Hey George, would you like the Sedin twins as well? How about Zdeno Chara? You can't say we want 2 high skilled mature but not old free agents with our salary cap. You also can't say you want Semin, Schultz, and Poti gone, since ALL THREE JUST SIGNED CONTRACT EXTENSIONS. Semin's only here through next year, but Schultz has 4 years and Poti has 2 more. There's NO WAY we can get anywhere near fair value for them with those contracts. And Fehr is actually one of our best role players, he was injured for the postseason so he disappeared but he deserves another chance. When unhurt, he shows up well in big games. Remember the Winter Classic goals? He also scored on the Habs 3 times last year, I'll take 3 goals in 7 games over Semin's disappearing act any day.
Let me clarify, I don't necessarily think we should keep Semin, Schultz, and Poti. I think it's moronic to make claims like "dump these players" without a logical course of action for doing so, and that has to take the contract status of each into account. I'd be happy for trading Semin for a good shutdown defender, but we can't get rid of Schultz or Poti, nobody will take them for fair value. And I agree that Bruce deserves another chance, he gets one more season as coach.
But I'm sick of people saying IF WE DON'T WIN THE CUP THE SEASON'S A JOKE. We haven't been to the Eastern Conference Finals since 1998. If Bruce gets us to the ECF next year, he can stay. If we lose before that, even if we lose in the 2nd round in an epic 7 game series like the Pens' series 2 years ago, then Bruce gets fired. Team isn't young anymore, it's time for more results.
George Merritt - 13 years ago
It would be idiotic to fire Bruce now. We need Semin & Schultz, Poti, Fehr gone, another year of the kids on D growing up, and an addition or 2 of a high skill mature but not old free-agent to get this team there. I have been a CAPS fan since 1980 and suffered through many an early exit from the playoffs, problem used to be Abe not spending enough to make the right moves at the deadline or to upgrade at goalie or get that extra sniper, sometimes guys just didn't care, but sometimes it just happens (hockey is funny that way). Tampa just plain outworked the CAPS no luck or fluke involved - OV and Nuiverth are the only reasons games were close. If Bruce gets fired he will have another NHL job in a week. Please Ted Don't be STUPID!
Trip2cup - 13 years ago
He's had FOUR playoff runs and this team is no farther than they were his rookie coaching season. The team doesn't respond to him anymore and HBO exposed that he has NO analytical skills to dissect opposing teams (ESPECIALLY in the playoffs) and find ways to win! Even Jason Arnott said it. His FIRST practice, he was "Horrified" at the lack of discipline and structure!!
He's a great 'person,' but he's been grasping at straws all season long. He's changed to a "defensive Scheme" and pulled back his offense when he has three of the best offensive players in the NHL on his team. Seriously??? I'ma ll for good "D" BUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE PROBLEM FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS - FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM...POST SEASON SCORING!!! Sorry, all, but this is a sport. Everyone should be held accountable for their inabilities. That includes Semin, Backstrom and even Carlsson (in this series). Sorry Bruce, but the players "LIKING" you isn't as good as them "RESPECTING" you. Bob Hartley? Marc Crawford? Craig McTavish? Ken Hitchcock? It's time to move on.
Hey George, would you like the Sedin twins as well? How about Zdeno Chara? You can't say we want 2 high skilled mature but not old free agents with our salary cap. You also can't say you want Semin, Schultz, and Poti gone, since ALL THREE JUST SIGNED CONTRACT EXTENSIONS. Semin's only here through next year, but Schultz has 4 years and Poti has 2 more. There's NO WAY we can get anywhere near fair value for them with those contracts. And Fehr is actually one of our best role players, he was injured for the postseason so he disappeared but he deserves another chance. When unhurt, he shows up well in big games. Remember the Winter Classic goals? He also scored on the Habs 3 times last year, I'll take 3 goals in 7 games over Semin's disappearing act any day.
Let me clarify, I don't necessarily think we should keep Semin, Schultz, and Poti. I think it's moronic to make claims like "dump these players" without a logical course of action for doing so, and that has to take the contract status of each into account. I'd be happy for trading Semin for a good shutdown defender, but we can't get rid of Schultz or Poti, nobody will take them for fair value. And I agree that Bruce deserves another chance, he gets one more season as coach.
But I'm sick of people saying IF WE DON'T WIN THE CUP THE SEASON'S A JOKE. We haven't been to the Eastern Conference Finals since 1998. If Bruce gets us to the ECF next year, he can stay. If we lose before that, even if we lose in the 2nd round in an epic 7 game series like the Pens' series 2 years ago, then Bruce gets fired. Team isn't young anymore, it's time for more results.
It would be idiotic to fire Bruce now. We need Semin & Schultz, Poti, Fehr gone, another year of the kids on D growing up, and an addition or 2 of a high skill mature but not old free-agent to get this team there. I have been a CAPS fan since 1980 and suffered through many an early exit from the playoffs, problem used to be Abe not spending enough to make the right moves at the deadline or to upgrade at goalie or get that extra sniper, sometimes guys just didn't care, but sometimes it just happens (hockey is funny that way). Tampa just plain outworked the CAPS no luck or fluke involved - OV and Nuiverth are the only reasons games were close. If Bruce gets fired he will have another NHL job in a week. Please Ted Don't be STUPID!
He's had FOUR playoff runs and this team is no farther than they were his rookie coaching season. The team doesn't respond to him anymore and HBO exposed that he has NO analytical skills to dissect opposing teams (ESPECIALLY in the playoffs) and find ways to win! Even Jason Arnott said it. His FIRST practice, he was "Horrified" at the lack of discipline and structure!!
He's a great 'person,' but he's been grasping at straws all season long. He's changed to a "defensive Scheme" and pulled back his offense when he has three of the best offensive players in the NHL on his team. Seriously??? I'ma ll for good "D" BUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE PROBLEM FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS - FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM...POST SEASON SCORING!!! Sorry, all, but this is a sport. Everyone should be held accountable for their inabilities. That includes Semin, Backstrom and even Carlsson (in this series). Sorry Bruce, but the players "LIKING" you isn't as good as them "RESPECTING" you. Bob Hartley? Marc Crawford? Craig McTavish? Ken Hitchcock? It's time to move on.