Lavi's Leadership

[Scout]

Sor far, so good. Or is it? The time to question is when things are going well, like now. High marks for new system, new style and new results. However, important qualities of any great leader are fairness and consistency. A coach exhibits this in his judgment of who plays and how much. Some of his decisions have been questionable - Vrbata scores in the opener and is scratched for the next few games, Zigomanis was playing OK but was scratched in Toronto in front of hometown fans and family (Ouch!), Boulerice is dressed against Boston but doesn't get one shift (Double Ouch!). Meanwhile a no-show like Vasicek and an underperformer like JDub keep getting lots of minutes. If a novice coach like Gretzky can scratch Comrie and a veteran coach like Murray can scratch Roenick, why can't Lavi scratch his regulars for a couple of games so that they get the message - play well, play often? If he doesn't, this will just be a collection of players, not a unified team. This team has very good talent and work ethic. Does the coach have what it takes?
By the way, after his night in the press box, Comrie scored 3 points in his next game.

[hyena]

we're first in the division and unbeaten at home. NOW we should change things?

how do you know what Lavi has up his sleeve?

[nccanes]

Interesting concerns for a team that has had the best start in franchise history.

BTW - careful on the post button - had to get rid of 3 duplicate threads. :beatup:

I think Joe and Justin on the line with Brindy have some tough duty - shutting down the top line for whomever we're playing.

At this point - I believe was Laviolette says - that he has faith in everyone on this 23 man roster. He'll utilize them in whatever manner he thinks works toward the goal of winning against any given team. So far it's working.

[corylav]

I think there are simple answers to all your questions.

1) You can't take Joe out of the lineup (for more than a one-game wakeup call anyway) b/c, in the end, we'll need his play later in the season. Yes, he's only got three points in nine games ... but Zigo has none in five.

2) Williams may not be scoring, but he's still one of our best defensive forwards. To say he's underperformed is to only look at one side of the ice. He hasn't made mistakes and has been a rock in our end and on the PK. With all the scoring we're getting, anything he'd add right now would be a bonus. If Vrbata can't significantly contribute offensively on any given night, he's a *serious* downgrade defensively.

3) The Jesse situation is simple to understand. he's dressed so he's there if we need him, like against the Sens the other night. Though I think Commodore could handle some of our tough guy duties if Jesse was scratched, do we really want to lose a guy who's been logging the second most minutes on our blueline for five minutes?

4) Let's not compare Lavi to Gretzky. Lavi has much more experience and fills out his lineup card right each night. ;) Gretzky may turn into a good coach, but Lavi is easily better right now.

[Guyute]

well done cory.

I'd also like to add that calling coaching into question for a team that is 6-2-1 (undefeated at home) is quite silly. I've been scratching my head for good analogies, but haven't come up with one that fits how I want it... so, "silly" is it.

As for Laviolette's abilities... I don't think he was named to coach the Worlds and the US Olympic team because of his looks.

[Mona]

I think Lavi is great for the team. I have always watched him closely interacting with the players and he is always positive. I have seen him pissed and yelling but he never fails to pat them on the helmet or on the shoulder when something bad or good happens to them. I remember when O was struggling in his last season here, he came off a shift and I remember seeing Lavi walk up behind him and pat his shoulder. Showed me then what kind of coach and most of all person he was. :spin:

[Cool Hand Luke]

LOL

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Is this for real? The time to question the coach is when you are winning? That's the first time I have ever heard that brilliance. GREAT idea, time to change things up. Maybe it's time to bring in a vet goalie as well because maybe just maybe Gerber and Ward can't handle things.... :beatup:

I don't care if we play bozo the clown and his brother and bench Vrbata and Zigomanis. What exactly are their credentials in this league? Can they play the penalty kill? I like them both, but as long as we are winning I could care less if they ever crack the lineup.

[Turbulence]

No matter what, you can't argue with results...
Regardless of whether or not I'd like to see some rotation of Ziggy/Nordgren/Vrbata instead of all-Nordgren, all the time...there isn't any need to fix what isn't broken.
I definitely think we're much better with Lavi than we would be with Maurice...Lavi is part of the reason, perhaps the biggest part, why we're scoring goals again. His offense-first gameplan is one that will thrive in this new league where offense is so important. So far, it's paying dividends. I see nothing to complain about.

[ontheboards]

a first time poster and this is the opinion shared...hmmm...move along nothing to see here...

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Well.....ummm....yeah. I think all the points have been made. Good job, guys! ;)

[talkingcanes]

I agree with what the rest of you have said in regards to how well things are going. I think PL is doing a great job.

I do think Joe needs to have a view from the press box for a game or 3. Better game against the Bruins, but not good enough to warrant taking a spot IMO.

So, a first time poster is not supposed to post a disenting opinion?

[hopper915]

Lavi has been doing an excellent job.
The system he has implimented is better suited for what we have on the ice.

