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When Does Lou Leave the Bench?


devilsrule33

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Do you think he actually knows the answer? How much more information does he need to gather about personnel that he can't get stepping back? The coaching staff transition seems to have gone well enough. If he doesn't think Oates and Stevens can handle it from here on out, then he hired the two wrong people. From all reports, Lou is basically a cheerleader and motivator out there.

 

Less than a month to the trade deadline, and Lou, specifically, needs to get a good look at teams around the league, prospects in the AHL, and since I don't see assistant GMs that are actual hockey people in the organization, it kind of bothers me. This is a big trade deadline for the team, and I'm of the belief the team would be better off getting some bodies than just draft picks. 

 

The team needs Lou the GM a lot more than a back patter. 

 

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I think he leaves the bench after the trade deadline.

I'm hoping and praying he's using his time down there to evaluate which guys need to be and/or should be moved.

 

Agreed. It's done. I just hate in some ways how we're winning. It's dreadful to watch. Terrible. We need picks and players. Get it done.

 

So agreed.

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I don't disagree but I don't see Lou leaving the bench while we're winning and still 'in the race'. Then again he wouldn't be comfortable with the team enough to leave the bench if we were losing.

So I'm not really sure he leaves the bench the rest of the season. Especially since they have a home centric schedule leading into the deadline so it's not like he'll be on a road trip away from the office. Maybe he'll leave the bench after the deadline when the Devils are basically eliminated.

Edited by NJDevs4978
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I think Lou's on the bench until the end of the year.  Maybe he leaves after the team has no shot at the playoffs, who knows, but I think he's here until the end.

 

My question is, when have you ever heard of Lou scouting anyone at an arena that the Devils aren't currently playing in?  It's happened during the various lockouts that Lou has gone around to see people, but other than that I honestly don't think I've heard of Lou scouting in another arena when NJ isn't playing.  Given that the media have access to what scouts are attending games, it seems unlikely that somehow Lou has been able to suppress the fact that he's been at other arenas (unless he buys a ticket and watches from the stands or something).  I just think he doesn't do this - he trusts his scouts.  Remember last year near the deadline it was David Conte checking out a Calgary game and presumably Mike Cammalleri.

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Oates seems to be the coach, when they called TO in anticipation of the goalie pull. its was oates drawing up DEFENSIVE responsibilities!!!

lou seems to be down there to oversee oates as much or more than the players.  but he's also the principle sitting in the back of the room when the student teacher is in front of the underperforming class

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Do you think he actually knows the answer? How much more information does he need to gather about personnel that he can't get stepping back? The coaching staff transition seems to have gone well enough. If he doesn't think Oates and Stevens can handle it from here on out, then he hired the two wrong people. From all reports, Lou is basically a cheerleader and motivator out there.

 

Less than a month to the trade deadline, and Lou, specifically, needs to get a good look at teams around the league, prospects in the AHL, and since I don't see assistant GMs that are actual hockey people in the organization, it kind of bothers me. This is a big trade deadline for the team, and I'm of the belief the team would be better off getting some bodies than just draft picks. 

 

The team needs Lou the GM a lot more than a back patter. 

I'm with Tri on this one. I think Lou will be behind the bench until the end of the season-assessing the players, coaches, and the relationship between the two groups. It's reasonable to say he will leave after the trade deadline, but my bet is that he wants as complete of a picture as possible to assess the situation for next year. Conceivably the devils may get someone in return at the trade deadline, and Lou will want to see if he is the right fit for next year.

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I think Lou's on the bench until the end of the year.  Maybe he leaves after the team has no shot at the playoffs, who knows, but I think he's here until the end.

 

My question is, when have you ever heard of Lou scouting anyone at an arena that the Devils aren't currently playing in?  It's happened during the various lockouts that Lou has gone around to see people, but other than that I honestly don't think I've heard of Lou scouting in another arena when NJ isn't playing.  Given that the media have access to what scouts are attending games, it seems unlikely that somehow Lou has been able to suppress the fact that he's been at other arenas (unless he buys a ticket and watches from the stands or something).  I just think he doesn't do this - he trusts his scouts.  Remember last year near the deadline it was David Conte checking out a Calgary game and presumably Mike Cammalleri.

