So Patrick Roy is in the running for the Avs vacant
coaching spot. He is the coach of the Quebec Ramparts and he has seen success
in that role. Roy also serves as the GM and part owner of the team. But this isn’t
a write up on why we don’t think he will be the next coach of the Avs. This is
a write up about why he shouldn’t be.
Patrick Roy is one of the best players to ever wear
the Burgundy and Blue, and will forever go down as one of the greatest NHL
players of all time. He and Joe Sakic have led the Avs to 2 Stanley Cups. But
come on people. The Colorado Avalanche are essentially a business, so lets
throw all that nostalgic nonsense out the window. Who cares that it would be
cool to have Sakic and Roy run the team again? Who cares that it would be
bringing back a huge piece of history to the franchise? You shouldn’t.
The Avs are a young team who need leadership and experience
to coach them. So why in the world would a successful Junior level coach be the
right fit for the Avs? Roy has no pro coaching experience. Not even as an assistant
at the ECHL level. So what do you think will happen when you throw a rookie
coach behind the bench of young, fresh faced NHLers? You will get exactly what
has been going on the past 3 years.
Look at Joe Sacco. He was a rookie coach in the NHL,
and he HAD pro experience. And he still couldn’t find ways to help this team.
With a team like this, it is our opinion that the Avs need a hard-nosed, tough
love type of coach that will the lazy, underperforming, feel sorry for yourself,
excuse making, silver lining prone Avs into responsible, accountable hockey
players that thrive for victory, play a full 60 minutes, and win games. Now,
one could argue that Roy’s hard personality and bad temper would be perfect for
these guys. Well, we think you’re wrong. Roy can kick garbage cans, yell,
scream, bag skate his players, and be the closest thing to Mike Keenan as can
be, but without relevant experience at the pro level, there is a good chance
that he will fail in the coaching aspect.
Bottom line: A former NHL star does not translate
into a good NHL coach. Look at Wayne Gretzky. He knew the game better than
anybody, but he couldn’t find a way to teach it to his team.
We see so many tweets and comments saying “aw how
cool would it be if Sakic AND Roy were back?” Yea it would be cool. But it wouldn’t
be successful. So forget the glory days, forget the past. Stop clinging on to
old players, and don’t let their names brainwash you into thinking they will be
a good coach just because they were a good player for this team. The Avs need
success, not a family reunion in the front office. Roy as head coach? Bad idea.
Every coach starts out as a rookie. Patrick Roy just isn't some former player that found some success in the Junior ranks. Roy is a student of the game. We think of Roy as the confident hall of famer that led this team everywhere. Now he's back as someone different. He's Roy the Coach not Roy the Goalie. Sure Gretzky failed but how much coaching experience at any level did Gretzky have?
ReplyDeleteRoy will bring back something this team needs apart from a system. A winning culture. We bitch and moan every year that the team just doesn't want to win enough. With Roy at the helm he will not stand for losing. Poor effort? Prepare to be benched. Our team is young which is perfect for Roy. His junior players have a lot of respect for him.
Roy has already brought positive changes to the team. Out with the Vegas O'Brien and drunk Jones. Brought back Tanguay who is way better then Jones. The Kroenke's are finally opening up the wallet plus he got rid of Zanon which means less deadweight on the blueline.
Let's give Roy some time to show what he can offer. And lets stop saying he doesn't even have an experience coaching in the AHL and ECHL. Who cares. Sacco came from the AHL and didn't help at all. I doubt there are any coaches in the AHL or ECHL who would be better then Roy. If they were they'd have moved up to the NHL in some capacity right? Also Gretzky barely even coached. Read up on some of the players who played for him, Gretzky barely was at any of the Coyotes practices.