As far as Vasicek, I don't think it would hurt to sit him a game. When you're expected to produce and you don't, you tend to grip the stick a little harder instead of playing relaxed.
He's thinking too much when he plays. I've noticed that about him of late. Some time off to relax maybe all he needs.

[nickgregory]

absolutely agree on Joe..bottom line he needs to sit out a night or a couple....move cullen back to center and get Vrbata back in the lineup....Joe is underperforming when compared to what Radim has done when he has gotten the chance

[SouthernHockeyChick]

But, Joe plays twice the defense Vrbata does (and he's no D powerhouse, lol), IMO.

I don't think it would hurt him to sit him either, but I don't know that we're wasting some big talent in who we're choosing to sit currently.

[cmw00]

So what if Vasicek doesn't score? He's still playing fairly solidly he's not a liability out there. Where as if a player like Vrbata, who doesn't want to play defense it seems sometimes, isn't scoring he is then nothing but a liability and should be sat.

[nccanes]

In my nuNHL thinking - I have decided to have minimal sympathy for scratched players or goalies that work the door on the bench. They are big boys that earn a lot of money and are 1 inch from being a regular night in and night out. They can handle it. :beatup:

Nic Wallin and Jeff Daniels have proved in the past that you can emerge from the press box and contribute and play smart with little to no exposure to the team. I expect the 3 of them to do the same - or hope they do anyway.

I'm presuming this is a "don't mess with a streak" thinking and I doubt it's very unusual. Hard to compare PHX and the Canes - PHX has 3 times as many losses. :evil:

And yes - newbies can have dissenting opinions and on the Vrbata or Joe topic I doubt there would be much backlash. But a post entitled "Laviolette's Leadership" and then questioning him on the whole is kind goofy given the results. Ya knew it was coming. :beatup: :evil:

[ontheboards]

per Talking Canes:So, a first time poster is not supposed to post a disenting opinion?

well, assuming he/she was posting a dissension, no-- however, this was not a dissenting opinion but rather a thread topic started by a first time poster that is, in my humble opinion, slam against a team and it's coach from someone who wants to stir up controversy where none exists...just my opinion, tho ;)

[Alicia]

Guy, I agree w/you..."silly" sufficiently describes the questioning.

[Cool Hand Luke]

I disagree with benching Vasicek. If he was not putting forth effort and was hurting the team, then sure. But the past couple of games I have seen a lot of effort out of Joe. Against the Bruins he had one awesome shot that hit the post, so maybe if that shot was inside a couple of inches we aren't having this discussion? In my opinion, I think he's pretty close to getting back on his game. In hockey timing is everything, and his timing is just a bit off. You don't get it back by sitting in the pressbox.

Vrbata is a goal scorer, period. He can't kill penalties and isn't known for defense or digging pucks out of the corners. If we were not able to score any goals, I would be all for getting him in the line up one way or the other, but that isn't the case. I assume that both Vrbata and Zigomanis will play Saturday though, simply to give some guys a break.

Bottom line I trust Laviolette's decisions. He sees these guys in practice everyday, he talks to them, he knows them. If he thinks we need to bench someone, I won't complain...(unless we lose)... :D

[StormShaman]

I have absolute faith in Peter Laviolette.

(FYI, this Scout character is sounding a lot like our old friend "netminder"--same posting style and phrasing. I could be wrong, of course--but I just had eerie flashbacks to that loser's old troll-posts on here)

[apolinar]

I disagree with benching Vasicek. If he was not putting forth effort and was hurting the team, then sure. But the past couple of games I have seen a lot of effort out of Joe. Against the Bruins he had one awesome shot that hit the post, so maybe if that shot was inside a couple of inches we aren't having this discussion? In my opinion, I think he's pretty close to getting back on his game. In hockey timing is everything, and his timing is just a bit off. You don't get it back by sitting in the pressbox.

QFT, agree. Someone else is seeing what I'm seeing out of joe. Glad I'm not alone.

[goalie33]

He's so CUTE!

http://chickenmafia.com/pictures/troll.jpg

[Guyute]

now now... let's not put the official label on him/her quite yet. I had thoughts of it when I first replied, but chose to give the benefit of the doubt.

is that likely the intent of the post? yeah, probly.

but, we can give first time posters a little break in most cases, while we wait and see. rest assured that most trolls don't make it to 10 posts before being dealt with.

[nccanes]

Maybe it's Paul Maurice? ;)

[Guyute]

http://www.tridead.net/canes/images/smilies/rofl.gif

[puck_it]

i... got nothin...

everyone did a great job of summing it up. WE BEAT OTTAWA. The team cant be that bad. Somebody is doin something right!

[nohuiam]

I thought this thread was going to be about Lavi's AWESOME Leadership so far.

I'm having a hard time taking the initial post seriously. I'm downright giddy about our start and can't wait for each game. The guys are playing with a passion and resiliance that reminds me of the White Sox who I've been watching celebrate their World Championship today with a ticker tape parade.

I think we're in for a special season and will be surprised if I'm wrong.