Shrapnel - 10/30/11
by Matt Wagner on Oct 30, 2011 6:45 AM EDT
in Shrapnel
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PrintThe winds of change are starting to blow around Columbus, and I find the chill concerning. The Dispatch is reporting that Ken Hitchock and Craig Button could replace both Scott Howson and Scott Arniel by Monday, a report that has been picked up by Puck Daddy.
I think Ken Hitchcock is a wonderful hockey mind, but I have strong concerns that he is not the right direction.
It is not Scott Arniel's fault that Jeff Carter popped his foot blocking shots. It is not Scott Arniel's fault that James Wisniewski missed the first 8 games of the season. It is not Scott Arniel's fault that Radek Martinek and Marc Methot are both on IR. It is not Scott Arniel's fault that Mark Dekanich got run in his crease in his first pre-season game. It is not Scott Arniel's fault that R.J. Umberger and Antoine Vermette can't hit open nets right now.
It is Scott Arniel's fault that he has not been using the wealth of promising young players that Scott Howson assembled very effectively, but I strongly doubt that, based on historical perfomances, Hitch will be a marked improvement on that score.
The NHL has praised teams like Buffalo and Nashville repeatedly for sticking by their GMs and coaches through thick and thin. Columbus fans have repeatedly talked about Barry Trotz's successes and the fact that he's been the only coach in Nashville history, building their identity from Day 1.
You don't get that kind of success by dumping the coach every time things suffer. You don't get an identity if you clean house behind the bench or in the locker room when AHL players don't instantly play like all stars.
You want to build a team with an identity? Gutting out this kind of start is the mortar between the bricks.
Likewise, for all the talk about the $64 million payroll, Scott Howson did a very effective job in the offseason - one that had plenty of people around the NHL praising his bold decisions. You can't support the man in September and dump him in October - particularly since, like Arniel, he's dealing with a wealth of problems that were impossible to predict.
We've got another case of Shanabanning as Daniel Carcillo received two games for his hit on Joni Pitkanen, and Andy Sutton looking to be the next up. Given his repeat offender status and the fact that it will be an in person hearing, we may finally see a suspension that matches or exceeds the length of James Wisniewski's punishment.
Your game recaps from us, Puck Rakers and DBJ.
Another nasty hit - Mike Fisher, in his third game back since starting the season on IR, got clipped in the head by former Jacket Francois Beauchemin. Beauchemin was clearly trying for a shoulder on shoulder hit before Fisher tried to evade - the OTF guys have a great breakdown, but I suspect this one will end up being a video either to explain the suspension, or to explain a non-call...
Dannie named another boyfriend of the week, and this one won't surprise you either.
Not much other Jackets news (so far) this morning, so let me give you a look around the NHL as we wait to see what, if anything, happens before tonight's game against the Ducks.
Chris Pronger cracked a little wise about his recent injury, Mats Sundin will see #13 go to the rafters of the ACC, a rare tie hockey game in the wild, a visual guide to the Shanabannings, Don Cherry questions the Canucks, more Bottoms Up at Backhand Shelf, an interesting yet somewhat heartbreaking debate over who owns items in the hockey hall of fame, and Gary Bettman offers a massive understatement about getting booed.
We'll be back with scoring chances, game previews, and any breaking news.
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In the last time Arniel benched or put on HS many players including Commodore, Huselius, Tyutin, Voracek… . I ask… tell somebody Arniel he will not allow it now? Because Umberger with Vermette should be minimum HS not only benched and not only they. The next… the owner wants PO so why did he not give a chance to Howson build a team from basic from the first picks? Than PO will be often not only when players from another team are injured as it was in our PO season when Preds players was injured what was the reason why not Preds but we played it.
My steps: trade players as Brassard, Umberger, Vermette (I like him), Pahlsson, Mason, Huselius, Dorsett, Giroux, Johnson, maybe Russell and Methot and begin to build a new team from basic. Give a chance players as Atkinson, Mayorov, Kubalik, Goloubef, Ruth, Holden, Savard … and more icetime for Johansen and Moore . We have many great youngs they only need a chance. If our youngs get experiences I will be fine without PO this year because I will know we go right steps. But this is the owner problem not GM… Howson is former assistent GM in Edmonton he is Edmonton school.
