with, and injuries and poor performances left him with a shell of even that. It’s entirely possible no coach could have been able — or will be able — to get more out of this roster.
But in the end, Laviolette paid the price for a string of home losses — three in a row, and a 6-7-0 home record — that highlighted this team’s most critical failing:
Whether to start games (the Hurricanes have given up the first goal in 10 straight games) or to end them (the late collapses against Los Angeles, Edmonton and Washington), there was no way of telling how hard the Canes were willing to play on any particular night.
Read more here.
Luke DeCock
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at 829-8947 or luke.decock@newsobserver.com.
Comments
Team's got more talent than most
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 12:07 — GENOand injuries are just an excuse. It comes down to a coach that can't or won't change the system that other teams know how to beat.
Laviolette and Poor Effort
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 11:22 — abramsdougI agree with the decision to fire Laviolette. I hope he lands a great job as a head coach elsewhere and does fantastically well with his new team; but he had lost the Hurricanes players. It is ultimately the head coach's responsibility to inspire an overall team effort and work ethic. I am convinced Hurricane fans are most interested in seeing the Hurricanes play with heart and fire; and if the team falls short despite the wide open throttle effort, so be it. For two and 1/4 seasons, the Hurricanes have been completely inconsistent in their efforts. I was delighted when Laviolette replaced Maurice. I am withholding judgment on Maurice as the new head coach; but he would not be among my top twenty choices.
GM needs to go
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 11:11 — HockeydogIf you look at the players drafted after Eric Staal you can get an idea of this GM's ability to judge talent and build a team.
I like Eric Staal, think he is a good to excellent player, but he is not very strong. Just look at the 2003 draft first round.
Look at Brian Burke. If you watched Hockey Night In Canada last week you will have seen a GM being interviewed that knows who to build a team!
Scape Goat
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 10:29 — JustListenenThe coach takes the fall for the poor performance of the team AND the general manager.
One area of poor performance of management has been the draft. Look how many star players were drafted AFTER the Canes .... that's the responsibility of the General Manager.
During the cup run we were one of the fastest teams in the East ... now we seem to be one of the slowest. Brind'Amour is at least a step or two slower than previous years, most likely due to his knee surgery.
Why did they let Keith Acoin get away? Again a general manager's decision.
The change of Tom Rowe and Jeff Daniels doesn't seem to have helped either team. A general manager's decision.
Why trade Cole forPitkanin in the HOPE of maybe trading Kaberle before making the trade? Why sign Melichar?
And the rumor on TSN is that Maurice will return!
Mo is back...
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 10:25 — cschlenkerTSN is reporting Paul Maurice is the replacement,
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=258260&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main
You've got to be kidding me...