Intriguing...And Worrisome
by David Driscoll-Carignan on May 8, 2009 11:44 AM MDT
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PrintAm I the only one confused by the Patrick Roy news today? The assumption is that Roy is meeting with Pierre Lacroix to discuss a coaching position. While the overall concept makes sense, the timing does not.
In case you forgot, the Avalanche have a coach. I certainly haven't - I've been complaining that Tony Granato is still around since April 13th. Regardless, the Avalanche have a coach and you don't talk to potential new coaches when there's a coach in place.
The Avalanche do not have a GM. The GM is the guy who hires (and fires) the coach. So, again, why would Lacroix be rumored to be talking to a potential new coach? Shouldn't that be the job of the next GM? Even assuming the next GM will be a Pierre Puppet, this is rather brash stuff from PL. "Congratulations on becoming the next GM, Craig Billington, now here's the coach I've picked for you. Hey, give Tony a call for me, will you?"
Even as ass-backwards as the organization is doing things lately, this just doesn't make sense. There's only a few different conclusions you can draw from today's news.
- Roy is just in Denver to take in a few Nuggets games and just happened to pay a visit to his old friend (and agent).
- Pierre Lacroix is even more sheltered and egomaniacal than we figured and has no need for our silly standard operating procedures.
- Roy will be joining the team as a different capacity other than coach. GM? GM / coach? Janitor? Scout? 2nd-line center?
As Dater reminds us today, "Lacroix said the Avs would have a new 'management structure' upon Giguere's dismissal, so it's possible there could be some new hybrid roles for existing personnel or those who join the team." Frankly, it sounds like a giant clusterfuck in the making.
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I also find it hard to believe that PL required Patty to come into town for an interview. They know each other well, and if anybody has the clout to get hired with just a phone interview for this franchise, it’s Roy.
I think the odds are that this was just a visit, maybe a tire-kicking exercise by Roy, but nothing resembling an official interview took place.
This of course means that I’m completely wrong and Roy is going to buy the team and move them back to Quebec.
2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Dry Humping Mediocrity
odd timing for a visit, though, eh?
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on May 8, 2009 11:55 AM MDT up reply actions
I also find it hard to believe that PL required Patty to come into town for an interview. They know each other well, and if anybody has the clout to get hired with just a phone interview for this franchise, it’s Roy.
Mike, that’s absurd. everyone knows that this franchise is a stickler for following the classical and most formal approach to new hires… especially coaches. I mean just look at last years extensive and progressive search where they followed every conceivable procedure.
by Jibblescribbits on May 8, 2009 12:02 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Buying the team?
would he (Roy) be meeting with Kroenke then instead of PL?
Maybe Roy was the actual master mind the Avs success and that is why PL stepped down in the first place. So he’s brought Roy back in to tell him what the frak to do!
MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on May 8, 2009 12:03 PM MDT up reply actions
In case you forgot, the Avalanche have an officialcoach.impersonator
by Jibblescribbits on May 8, 2009 12:03 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
just a point of clarification-no snark zone
The Avs interim GM is Pierre Lacroix, so he is responsible for hiring and firing of coaches.
/snark-free zone off
Because if he weren’t GM he surely wouldn’t have any say in who is hired as coach. I’m sure he wouldn’t go over his GMs head and strongly influence who should be hired as coach.
by Jibblescribbits on May 8, 2009 12:05 PM MDT reply actions
Huh?
Tyler “Last year went quite well, didn’t it?” Arnason is our 2nd line center, haven’t you heard?
I think Lacroix is waiting to announce the entire new management team at once. When he does, I fully expect Granato to be re-assigned within the organization somewhere. Tony probably already knows what he’ll be doing next year, and the only reason he wasn’t fired is that Lacroix didn’t see the need to fire, then re-hire him.
I cant see any reason for Roy to be in town right now unless he was interviewing for the head coaching position. I hope that, if that was the case, he was interviewing with both Pierre and the new GM (Billington?). I’d like to think that there was some sort of meeting of the new management team this morning, and maybe an announcement is coming soon.
Granato stays? Do they need another janitor?
Colorado Avalanche Prospects (www.avsprospects.blogspot.com)
by Angélique C. Murray on May 8, 2009 4:23 PM MDT up reply actions
maybe they’re going to let him drive the zamboni .
MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on May 8, 2009 11:18 PM MDT up reply actions
Maybe Lacroix thinks Roy is the guy for the coaching position
and he wants to make sure no one else snags him before the Av’s do. I’d certainly like to see what Roy could do behind the bench in Colorado. As far as the GM search goes, maybe it’s just the opposite and no one is really standing out above the rest in Lacroix’s eyes.
by Streams Of Whiskey on May 8, 2009 1:44 PM MDT reply actions
To add to that,
this is definitley not the prefered way to do things, but really, can it be much worse than last off season?
by Streams Of Whiskey on May 8, 2009 1:48 PM MDT up reply actions
I don’t know. I can’t say this one is off to a real promising start…
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on May 8, 2009 2:39 PM MDT up reply actions
Who cares why Roy is here. He’s here! It’s not everyday a hockey god comes down from the mountain (or where ever) to mingle with the common folk.
