Successful coaches lose their jobs all the time. Whether it's hockey, football, or any other sport. The game evolves. Professional sports are all about adjustments. Coaches with past success don't always adjust to the newest schemes and they also tend to lose the locker room full of egos when they get tired of hearing the same voice for too long. It's a valid point made by RK. But even if it wasn't, it's a ridiculous response by you.
AC
Tue, 11/08/2011 - 2:50am
I don't think it would matter who you bring in, if he doesn't fit in the "system" he wont score. Look at Nuarato. Went to Dayton and he is a scorer. I think Sim's needs to let the guys play and stop being defensive. When they hit people they score goals. This is an offensive league. Also, the goalies are very good and you have to be quick in shooting because they react so quick. Can't score if you don't shoot first.
Jeremy Enright
Tue, 11/08/2011 - 7:11am
I have noticed the last few years that the puck spends a lot of time along the blue line and boards. We don't get it in front of the net as often as our competition. It's obviously worked to an extent, but I'm curious as to whether or not it works in the CHL. I've yet to figure out if the problem is the system or the players.
RunningKomet
Tue, 11/08/2011 - 7:37am
At least spell "Knight" correctly if you are going to tell me to "get a clue" so that you don't look like as much of a moran.
Please explain to me how great the coaching has made our powerplay over the past few years? The last time it was above average was when the Ks had their long home win streak going. After that, we got away from making it work, and also away from winning consistently.
JR1
Tue, 11/08/2011 - 8:22am
As good as I felt leaving the Coliseum on Friday night is how confused I felt leaving on Sunday....
Komets looked flat out awesome on friday and just seemed to go downhill fast from there. We have proven performers at this level of AA hockey. The K's brass went out and got Al the players, now he needs to put the right system in place to give these guys the best chance at reaching their potential. 10 goals in 5 games isnt going to cut it no matter how good your defense is.
Passing Sunday was as bad as it was opening night. Friday they utilized the boards a ton to get passes to connect, Sunday they barely used them at all, instead trying to force too many passes thru the defense.
They were right back to every shot in the bread basket of the goalie... Not too many rebounds to bang in when the puck is lodged in the goalies gut. As others have mentioned, playing the entire time in the offensive zone along the boards isnt working. How many years now have we been pleading for guys to get to the net? Get the goalie moving side to side more will help also... These station to station passes on the PP will not work. If the goalie can take his time tracking the puck along the boards and thru the point and then back while not being screened 9 times out of 10 they are going to stop the puck when finally shot... Get the goalie out of his comfort zone!
This 4 game road trip is just what the doctor ordered, IMO... No home pressure, just play the game! They need to win 3 of 4 games if they want to stay in sight of the top teams in the league... They are 9 points behind Missouri with 2 games in hand and 1 point from being tied with Bloomington for last in the league...
JungleMonkey
Tue, 11/08/2011 - 8:25am
Funny how when all the old people get kicked out that brand new people suddenly discover this blog.
RunningKomet
Tue, 11/08/2011 - 10:31am
Only the faces change...
Alan
Tue, 11/08/2011 - 10:34am
As we have been noting the Komets offensive woes, here is a stat that may surprise you:
In five games the Komets have scored exactly one goal in the third period. That goal came during Sunday's game.
So.....in 100 minutes of third period play, the Komets have one goal to show for it.
Boone
Tue, 11/08/2011 - 11:10am
maybe we should all keep changing our names every time....
Alan
Tue, 11/08/2011 - 11:22am
Thanks, Blake.
Any news on Lovell, Starenky, or Bennefield?
Steve
Tue, 11/08/2011 - 1:15pm
In my opinion the lower the league the more adaptability the coach has to have. In AA, you have a combination of a teaching league and a league with vets, a challenging combination.
In lower leagues the coach has to be able to adapt or develop systems based on the player's abilities. He can't expect them to have the skill to completely adapt to him, it has to work both ways.
In higher leagues, a coach can develop a system and expect the team to be able to execute it, but it doesn't work that easily in lower leagues. And yet at the same time he has to teach and develop the kids so they get good enough to adapt to systems. So as the season advances the players' skill should advance and the systems modify accordingly, even if only slightly. A state of constant flux perhaps?
I'm not sure if the above makes sense, I'm in kind of a rush and it may sound more like rambling then anything.
Not every coach has the skill set necessary to be successful in the above environment. Some will be better as teachers, working with kids, some better at working with already developed players, and some will be able to do both.
In my opinion at this time I suspect Al is better at working with veterans, players developed or at least more developed then young players fresh out of juniors and college and not the cream of the crop (the cream goes straight to the AHL if not NHL). This doesn't make him bad, or even a bad coach, just one better suited to a different environment.
I'm not quite jumping on the "fire the coach" wagon yet, I think it is too early for that. But I also think that point isn't far down the road. Maybe another two weeks at most.