And especially… take the real number one in the net.
I completely agree with you, Matt. Not only do I have great concern about the idea that Arniel (and Howson) are the problem…but I have even more concern for those who think Hitch might be the solution. Just because he’s on our payroll doesn’t mean we go to him. I want THE solution not A possible solution. And with all due respect to Hitch, I can’t say I believe it to be him.
AlisonL
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I think Arniel is under pressure, considering last year’s end of year collapse and this year’s start. Considering his very questionable coaching decisions, I would be hard pressed to think he is not under pressure. But Howson has done his job. And the idea of bringing Hitch back…… Uh, excuse me, but Howson sacked him. Why would he bring Hitch back? That idea sounds like someone has been smoking whacky tobacco. If, and I stress if, Arniel is canned, I would think the replacement is already on the bench. Todd Richards is already an asst. coach and believes in the “run and gun” offense Howson has been preaching since he arrived.
The article also suggested that Howson himself would be replaced. So Howson would have no say in the decision.
by Toxichighway on Oct 30, 2011 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Wow. Not to offend anyone, but it seems like there are a lot of people on here that only follow the Jackets and never pay attention to the world of hockey anywhere else.
Right or wrong, poor records and starts ALWAYS put the coaching staff on the firing block. Doesn’t matter if it really is the coaching staff’s fault, but I guess the powers that be believe that a team’s record is directly indicative of the job the coaching staff has done. To some extent, it can be a good barometer, but, like everything, it doesn’t take ALL the factors into consideration.
As for the injuries, they don’t matter. From an owner perspective, it’s the COACHES’ job to do the best he can do with all the available resources they have. Coaches will always be the first to tell you that injuries are a part of the game. Yes, we’ve been hit with them moreso than most teams, but that’s a part of hockey. The game doesn’t stop just because someone breaks a thumb, or fractures a foot.
Yes, teams like Nashville and Buffalo have stuck with their coaches through the good and the bad. That’s understandable, because those teams have at least had GOOD times. Look at what the Jackets have accomplished: Nothing. Except for a first-round sweep at the hands of the Red Wings. Nashville and Buffalo consistently make the playoffs. They don’t seem to go very far, but by making it, they at least put fans in the seats.
We do NOT put fans in the seats. Attendance has been at an all-time low, suggesting that fans will not put up with another “building phase”…they need results NOW. At the end of the day, every business is all about the money, and if no one’s sitting in the seats, the owner’s not making any money. And if the owner’s not making any money, then something has to be changed.
I will agree that I have my reservations about Hitchcock, but he at least got us into the playoffs. What has Arniel done for us? Really, nothing. And it’s not like there are hints to suggest that, if he were to be kept in the coaching position for the remainder of the season, that anything would change.
Fact of the matter is, fans are losing interest. This would have been a good season to attract potential new fans, what with the Buckeyes’ struggles and all, but they’ve been worse than ever. That has to fall on someone’s shoulders and, whether right or wrong, it’s the coach and/or GM.
The ownership pressure is a valid point, and likely driving a lot of the current attitude. I give you that one.
That said, I would say that it doesn’t always put a coach on the block – San Jose, right now, Anaheim last season, Vancouver the year before, all struggled. However, each team also had “good times” helping to get those coaches more slack, I suppose, under your argument.
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by Matt Wagner on Oct 30, 2011 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m not trying to knock everything you say, I’m just trying to look at it from where the powers-that-be are coming from. While I don’t feel like Arniel will ever get us anywhere, which is just my opinion, I also agree that he really hasn’t had much to work with, especially this season. Everyone keeps getting injured, and the team on the ice is NOT the team that was envisioned to be on the ice.
In fact, in the case of goaltending, how CAN you possibly work with that? Mason’s been awful (in my opinion, as I like to make known to anyone who will listen), but right now, who else can you possibly turn to? York is new, and doesn’t exactly seem ready for this level. Do you take a gamble on Legace, who hasn’t even been AHL-worthy the last couple seasons?