An ounce of confidence can carry you a mile toward winning. Oh, and Red Wings suck.
Please,
I do that every week.
The Savage has spoken. Let it be done
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
This honestly made me laugh.
If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding! HOW can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?!
Some thoughts
1. Because of PL’s obsession with secrecy, maybe the GM job is already filled but they have delayed announcing it for whatever reason. Maybe Granato has been moved and they are looking for a new coach and will announce everything when they are ready. And I have absolutely nothing to back this hypothesis.
2. Maybe PL thought fuck it and decided to be GM himself again and is for whatever reason delaying the announcement.
3. Maybe he talked to Roy about coming on as a Lake Erie coach.
4. And if Roy is hired as the new head coach, I know I am in the minority here but I think that may be a good hire. Lack of experience is worrisome but I think he would give the team some much needed fire. If Lappy and Smyth can’t get through to the Arnasons of the team, Roy can. (Or bench them. Lappy and Smyth didn’t have that power).
3. Maybe he talked to Roy about coming on as a Lake Erie coach.
As long as that means the LE coach is moving up to Denver. From the few games I saw, I wouldn’t mind him getting a shot.
MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on May 8, 2009 11:21 PM MDT up reply actions
I agree. I’d also like to see LE’s defensive coach looked at as a possible replacement in that department as well. If Roy is to come in, it should not be for any higher position than assistant although I’m not sure his ego could handle that.
Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try. - Yoda
by BeachNSnowGirl on May 9, 2009 12:53 PM MDT up reply actions
this whole thing is odd
but I’m still ok with Roy. Could he be worse than TG?
and where is our new GM?
I think Goulet or Billington were in the meeting and they are the new GM. I think Granato moves in to the vacated position as director of player development etc… That simple. PL wouldn’t fly Roy all the way out here if he wasn’t serious about giving him a job.
Making Tony Granato your director of player development would be akin to letting Drew Peterson be your marriage counsellor.
Above Average.
I think one thing people overreact to with a guy like Granato is that they assume he’s a plague on anything he touches. The truth of the matter is that Granato is still an NHL veteran who’s been pretty good on the ice with young players. Michele Goulet and Craig Billington have nothing in their resumes that indicates they are better qualified than Granato to work on player development.
The truth of the matter is that Granato is still an NHL veteran who’s been pretty good on the ice with young players
I disagree with this statement. I haven’t been able to find more than 2 young players that have improved under Granato’s tutelage. Cody McLeod and Stastny got better during Granato’s tenure, but Wolski, Svatos, Hensick and nearly every other young forward are the exact same players as they were when they were called up.
by Jibblescribbits on May 9, 2009 12:12 PM MDT up reply actions
I think Wolski is a MUCH better player for his year under Granato. Stewart progressed well also. Hensick definitely did not, but I agree with Dario here – I think Granato was pretty good with the youngsters overall.
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on May 9, 2009 2:17 PM MDT up reply actions
True
Wolski did improve defensively. I’m not so sure about offensively. And it’s hard to tell if Stewart progressed or not, I’m not sure he played enough games to really evaluate whether it was an improvement.
by Jibblescribbits on May 9, 2009 2:34 PM MDT up reply actions
Granato also gave Liles and McCormick their first shots at the NHL out of his original training camp. As a director of player development he wouldn’t be taking a huge role in the on ice coaching of kids. He would simply be talking to prospects, give them advice on what to work on and reporting progress to the GM/Coaches etc… I’m just saying that the Granato haters take it too far and there are redeeming qualities that could be leveraged if he’s not the head coach.
Eh
He’s been able to effectively develop players who play like him, tough scrappy 3rd line grinders who play defense well. That’s why McCormick, and McLeod have flourished, and Wolski has gotten better defensively.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Granato moved to an assistant within LE. The ability to develop good defensive forwards, as Granato seems to be best at, isn’t something to be taken lightly.
But He hasn’t shown me any strengths other than that one.
by Jibblescribbits on May 9, 2009 3:06 PM MDT up reply actions
I agree on Goulet and Billington. I guess I fall into the category of people who think this organization needs a new direction and fresh voices. Obviously, Pierre Lacroix (and his ego) has done a fantastic job for the most part since 1994, but the franchise seems to have a stale air about it right now. Fresh blood, fresh ideas, and a fresh perspective (without having to answer to a guy that’s been living off 10 year old successes) are what’s needed, in my opinion. I gave Lacroix a pass on all the questionable moves over the past 7 years or so until he completely disregarded any semblance of a legitimate coaching search after last season, and just re-installed his pet project behind the bench.
Above Average.
I’m on the Dave McNab bandwagon. I think he would do wonders here.
Colorado Avalanche Prospects (www.avsprospects.blogspot.com)
by Angélique C. Murray on May 9, 2009 12:25 PM MDT up reply actions
He may be the best possible choice for the Avs right now!
by Jibblescribbits on May 9, 2009 1:31 PM MDT up reply actions
Is he not maybe the best we’ve seen as a candidate for GM all these years Mike?
by Dario on May 9, 2009 3:02 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Good as Done
I have a feeling, like many of you, that an announcement is forthcoming shortly that Roy is the new coach, Goulet/Billington is the new GM, and Granato has been reassigned. Maybe they can bring Joe Sacco up from Lake Erie to be an assistant coach. He seems to be alright, and Sylvain Lefebvre can take over as HC for the Monsters (I think he’s the assistant down there).
