Monday, June 18, 2007
WTF: Boston Ruins Want Mike Milbury?
by Jes
My future Hallowe'en costume
After canning Dave "Adolf" Lewis like chicken soup, the Bruins have narrowed down the list of candidates to take over the hopeless job of coaching the Bruins back into the playoffs ...
From the Boston Globe (via Mirtle):
Yeah, I did a double-take when I saw the name of MIKE MILBURY leap out of the screen and try to swipe my afternoon tea.
Mad Mike? The same guy that destroyed the Isles franchise and ensured their continual suckiness for over a decade?
Well, looking back on his coaching record, it's a real mixed bag:
When Milbury first started coaching, he was behind the bench of a very talented Boston Bruins squad that had Ray Bourque, Cam Neely, Craig Janney, and Bob Carpenter. The Bruins were good, but Milbury lead them to a Finals appearance and a semi-finals appearance in the face of stronger competition.
Fast forward to his Isles days, when he put himself as a coach out of desperation. Each time, Milbury clearly did little but lose, thanks to the fact he helped build such an awful squad.
(As a note, how can a team with Tommy Salo, Tommy Soderstrom, Eric Fichaud, and Jamie McLennan as goaltenders expect to win anything?)
Boston obviously hopes that bringing back a familiar name will somehow fill the stands.
Right.
Bruins fans want 2 things
1. Jeremy Jacobs' head on a lance
2. Wins
How many Bruins fans will remember Milbury with utter fondness? When you hear or see that name, all you can think about is failure, and how much the guy fux0red things up on the Island.
Julien? He did a great job with the Devils and had a good track record that is RECENT! Milbury? He hasn't coached much in the "New NHL", and his best success came at a time when a GAA of under 3 was god-like.
Let's hope, for Bruins fans' sake, that Boston doesn't make the wrong decision.
My future Hallowe'en costumeAfter canning Dave "Adolf" Lewis like chicken soup, the Bruins have narrowed down the list of candidates to take over the hopeless job of coaching the Bruins back into the playoffs ...
From the Boston Globe (via Mirtle):
Ex-Bruin Mike Milbury and former New Jersey Devils coach Claude Julien, considered the leading candidates on Chiarelli's short list, were most recently employed by playoff clubs. In contrast, the 2006-07 Bruins stumbled to a 13th-place finish in the Eastern Conference and will require a significant overhaul to make a postseason push.
Yesterday, Chiarelli confirmed that he has interviewed Milbury, whose last position was vice president of sports properties for the Islanders. New York made a late-season push to qualify for a first-round showdown with the Buffalo Sabres.
Yeah, I did a double-take when I saw the name of MIKE MILBURY leap out of the screen and try to swipe my afternoon tea.
Mad Mike? The same guy that destroyed the Isles franchise and ensured their continual suckiness for over a decade?
Well, looking back on his coaching record, it's a real mixed bag:
Season Team GM W L T .PCT PLAYOFF RECORD
-------------------------------------------------
1989-90 Boston 80 46 25 9 .631 Lost in Finals
1990-91 Boston 80 44 24 12 .625 Lost in round 3
1995-96 NYI 82 22 50 10 .329 Out of Playoffs
1996-97 NYI 45 13 23 9 .389 --
1997-98 NYI 19 8 9 2 .474 Out of Playoffs
--------------------------------------------------
When Milbury first started coaching, he was behind the bench of a very talented Boston Bruins squad that had Ray Bourque, Cam Neely, Craig Janney, and Bob Carpenter. The Bruins were good, but Milbury lead them to a Finals appearance and a semi-finals appearance in the face of stronger competition.
Fast forward to his Isles days, when he put himself as a coach out of desperation. Each time, Milbury clearly did little but lose, thanks to the fact he helped build such an awful squad.
(As a note, how can a team with Tommy Salo, Tommy Soderstrom, Eric Fichaud, and Jamie McLennan as goaltenders expect to win anything?)
Boston obviously hopes that bringing back a familiar name will somehow fill the stands.
Right.
Bruins fans want 2 things
1. Jeremy Jacobs' head on a lance
2. Wins
How many Bruins fans will remember Milbury with utter fondness? When you hear or see that name, all you can think about is failure, and how much the guy fux0red things up on the Island.
Julien? He did a great job with the Devils and had a good track record that is RECENT! Milbury? He hasn't coached much in the "New NHL", and his best success came at a time when a GAA of under 3 was god-like.
Let's hope, for Bruins fans' sake, that Boston doesn't make the wrong decision.
Labels: Bruins, Claude Julien, coach hiring, Mike Milbury
Monday, April 02, 2007
Report: Claude Julien Fired by the Devils
by Jes
What the hell is going on in Joisey? (Besides mob activity, that is...)
From the What The Hell Files comes word that Devils coach Claude Julien was canned this morning.
TSN.ca Link
And this isn't the first time that Uncle Lou has done something weird like this...
Now, would you want to coach the Devils, given this history of weird behaviour by management?
What the hell is going on in Joisey? (Besides mob activity, that is...)
From the What The Hell Files comes word that Devils coach Claude Julien was canned this morning.
TSN.ca Link
Lou Lamoriello is back behind the bench in New Jersey.Is leading the division not good enough for some people? Hell, I figured NJ would be fighting for a playoff spot, not the division title.
The playoff-bound Devils have fired head coach Claude Julien with less than a week to go in the regular season with the veteran GM Lamoriello taking over for the second straight season.
Lamoriello also stepped behind the bench last season after Larry Robinson stepped down as coach in December.
The surprising move Monday comes with the Devils second in the Eastern Conference with a 47-24-8 record and 102 points. The Devils have won four of their last five games, including Sunday's 3-1 win over Boston. They went 6-6-2 in March while battling key injuries to Brian Gionta, John Madden and Patrik Elias.
And this isn't the first time that Uncle Lou has done something weird like this...
Monday's firing isn't the only time Lamoriello made a late-season coaching move. He fired Robby Ftorek late in the 2002-2003 season and Robinson eventually led the team to its third Stanley Cup since 1995.Uncle Lou has run his team like a cult before, and I do feel for Julien. The Devils have played well this season, and what makes Lou think he can do a better job? Is there another story that isn't being told here?
Now, would you want to coach the Devils, given this history of weird behaviour by management?
Labels: Claude Julien, Coach firing, Devils, Lou Lamoriello
