Tag Archives: Bruce Boudreau

Coaching Carousel

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Seven so far this season and we are half way though!

A good analysis here on NHL coaching changes to date.

Some changes work. Some don’t.

At times a change of voice helps. Sometimes it doesn’t. See here for specifics.

When we terminated Glen Hanlon and brought Bruce in wonderful things happened for our franchise. In fact, he compiled the best record in NHL history for a new coach. There was something coincidental and special about a young team and a new coach with a different style of play all coming together.

But our team was getting stale and NOT performing to its capability in the playoffs and we have brought in Dale Hunter. And now we are starting to make very positive progress again. We are 6-3-1 in our last 10 games as an example. We are one game out of first place in our division and we have a game in hand after last night’s win over Tampa.

Dale Hunter is changing our team dynamic and philosophy. We needed change and we showed loyalty to our former coach. And now we are all loyal to our new coach. This change has worked thankfully.

We never want to get a reputation of being short fused and not loyal and supportive.

Coaches are hired to be fired. They know that. That is fact in pro sports.

But it is good to keep in perspective how the moves turn out as games and seasons go by.

I like consistency. I believe teams perform best with stability and with hierarchies.

I am not afraid of change. I am just sanguine that a change in coaching doesn’t always correct all deficiencies of an organization.

You do usually win as a franchise and lose as a franchise.

Coaching is a tough occupation.

This was a good and sobering article. Thank you.

Thank You Bruce

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Gratitude. We just completed a long weekend to give thanks and express gratitude.

It’s never easy to let a coach go, and Bruce was a popular personality who helped turn around our franchise. Despite what transpired on the ice this year, I always will be thankful for Bruce’s time with the Capitals and will remember him fondly. He is a great coach who I’m confident will land another spot in the NHL. Unfortunately the shelf life of a coach is short; Bruce was the fifth longest tenured coach in the league. That’s amazing to me.

Here is the news release announcing Dale Hunter as coach. Dale was a tenacious player and great leader. The reins are his, and we are here to support him. More on Dale later, but first I wanted to express my appreciation for Bruce and what he has meant to our franchise and our community – he not only won games but also created a tremendous brand awareness for us locally as well as nationally and even internationally.
I am very grateful. Bruce was instrumental in the team’s success over the last four seasons. He won four division championships, a Presidents’ Trophy, an Eastern Conference banner, two playoff series and coached us to our best records in team history during the regular season. He also won a coach of the year award and holds the record for winning 200 games faster than any coach in NHL history. He is a good man. Thank you for four great years. I appreciate all you did for us as a franchise. I am grateful to you and your entire family.

A Good Read

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Thank you. I am loyal and I believe. That is just me, warts and all. I also believe in being supportive and in continuity and in being grateful. I think world class organizations show those traits.

I cringe at articles that note we should terminate or fire this person or that person. I never understand the motivation.

Imagine if the shoe was on the other foot? A true lack of empathy.

This article shows how supportive the organization has been of its entire staff and I am appreciative of this piece.

First star of the game goes to…

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Our coach and his staff.

That was a  creative response by the Caps  to a new system that has frustrated opposing teams; and been quite successful; Tampa plays a unique system; it works– so it needed a specific response– that is what good coaching is about. Well done.

It was wonderful to see  Alex Ovechkin; Nick Backstrom, and Brooks Laich all on the score sheet, in the same game. Continue reading →