 

I think we can all agree that this is a different season for the Devils. Not saying Lou himself needs to be scouting many different teams, but it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. 

 

Last year, it was thought the Devils didn't have a 1st round pick, correct? Conte should be busy scouting draft picks.

 

Here is another issue. Lou behind the bench changes the dynamic between player and a GM. He sees a more human side, and so do they. I'm not saying either party can't see through this, but I don't want anything possibly getting in the way of what should be done. What I mean by this is if Lou asks Jagr what he wants to do, stay or go to a contender, maybe Jagr says I'd rather stay here and try and continue to turn things around. This could have happened anyway, but now Jagr knows Lou on a more personal level and has more respect playing for him. It's just different than if Lou isn't behind the bench and calls Jagr upstairs to discuss his future.

 

It's also possible Lou gets so caught up in the team's effort and commitment to turning the season around that he doesn't want to make any trades. Just spit-balling here. 

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PLease someone make Lou a photoshop in disguise at a game. 

 

I remember one time I was at a play in NYC and Steve Martin was sitting behind me. He was wearing a bad disguise so he wouldn't be noticed, but it was so bad it made you think "hey why is Steve Martin wearing a funny hat and glasses?" 

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I think we can all agree that this is a different season for the Devils. Not saying Lou himself needs to be scouting many different teams, but it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. 

 

Last year, it was thought the Devils didn't have a 1st round pick, correct? Conte should be busy scouting draft picks.

 

Here is another issue. Lou behind the bench changes the dynamic between player and a GM. He sees a more human side, and so do they. I'm not saying either party can't see through this, but I don't want anything possibly getting in the way of what should be done. What I mean by this is if Lou asks Jagr what he wants to do, stay or go to a contender, maybe Jagr says I'd rather stay here and try and continue to turn things around. This could have happened anyway, but now Jagr knows Lou on a more personal level and has more respect playing for him. It's just different than if Lou isn't behind the bench and calls Jagr upstairs to discuss his future.

 

It's also possible Lou gets so caught up in the team's effort and commitment to turning the season around that he doesn't want to make any trades. Just spit-balling here. 

 

It's also possible Lou tells Jagr to pack his bags and positions himself in front of the elevator door...twirling an invisible mustache...stroking a black cat on his lap...while the sad Incredible Hulk music plays over the arena speakers...laughing at Jagr as he carries his box of belongings out the arena doors. A "don't let the door hit your a$$ on the way out" is heard over a maniacal laugh...Or atleast that's what the lawsuit may say...lol

 

Back on topic...

Edited by Biggie B
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I think we can all agree that this is a different season for the Devils. Not saying Lou himself needs to be scouting many different teams, but it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. 

 

Last year, it was thought the Devils didn't have a 1st round pick, correct? Conte should be busy scouting draft picks.

 

Here is another issue. Lou behind the bench changes the dynamic between player and a GM. He sees a more human side, and so do they. I'm not saying either party can't see through this, but I don't want anything possibly getting in the way of what should be done. What I mean by this is if Lou asks Jagr what he wants to do, stay or go to a contender, maybe Jagr says I'd rather stay here and try and continue to turn things around. This could have happened anyway, but now Jagr knows Lou on a more personal level and has more respect playing for him. It's just different than if Lou isn't behind the bench and calls Jagr upstairs to discuss his future.

 

It's also possible Lou gets so caught up in the team's effort and commitment to turning the season around that he doesn't want to make any trades. Just spit-balling here. 

 

It was thought that, sure, but a GM is really only as good as his scouts anyway.  They're the people who are doing the vast majority of the watching of other teams.  Sure, maybe it'd be nice if Lou got away and watched one game of a guy, but that's basically all he'd watch.  