Then we have to worry about where to find a replacement and how well everyone will adapt to that. In Komet history firing the coach during the season has never resulted in a major success or turn around. Maybe if done early enough in the season that will change?
Wendy
Tue, 11/08/2011 - 2:25pm
I'm not advocating a change in the coaching department, but this bit from a recent article regarding the coaching change in St. Louis did get my attention considering that Sims is considered to be a players' coach too:
---------------------------------------------------
"...Hitchcock is, frankly, exactly what this team needs after meandering with a players' coach for parts of two years. Structure. Discipline. Consistency. Improved special teams. OK, it's going to be boring. Hitchcock's teams usually are. But you know what boring gets you? Strong performances from perennial underachievers, and teams that make the playoffs more often than once in six seasons."
--------------------------------------------------
Thank you, Bob. (personal aside: I meant Zuccarello, not Del Zotto when we talking about the "Hobbit Wizard". Sorry. I knew there was a Z in there.)
RunningKomet
Tue, 11/08/2011 - 2:34pm
I don't know that I'm totally for Al being gone yet either, but agree with Steve that it may not be far down the road when I will be. I've just read several people posting about different players being "too comfortable", yet no one seems to consider applying that mantra to the coach also.
Blake Sebring
Tue, 11/08/2011 - 2:48pm
I've always had a ton of respect for Ken Hitchcock. Better man than he is a coach, and he's pretty darn good at that.
I don't think Al is too comfortable. For some reason, the guys who are counted on to do the majority of the scoring have not been so far. I disagree that he should loosen the reigns and let the offense fly. With such a young defense, that would be disaster. That style has also never worked in Fort Wayne since the early 1980s. It's definitely a balance.
As for the power play, maybe it's time to try different players. Good or bad, whenever Colin is on the pp, the whole thing slows down as he dominates the puck. You'd think you'd want your best player and best passer to do that, though. Like everything else, it's a process, but when you're not scoring 5 on 5, special teams are even more important.
offthepost
Tue, 11/08/2011 - 2:55pm
SORRY ..MISSED A K WHEN TYPING...BOTTOM LINE K'S ARE 2-3 AND PEOPLE WANT TO THROW COACH UNDER THE BUS? POINT BEING..I'LL TAKE COACH SIMS HOCKEY KNOWLEDGE AND EXPIERENCE OVER ANY OF YOUR INFINITE HOCKEY WISDOM RUNNING KOMET...FUNNY THING TO ABOUT COMMENTS ABOUT DEVELOPING PLAYERS..PLEASE SOMEONE TELL ME A BETTER COACH AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW TO COACH AT THIS LEVEL OF HOCKEY
Steve
Tue, 11/08/2011 - 3:42pm
Fortunately it's not my job to come up with another coach if that's the direction things go in. All I have to do is like or not like the performance of the one that is hired, same as it is now.
Comments
"Get a clue" Offthepost?!? Stay classy, Snuff.
Successful coaches lose their jobs all the time. Whether it's hockey, football, or any other sport. The game evolves. Professional sports are all about adjustments. Coaches with past success don't always adjust to the newest schemes and they also tend to lose the locker room full of egos when they get tired of hearing the same voice for too long. It's a valid point made by RK. But even if it wasn't, it's a ridiculous response by you.
I don't think it would matter who you bring in, if he doesn't fit in the "system" he wont score. Look at Nuarato. Went to Dayton and he is a scorer. I think Sim's needs to let the guys play and stop being defensive. When they hit people they score goals. This is an offensive league. Also, the goalies are very good and you have to be quick in shooting because they react so quick. Can't score if you don't shoot first.
I have noticed the last few years that the puck spends a lot of time along the blue line and boards. We don't get it in front of the net as often as our competition. It's obviously worked to an extent, but I'm curious as to whether or not it works in the CHL. I've yet to figure out if the problem is the system or the players.
At least spell "Knight" correctly if you are going to tell me to "get a clue" so that you don't look like as much of a moran.
Please explain to me how great the coaching has made our powerplay over the past few years? The last time it was above average was when the Ks had their long home win streak going. After that, we got away from making it work, and also away from winning consistently.
As good as I felt leaving the Coliseum on Friday night is how confused I felt leaving on Sunday....
Komets looked flat out awesome on friday and just seemed to go downhill fast from there. We have proven performers at this level of AA hockey. The K's brass went out and got Al the players, now he needs to put the right system in place to give these guys the best chance at reaching their potential. 10 goals in 5 games isnt going to cut it no matter how good your defense is.
Passing Sunday was as bad as it was opening night. Friday they utilized the boards a ton to get passes to connect, Sunday they barely used them at all, instead trying to force too many passes thru the defense.
