Monday, July 16, 2007
Devils Memes
Every time I watch a media narrative develop about the Devils, I take a skeptical eye towards it. Over the last 15 years there have been more silly myths about this team than any other. OK, more silly negative memes. Some teams have plenty of silly positive memes that aren't true, not based in fact.
So, all of the joking about Brent Sutter being hired just to get fired by the Devils struck me as something worth investigating. Since Lemaire retired, there have been four firings: Ftorek, Robinson, Constantine, and Julien. Pat Burns had cancer. Robinson quit the second time.
In that same span, there were two Stanley Cup championships. So, WTF? Is that high for the NHL? Let's take a look at some of the other teams around the NHL.
What about the Flyers? In that time they canned Wayne Cashman, Roger Nielson, Craig Ramsay, Bill Barber, and Ken Hitchcock. That's 5, with zero finals appearances and zero cups. They fired Roger Nielson before he had a chance to return. (wtf?)
So, teams that don't win the Cup aren't a good comparison. What about, say, the recent champion Ducks? Heh. Pierre Page was fired for being retarded in 1998. Craig Hartsburg was fired for retarded. Guy Charron was fired for being retarded. Mike Babcock wasn't "renewed," but the message was if you stay you're on a short leash. That's 4 dismissals, 2 finals appearances, and 1 cup. Just about on par with the Devils.
Another funny part about this is that right before Lou's admittedly bizzare termination of Claude Julien, no one took them seriously as a Cup contender. Then because they didn't win the Cup, Lou's move didn't pay off. Again, wtf?!
The idea that the Devils are uniquely itch on the coaching trigger finger is, unsurprisingly, not based in fact. This doesn't mean that it's such a good idea to do these things, as it makes the place a less attractive destination for coaching talent, and it also may give certain players too much power (but do you really think a coach that doesn't get along with Martin Brodeur should win that battle? puh-leeze), and it may also not provide a stable environment.
Yes, there are downsides, but they are not unique, or even irregular, in NJ.
So, file this under negative Devils meme #12357
So, all of the joking about Brent Sutter being hired just to get fired by the Devils struck me as something worth investigating. Since Lemaire retired, there have been four firings: Ftorek, Robinson, Constantine, and Julien. Pat Burns had cancer. Robinson quit the second time.
In that same span, there were two Stanley Cup championships. So, WTF? Is that high for the NHL? Let's take a look at some of the other teams around the NHL.
What about the Flyers? In that time they canned Wayne Cashman, Roger Nielson, Craig Ramsay, Bill Barber, and Ken Hitchcock. That's 5, with zero finals appearances and zero cups. They fired Roger Nielson before he had a chance to return. (wtf?)
So, teams that don't win the Cup aren't a good comparison. What about, say, the recent champion Ducks? Heh. Pierre Page was fired for being retarded in 1998. Craig Hartsburg was fired for retarded. Guy Charron was fired for being retarded. Mike Babcock wasn't "renewed," but the message was if you stay you're on a short leash. That's 4 dismissals, 2 finals appearances, and 1 cup. Just about on par with the Devils.
Another funny part about this is that right before Lou's admittedly bizzare termination of Claude Julien, no one took them seriously as a Cup contender. Then because they didn't win the Cup, Lou's move didn't pay off. Again, wtf?!
The idea that the Devils are uniquely itch on the coaching trigger finger is, unsurprisingly, not based in fact. This doesn't mean that it's such a good idea to do these things, as it makes the place a less attractive destination for coaching talent, and it also may give certain players too much power (but do you really think a coach that doesn't get along with Martin Brodeur should win that battle? puh-leeze), and it may also not provide a stable environment.
Yes, there are downsides, but they are not unique, or even irregular, in NJ.
So, file this under negative Devils meme #12357
// posted by Rick @ 10:35 AM 
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I'm not sure that the analysis here should stop and end with "how many coaching changes have their been over the last x years?" as sure, that's not unique. There's few jobs with as laughable job security as NHL coach.
More to the point I think is that the Devils have on a couple of occasions fired a coach during a playoff year with less than 10 games to go before the playoffs started. I think among regular playoff teams, that is unique.
So probably there's something to say there, but it's not going to be very visible with the approach you're taking.
More to the point I think is that the Devils have on a couple of occasions fired a coach during a playoff year with less than 10 games to go before the playoffs started. I think among regular playoff teams, that is unique.
So probably there's something to say there, but it's not going to be very visible with the approach you're taking.
Fair enough, Earl.
One background element is that all of the Devils memes arise from three places: the New York media, the Philly media, or the Toronto media. All of them arise in that context.
It would be one thing if it was just that the firings were "unusual." I think I grant that. I guess what I'm driving at is that it's strange that it gets framed as negative because it's the Devils.
If the Rangers or Flyers fired their coach with 8 games in the season and then won a Cup, it would be the stuff of legends, and people would be peeing in their pants the next time it happened.
Anyway, I have been VERY critical of Lou's performance the last few years on this page, but I find it intolerable that the pro-Ranger agenda setters use things like this to ridicule the Devils when their team hasn't been able to BUY a cup in 13 years.
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One background element is that all of the Devils memes arise from three places: the New York media, the Philly media, or the Toronto media. All of them arise in that context.
It would be one thing if it was just that the firings were "unusual." I think I grant that. I guess what I'm driving at is that it's strange that it gets framed as negative because it's the Devils.
If the Rangers or Flyers fired their coach with 8 games in the season and then won a Cup, it would be the stuff of legends, and people would be peeing in their pants the next time it happened.
Anyway, I have been VERY critical of Lou's performance the last few years on this page, but I find it intolerable that the pro-Ranger agenda setters use things like this to ridicule the Devils when their team hasn't been able to BUY a cup in 13 years.
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