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Oates seems to be the coach, when they called TO in anticipation of the goalie pull. its was Oates drawing up DEFENSIVE responsibilities!!!

 

..yup. 7-2-2 over the last 11 games, with the Devils even looking competitive through the losses. I am 100% comfortable with Oates being the guy next season.

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..yup. 7-2-2 over the last 11 games, with the Devils even looking competitive through the losses. I am 100% comfortable with Oates being the guy next season.

 

I present you the Devils last 4 losses:

 

3-0 Bruins, shots: 42-14 Bruins

3-2 Islanders, shots: 32-23 Isles

5-1 Ducks, shots: 40-15 Ducks

2-1 Pens, shots: 43-14 Pens.

 

That's outshot by 91 in 4 losses, but competitive!

Edited by devilsrule33
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Plus they haven't even been great in most of their wins. Oates is basically the second coming of Pete, only without a personality.

 

I think you are selling Deboer short. Remember this is a healthy club now! The only time the Devils gave up 40 shots under Pete was when Elias,  Zajac and Cammalleri were injured. It's almost become the norm. So are 15 shot games. They've had 15 or less shots in 5 of the last 13 games. That's again with the healthy group of forwards. 

 

People were upset Gelinas was getting scratched for Salvador to start the year. Salvador is their captain and was once good. Fraser is so much worse than Salvador, not the captain, was never good, and is playing over Gelinas.

 

And Dave Barr knew how to run a good power play with the right people. Oates on the other hand liked Harrold, Zubrus, and Tootoo in key spots.

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They're not even running Oates's system though other than on the PP, they're running a b**tardized version of the trap. If Oates ran his system you'd see the same blown leads you did with Pete, the same anal obsession with playing players on their correct handed side and yes a crap PP.

Edited by NJDevs4978
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They're not even running Oates's system though other than on the PP, they're running a b**tardized version of the trap. If Oates ran his system you'd see the same blown leads you did with Pete, the same anal obsession with playing players on their correct handed side and yes a crap PP.

 

The Devils have 3 right wings who shoot right handed.  They don't have enough players to go with handedness.  But yes, keep thinking that blown leads were a function of coaching and didn't have a huge helping of luck.

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The Devils have 3 right wings who shoot right handed.  They don't have enough players to go with handedness.  But yes, keep thinking that blown leads were a function of coaching and didn't have a huge helping of luck.

 

So blowing leads is luck too, along with our lack of scoring.  Good to know.  I guess that's why Lemaire teams hardly ever blew leads, especially multi-goal leads.

Edited by NJDevs4978
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So blowing leads is luck too, along with our lack of scoring.  Good to know.  I guess that's why Lemaire teams hardly ever blew leads, especially multi-goal leads.

 

They suppressed shots against.  This team does not really do that.  Nowhere did I say that NJ's lack of scoring is luck - they are one of the worst offensive teams in the league, maybe even 2nd worst to Buffalo.

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..yup. 7-2-2 over the last 11 games, with the Devils even looking competitive through the losses. I am 100% comfortable with Oates being the guy next season.

 

I'm bumping this one more time because this comment bugged me a lot. It's an example of such obvious biases coming into play or completely seeing things that aren't there. 

 

I posted some numbers showing how noncompetitive they have been in their losses, but I wanted to go further. Using Hockey References game finder with the information they have from the 87-88 season up until yesterday, the Devils have given up 40+ shots and had 15 or less shots of their own four times. Three of the four games have been under the new coaching staff during the last 11 games where apparently they have been competitive in their losses. 

 

If I move the goal posts to 35 shots given up with 15 shots of their own, it's three of the six times it's happened from 87 on.. If I move it to 40 shots given up and 20 or less shots taken, it's four times out of 14.

 

This isn't an indication of how bad the new staff is, but just that this team is pretty terrible, and even though there are a few more wins, not much has really changed at all besides very good goaltending and the team being healthy for the first time this year. To say" competitive" is absolutely laughable.

Edited by devilsrule33
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