They were right back to every shot in the bread basket of the goalie... Not too many rebounds to bang in when the puck is lodged in the goalies gut. As others have mentioned, playing the entire time in the offensive zone along the boards isnt working. How many years now have we been pleading for guys to get to the net? Get the goalie moving side to side more will help also... These station to station passes on the PP will not work. If the goalie can take his time tracking the puck along the boards and thru the point and then back while not being screened 9 times out of 10 they are going to stop the puck when finally shot... Get the goalie out of his comfort zone!
This 4 game road trip is just what the doctor ordered, IMO... No home pressure, just play the game! They need to win 3 of 4 games if they want to stay in sight of the top teams in the league... They are 9 points behind Missouri with 2 games in hand and 1 point from being tied with Bloomington for last in the league...
Funny how when all the old people get kicked out that brand new people suddenly discover this blog.
Only the faces change...
As we have been noting the Komets offensive woes, here is a stat that may surprise you:
In five games the Komets have scored exactly one goal in the third period. That goal came during Sunday's game.
So.....in 100 minutes of third period play, the Komets have one goal to show for it.
maybe we should all keep changing our names every time....
Thanks, Blake.
Any news on Lovell, Starenky, or Bennefield?
In my opinion the lower the league the more adaptability the coach has to have. In AA, you have a combination of a teaching league and a league with vets, a challenging combination.
In lower leagues the coach has to be able to adapt or develop systems based on the player's abilities. He can't expect them to have the skill to completely adapt to him, it has to work both ways.
In higher leagues, a coach can develop a system and expect the team to be able to execute it, but it doesn't work that easily in lower leagues. And yet at the same time he has to teach and develop the kids so they get good enough to adapt to systems. So as the season advances the players' skill should advance and the systems modify accordingly, even if only slightly. A state of constant flux perhaps?
I'm not sure if the above makes sense, I'm in kind of a rush and it may sound more like rambling then anything.
Not every coach has the skill set necessary to be successful in the above environment. Some will be better as teachers, working with kids, some better at working with already developed players, and some will be able to do both.
In my opinion at this time I suspect Al is better at working with veterans, players developed or at least more developed then young players fresh out of juniors and college and not the cream of the crop (the cream goes straight to the AHL if not NHL). This doesn't make him bad, or even a bad coach, just one better suited to a different environment.
I'm not quite jumping on the "fire the coach" wagon yet, I think it is too early for that. But I also think that point isn't far down the road. Maybe another two weeks at most.
Then we have to worry about where to find a replacement and how well everyone will adapt to that. In Komet history firing the coach during the season has never resulted in a major success or turn around. Maybe if done early enough in the season that will change?
I'm not advocating a change in the coaching department, but this bit from a recent article regarding the coaching change in St. Louis did get my attention considering that Sims is considered to be a players' coach too:
---------------------------------------------------
"...Hitchcock is, frankly, exactly what this team needs after meandering with a players' coach for parts of two years. Structure. Discipline. Consistency. Improved special teams. OK, it's going to be boring. Hitchcock's teams usually are. But you know what boring gets you? Strong performances from perennial underachievers, and teams that make the playoffs more often than once in six seasons."
--------------------------------------------------
Thank you, Bob. (personal aside: I meant Zuccarello, not Del Zotto when we talking about the "Hobbit Wizard". Sorry. I knew there was a Z in there.)
I don't know that I'm totally for Al being gone yet either, but agree with Steve that it may not be far down the road when I will be. I've just read several people posting about different players being "too comfortable", yet no one seems to consider applying that mantra to the coach also.
I've always had a ton of respect for Ken Hitchcock. Better man than he is a coach, and he's pretty darn good at that.
I don't think Al is too comfortable. For some reason, the guys who are counted on to do the majority of the scoring have not been so far. I disagree that he should loosen the reigns and let the offense fly. With such a young defense, that would be disaster. That style has also never worked in Fort Wayne since the early 1980s. It's definitely a balance.
As for the power play, maybe it's time to try different players. Good or bad, whenever Colin is on the pp, the whole thing slows down as he dominates the puck. You'd think you'd want your best player and best passer to do that, though. Like everything else, it's a process, but when you're not scoring 5 on 5, special teams are even more important.
SORRY ..MISSED A K WHEN TYPING...BOTTOM LINE K'S ARE 2-3 AND PEOPLE WANT TO THROW COACH UNDER THE BUS? POINT BEING..I'LL TAKE COACH SIMS HOCKEY KNOWLEDGE AND EXPIERENCE OVER ANY OF YOUR INFINITE HOCKEY WISDOM RUNNING KOMET...FUNNY THING TO ABOUT COMMENTS ABOUT DEVELOPING PLAYERS..PLEASE SOMEONE TELL ME A BETTER COACH AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW TO COACH AT THIS LEVEL OF HOCKEY
Fortunately it's not my job to come up with another coach if that's the direction things go in. All I have to do is like or not like the performance of the one that is hired, same as it is now.