So I definitely agree with your points. It’s just that the city is not going to wait around for the team to get better…we feel like they already should be. So that’s why a shake-up is pretty much necessary, I think, at this point.
by Toxichighway on Oct 30, 2011 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
The goaltending is really the big hit – and a frustrating one. Because a career AHLer decided to make an impression on his coaches by running the goalie, Scott Howson suddenly lost a ton of options. If he made one really bad move in the pre-season, it’s not looking for a solution then and there rather than putting it all on Mason’s shoulders. If Dex was healthy, I have to think Mason would have been given a seat much earlier.
That said, part of Mason’s problem is still the D in front of him. The play of Aaron Johnson in particular has been horrific in his own zone – I cringe every time I watch him give up the puck because I know it’ll probably end up in the Columbus net.
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You have a point with Ruff (he came in and took the team to a few playoff years, including the cup finals, before he ever missed the playoffs), but I think the Jackets ownership needs to learn from Nashville. They stuck with Poile and Trotz through five consecutive non-playoff seasons, four of which had 28 or less wins. If management believes that Howson-Arniel are the right people to run this franchise, they need to give them a few years together to build the franchise top to bottom they way they see fit. Now I believe Howson is the right guy, I do have my reservations about Arniel. However, Hitch is definitely not the answer, as this roster of players does not fit his preferred style of play, and he will absolutely bury young guys we have been criticizing Arniel for not playing.
Last year, i really liked what Arniel was doing. I was behind him 100% and thought he was doing what he needs to do. This year, i have not been happy with Arniel one bit. The ice time he has distributed among the players has been poor. The way he has managed Johansen has been relatively poor. He pulled a Hitch big time in the game against the Sabres (?, pretty sure it was that game), by throwing him on the bench after making one mistake. Especially since, at that point, Johansen was playing top notch hockey gettting chances all over the place. Last night in Chicago, he was not as good. But who would blame him? Whats he got to do to stay on that line? Meanwhile, Vermette (0 goals and poor play), and Umby (1 goal and poor play), continue to get put on that line when they are playing absolutely horrible. Makes no sense.
Another incident was starting York last night. Was not fair at all to start York in this game. Too tough a place to play, especially in first ever start.
Arniel was brought in to help our young players thrive and become better players. IMO, he hasnt dont that.
I think its time Arniel goes to be honest. I dont exactly want Hitch back, but i understand if thats the approach management wants to take as long as its only for the rest of the season. Makes sense financially. I know he will want to go back to his defense first mentality, but hopefully he doesnt do the same thing with the youth he did before. To me, this is turning into the season to help our prospects and develope them. At the very least, we need to make sure none go backwards in their developement. It might be best to send Johansen back to Juniors so he doesnt have to go through this season. It helped Brayden Schenn, so might as well for Johansen now.
As for Howson, i dont think he has done a bad job. The Tyutin extension was too much, but he pulled in Martinek, Wiz, and Carter and the jury is out on Dex.
If we do fire Howson, we better pick a good interim GM because this is going to be a big trade deadline day for us. I would expect lots of movement. Not the biggest fan of Button, but he seems to be pretty good at the drafting aspect. Well, at least he thinks he is.
You know, some good points on York. I was just happy to see someone other than Mason in net, for once, but in hindsight, it probably would have been smarter to play him tonight against a weaker Ducks club…if not even earlier in the season.
I also agree on Howson…I don’t think he has done a bad job. But I guess if they are going to bring Hitch back, it might be too awkward if the man that fired him is once again his boss. Seems like a conflict of interest.
by Toxichighway on Oct 30, 2011 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Video and articled on the realignment, visors, foot protectors (what i suspect carter will be wearing), and more. Good amount of CBJ on there, or at least what CBJ fans will think interesting.
Heres the video:
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockeynightincanada/hotstove/video/#id=2162216125&tab=1
And heres the article:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/NHL-realignment-could-result-in-four-divisions-?urn=nhl-wp16144&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Apparently, the four division plan is gaining steam and they think we should be moved.
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