Hitch and the Hereafter
Kudos to Ken Hitchcock for sticking to his guns… even if it meant his departure.
Coach Hitch told the media Thursday that to win in the NHL takes a team that’s willing to check guys into the boards—-a physical style of play branded as “North American” hockey. His CBJ simply was not built for that purpose. Players from Sweden and the Czech Republic don’t grow up playing that way, and even some skilled, athletic Canadians will not buy into a physically gruesome style of play. This makes me wonder if Ken and GM Scott Howson were really on the same page. Hitch said Thursday he would never march into the GM’s office to beg for a trade or to get rid of a player. However, they should have agreed on the style of play the organization would follow and then build to that. You must have skill—-guys who can fly up ice and beat the defense. But the right mix of style and substance is what seperates the great teams from the bad ones. Sadly, the CBJ fell back to a bad model of a hockey team this season. Hitch got the blame, which in truth he shares with everyone there.
So here’s wondering out loud… will Claude Noel (it’s pronounced “CLOD”) be any different? OF course…. I think the CBJ will find some pressure-free success under his leadership. They’re no longer playing for playoff positioning—-they’re playing experimental hockey, they can try anything and face no risk. Fans no longer expect them to win, they presume the opposite. But what the CBJ must do the remainder of this season is prove to its fan base that its eager to find a solution to become just a contending team. No one’s asking for Lord Stanley next year—-just don’t be terrible. That’s a fair demand from people, especially fans who’ve been treated to a buffet of ineptitude for nearly a decade.
Remember, if all these high draft picks and and young talent continue to perform “under the bar” (as Hitch always liked to say), the next stop is the GM’s office.
