April 25, 2006

Coach of the Year (III):: Today, Marc Crawford was fired as head coach of the non-playoff-bound (and seriously underachieving) Vancouver Canucks.

posted by chicobangs to hockey at 07:08 PM - 5 comments

Aside from the Anson Carter/Sedin twins line (my moribund fantasy pool team thanks you guys), they stunk this year. This wasn't quite a surprise. But now a few questions come to mind: 1) Is he being held as the scapegoat for a team that had some significant injuries, specifically in goal? 2) Did dealing with the aftermath of the Todd Bertuzzi situation demoralize the Canucks to the point where playing to their potential was an impossibility? 3) In milliseconds, how long will it be before we see the rumors about Crawford interviewing for the vacant Leafs coaching job?

posted by chicobangs at 07:11 PM on April 25, 2006

4) In milliseconds, how long will it be before we see rumours about Quinn going back to Vancouver? And Crawford going to Toronto has already been talked about on CBC. No surprise there. It seems as though during the intermissions, they talk more about the teams not in the playoffs (Leafs, Canucks) than those that made it.

posted by mkn at 07:57 PM on April 25, 2006

1) Crawford is another victim of the baby with the bath water coaching approach. 2) That coupled with the so-so play of Morrison and Naslund and Jovonowski. 3) Great move for the Leafs if it goes through. I still think of Crawford as a young coach and he totally looks like my dentist 4) I think some new blood is needed in Couver. The 'Nucks can be saved, Cloutier was never the answer in net and you still have the Sedins and their wacky telepathy. They played in a really tight divison but someones got to lose.

posted by HATER 187 at 10:35 PM on April 25, 2006

My disdain for Crawford goes way back to the Nagano Olympics ... I don't care what anybody says ... injured, sick, not "great" at penalty shots, or whatever ... WAYNE GRETZKY should've been picked for the shootout!!! As an Edmontonian who has always had a soft spot for the Vancouver teams, I say good riddance. Frankly, I do think it's time for some new blood in the coaching ranks anyway. Not that Crawford and Quinn shouldn't be revered for what they have accomplished, etc. ... I do think that every dog has its day ... I'm not a fan of this "recycling" within a relatively small fraternity of coaches ... there are some hungry dogs barkin' at the heels of these big names ... let 'em have a chance. Toronto obviously needs an injection to boost their performance ... and as the post above notes ... the 'nucks play in a pretty tight division. I wouldn't look at Crawford as a scapegoat ... just as the upper management recognizing their window to turf Crawford ;) p.s. Ted Nolan deserves another shot behind the NHL bench.

posted by Spitztengle at 12:04 AM on April 26, 2006

ted nolan in toronto?? that would be awesome... yes marc should become a dentist...for all the pain he likes to create in the locker rooms...

posted by ktown at 09:37 AM on April 26, 2006

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