Weekes Head Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 According to TSN.ca: Coyotes fire Bob Francis Canadian Press 2/24/2004 The Phoenix Coyotes have fired head coach Bob Francis. Rick Bowness has been announced as his replacement. Bowness, who has been a head coach with the Senators and Islanders, started his NHL career as an assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets. More details to follow. http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=73538 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MantaRay Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Wow! After making some of the dumbest trades these past two years (Gratton/Comrie, etc), I would imagine not even a great coach like Francis could push this AHL quality team to make the playoffs. Not that we need, him but I would love for Lou to pick him up before anyone else does, this guys is one of the best coaches in the league. Just another mistake in the continuing saga of destroying a potentially good franchise in Phoenix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Well, it's certainly not all Francis' fault, and we all know how successful Bowness has been with the Isles and Sens though he's had nothing but crap rosters throughout his entire coaching career Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek21 Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Dumb move. Francis is an excellent coach. The Rangers should give him a call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedArmy8 Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Sather would never hire anyone who could upstage him (Trottier, Lowe, all Oiler coaches, etc). Fire Slats and hire Francis and the Rangers are already improved...for next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek21 Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 True Red Army. But Slats is going to go after this disaster. So, I say fire him after the final game on April 3rd. Show him the door on Monday, April 5th and introduce Francis as coach. His Dad coached them too in the 70's. A legend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizDevil30 Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 What is it with Dolan and Slat? ANYONE else would've been fired already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias 2662 Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 (edited) I don't get this move. This team was supposed to finish last in the West and they're still somewhat in the hunt. If they wanted to give their players a jump over the last month and a half this was possibly the worst way to do it. Edited February 24, 2004 by Elias 2662 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nieuwy25 Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Surprises me! I thought the Coyotes were over-achieving, if anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Brodeur30 Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 What is it with Dolan and Slat? ANYONE else would've been fired already. Dolan thinks Sather is the greatest coach of all time beacuse of the Edmonton years. It's no secret reading the papers and listening to the radio that Dolan doesn't have one clue about hockey. All he cares about is making money. If the Garden was empty every night I'd bet Sather would have been gone a long time ago. I don't remember the exact quote but Dolan once said something along the lines of Sather knows how to win. He's my guy and I'm sticking with him. Maybe Dolan should watch a few games and realize the Rangers or Sather don't know the first thing about winning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jas0nMacIsaac Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 OK someone tell me how the Comrie trade was bad......he gave up the backup for a future #1 center, Phoenix will have a great team in 3 years....book it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 True Red Army. But Slats is going to go after this disaster. So, I say fire him after the final game on April 3rd. Show him the door on Monday, April 5th and introduce Francis as coach. His Dad coached them too in the 70's. A legend. Bob is Emile's son?!?! Didn't know that. Emile was the answer to last night's Trivia question on RDS: "Qui etais le dernier entreiner chef de rester avec les Rangers pour quatre ans?" Well, it was RDS..... okay... "Who was the last head coach to stay with the Rangers for four years?" 23% said Keenan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
femalenynjazfan Posted February 25, 2004 Share Posted February 25, 2004 i know the coyotes have been really bad this year, but i was not expecting this move. all i kept hearing was that his job would be saved no matter what happens. i just hope next year that the coyotes will bring in someone good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MantaRay Posted February 25, 2004 Share Posted February 25, 2004 Comrie trade was terrible because Barrett is a horrible GM: Burke was in demand as being the best goalie available on the market. The Ranger$, Flyers and Toronto (Belfours back injury) among others were bidding for him. Even before being traded to Philly, no one wanted Comrie. His agent was drumming up false rumor after rumor to get a least some interest in him. Edmonton did not get any offers for him and Low ended up giving him to Clarke for a minor league defensemen (Woywitka). Comrie was a liability in Philly, who essentially got his playing time down to 10 minutes a game because he didn't play both ends of the ice. Claude Lapointe was cleared to play and essentially became the 3rd line center, leaving Comrie out of the line-up or potentially being sent to the Phantoms. The Coyotes should have gotten Comrie and at the very least a few draft picks, or a veteran defensive player in return for Burke. Instead, Barrett (who along with Gretzky, who have a friendship with Comrie's dad) ended GIVING up an in demand Goalie, a young all-star, and a prospect for essentially Jeff Woywitka (an excess prospective defensemen). Since the acquistion of Comrie the Yotes have died (2-5-1) and Comrie is already showing his defensive prowess (-5). The Yotes got fleeced in this trade and it cost Francis his job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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