Is it a good move? Who knows. Maybe it was just Roy visiting an old friend, but I doubt it. With this leaking out, I have to believe that it means something is in the works. We all know that Pierre doesn’t let anything out.
"Horton is win."
--Horvil Tiki
The Only Question...
…Is whether or not they sack up and finally get rid of Jacques Cloutier. He seems like a great guy, but he needs to go, especially after the train wreck that was the Avs 2008-2009 defensive corps.
"Horton is win."
--Horvil Tiki
I second this.
All in favor say Aye.
by InYoFace on May 9, 2009 10:23 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Aye!
MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on May 9, 2009 11:17 AM MDT up reply actions
aye
Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try. - Yoda
by BeachNSnowGirl on May 9, 2009 12:55 PM MDT up reply actions
I don't see it happening
Granato was in charge of the PP, and he got promoted to head coach. Oh shit, is cloutier going to be the next head coach of the avs? Please god, NO!
Get rid of the loser point
08-09 Avs- can we decline the penalty?
Assistant Coach
I would totally endorse that. He has the fire, passion, competitiveness, and will to win that was completely MIA this year. Avs could shoot for John Tortorella for head coach. Now, that would be a combination wouldn’t it :-)
Colorado Avalanche: Please excuse the mess while we are under construction.
Roy confirms meeting
Roy confirms meeting with Avs, will listen to Habs
Patrick Roy confirmed Saturday that he met with Colorado Avalanche president Pierre Lacroix this past week.
“I went out there to visit him,” the Hall of Fame goaltender told ESPN.com. "He had his surgery about 10 days ago. I also had friends in town that I wanted to go and see.
“But we did talk a bit about my future,” Roy added about his meeting with Lacroix. “He wanted to know what was my future, but that’s about it for now.”
MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
Another interesting rumor on "Coach" Roy
The Toronto Sun has an “All-star” coaching staff on it’s way to Denver:
Roy rumoured racing to Rockies
When the Avs fired Francois Giguere as GM, Lacroix said a new “management structure” would be formed.
League sources say Roy is ready to name a coaching staff that could include ex-Colorado coach Bob Hartley and former Quebec/Chicago forward Michel Goulet as his assistants.
MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
Bruce Garrioch is less reliable than Eklund
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on May 10, 2009 6:03 PM MDT up reply actions
Please.
Malkin is already a King.
If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding! HOW can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?!
by A.J. Haefele on May 11, 2009 12:26 AM MDT up reply actions
Does that make Crosby a Queen?
The Savage has spoken. Let it be done
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
Granato has chosen not to speak publicly, but sources say he is somewhat miffed and confused by the situation. Even if Roy isn’t brought in, a perception might linger that Granato was undermined.
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on May 11, 2009 9:01 AM MDT reply actions
Dear Granato,
Try winning some games or coaching with real schemes and maybe they won’t look for better options. You have no room to be miffed after the worst season in team history. Get over yourself.
Love,
thedoctor
PS
Just consider yourself lucky you still have a job, as 10% of anyone who loves the Burgundy and Blue would have fired you in December, and 89.9% would’ve fired you instead of promoting you to head coach.
-Jibbles
by Jibblescribbits on May 11, 2009 9:21 AM MDT up reply actions
if he was bad enough to be fired, he should have been fired.
this crap is unfair.
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on May 11, 2009 10:50 AM MDT up reply actions
as 10% of anyone who loves the Burgundy and Blue would have fired you in December,
Only 10%?
MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on May 11, 2009 11:29 AM MDT up reply actions
Hmmm
yes, the other 89.9% wouldn’t have hired him in the first place…
by Jibblescribbits on May 11, 2009 11:40 AM MDT up reply actions
I don’t think he’s miffed and confused that he might get fired, It’s more that they’ve gone and spoken to Roy and haven’t bothered to tell Granato whats goin on, which is where i actually feel a little bad for Granato, No he wasn’t the greatest coach and probably deserves to be fired or moved but he still deserves to be told whats happening instead of just wondering why other people are here talking to PL.
The Savage has spoken. Let it be done
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
It’s more that they’ve gone and spoken to Roy and haven’t bothered to tell Granato whats goin on, which is where i actually feel a little bad for Granato
What? The King of GDTs has feelings? No something I expected; jewel encrusted man bag not withstanding.
An ounce of confidence can carry you a mile toward winning. Oh, and Red Wings suck.
Yes, The King does have feelings, not a lot and they’re rarely shown but I do have them. Its hard to feel bad for people when you’re as awesome as I am though.
The Savage has spoken. Let it be done
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference"
R. Frost
I feel sorry for you. You’ve inherited Jibbles reply-fail-itis.
2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Dry Humping Mediocrity
Somebody order a backhoe?
MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on May 12, 2009 1:25 PM MDT up reply actions
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