Guest nl5xsk1 Report post Posted March 19, 2003 I doubt that this deserves it's own thread, but I'm sick of just lumping all hockey-talk into one jumbo thread. I also doubt that enough people care who coaches the Bruins, but I just so need to get this off my chest. Why the F**k would a coach, who's team is just finally getting hot and is basically clinging to a playoff spot, choose to: mix up ALL FOUR LINES, bench one of his best defensemen, and start an unproven goalie? Why break up the Thornton/Murray/Knuble line? Why break up the Ralston/Axelson/Lapointe line, when it's just finally getting hot? Why put Berard as a forward, when everyone knows that it works AGAINST his skill set? Why play Sweeney instead of Boynton? Too many questions, no good answers. F**k Ftorek. No wonder NJ won the cup the year they fired him. Thanks for letting me vent. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest starvenger Report post Posted March 19, 2003 Too many questions, no good answers. F**k Ftorek. No wonder NJ won the cup the year they fired him. Thanks for letting me vent. To be honest, I think that NJ could have won the Cup WITH Ftorek, since they were still following his basic gameplans. Then again, how hard was it to teach clutching, grabbing and trapping? Anyways, Ftorek always seems to have an odd way of attempting to motivate players, and I really don't get how Boston has done as well as they have this year... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bob_barron Report post Posted March 19, 2003 I think the firing of Ftorek woke up the team and got them motivated to win the Cup. I never understood why Lou fired Larry Robinson in the first place. It upset me greatly and I stopped being a casual fan of the Devils because of it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest nl5xsk1 Report post Posted March 19, 2003 I truly think that the Bruins have won IN SPITE of Ftorek, not because of him. There's rarely any consistency with the lines (a trio will have a great few games together, and then all of a sudden he'll break them up); the players are always gassed at the end of the game because he NEVER plays the 4th line; and he's managed to piss off half the D and all the goalies with his juggling of players. Fire him, hire Nolan, and maybe the Bruins actually win a round in this year's playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest converge241 Report post Posted March 19, 2003 he was just firedBREAKING SPORTS NEWS: Robbie Ftorek was fired today in his second season as coach of the Boston Bruins as the team he grew up watching struggled after an outstanding start Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest starvenger Report post Posted March 19, 2003 he was just firedBREAKING SPORTS NEWS: Robbie Ftorek was fired today in his second season as coach of the Boston Bruins as the team he grew up watching struggled after an outstanding start Yep. The article, courtesy of ESPN.com: GM O'Connell to replace Ftorek on interim basis -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press BOSTON -- Robbie Ftorek was fired Wednesday as coach of the Boston Bruins, a team struggling to make the playoffs after a strong start. General manager Mike O'Connell replaces Ftorek on an interim basis. The Bruins had the NHL's best record at 19-4-3-1 on Dec. 8, but slipped to 33-28-8-4 and into seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Ftorek, in his second season as Boston's coach, was the Bruins' 10th coach in 18 years. The team also fired assistant coach Jim Hughes but kept assistant Wayne Cashman. "This change is being made at this time because of this team's record over our past 46 games and the fact that, fairly or unfairly, the coach is judged on the record,'' O'Connell said. Ftorek became coach in May 2001 after a season in which Pat Burns was fired eight games into his fourth year. His replacement, Mike Keenan, coached the Bruins to their second straight non-playoff season. One of the best high school hockey players in Massachusetts history, Ftorek led the Bruins to first place in the Eastern Conference last season with a 43-24-6-9 record. But they were eliminated in the first playoff round by Montreal. The Bruins got off to a strong start this season despite the loss of three key players and before weaknesses in the defense and goaltending surfaced. Bill Guerin, who scored 41 goals last season, signed as a free agent with Dallas, and defenseman Kyle McLaren held out rather than stay with the Bruins. They also chose not to re-sign goalie Byron Dafoe, who eventually joined Atlanta. The loss of Dafoe may have been the most damaging as Boston began the season with goalies Steve Shields and John Grahame, neither a regular starter in the NHL. They shared the job until Grahame was traded to Tampa Bay and McLaren was traded in a deal that brought Jeff Hackett to Boston. Ftorek did have plenty of offense with Joe Thornton, Glen Murray and Brian Rolston. And the defense was more aggressive than it was last season, leading to scoring opportunities. But after their outstanding start, the Bruins had trouble stopping opponents. Once McLaren left, the team lacked a dominant defense-minded defenseman. Ftorek's first NHL head coaching job was with the Los Angeles Kings for the last 52 games in 1987-88 and the entire 1988-89 season. He then spent five seasons coaching in the AHL and was an assistant with New Jersey for two seasons before taking over as head coach of the Devils in 1998-99. He lasted two seasons there before he was fired with eight games to go in the '99-00 season. New Jersey won the Stanley Cup under Larry Robinson. As a player, Ftorek spent five seasons in the WHA, where he was MVP in 1977 before joining the Quebec Nordiques of the NHL as a free agent in 1979. He also played for the New York Rangers in a six-year NHL career. He finished with 77 goals and 150 assists in the NHL and 216 goals and 307 assists in the WHA. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest treble charged Report post Posted March 19, 2003 Is Larry Robinson available? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest nl5xsk1 Report post Posted March 19, 2003 Two things: 1) the Boston Globe's original headline was "Bruins Fire Roddie Ftorek" ... jeez, it's a hometown guy who's been here almost 2 years and they STILL get his first name wrong?!? 2) if I'd known that my prayers would have been answered so quickly, I would have either said "Fire O'Connell" (as the GM) or "Jacobs must sell!" to get that cheap piece of crap out as owner. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MaxPower27 Report post Posted March 19, 2003 Christ, he made the playoffs, what more can we ask for? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest starvenger Report post Posted March 19, 2003 Christ, he made the playoffs, what more can we ask for? I'm pretty sure that Bostonians would say "a Stanley Cup"... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Kingpk Report post Posted March 19, 2003 Thing is, Ftorek wasn't really the problem, IMO. - Who didn't sign Byron Dafoe and forced Robbie to play musical chairs in net with two inferior goalies? - Who, because of that, had to trade their top trade bait (McClaren) for a decent goaltender? - Who doesn't want to sign players if they demand more than a few magic beans, even though they are probably worth every penny? Answer: The new coach, Mike "Cheapskate" O'Connell and that little pissant in Buffalo, Jeremy Jacobs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MaxPower27 Report post Posted March 19, 2003 Christ, he made the playoffs, what more can we ask for? I'm pretty sure that Bostonians would say "a Stanley Cup"... True. But how can he be expected to win, if the GM/Owner won't get him a good DEFENSE. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Urban Warfare 0 Report post Posted March 19, 2003 Is Larry Robinson available? no. he has a job back with the devils as a Special Assignment Coach. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest starvenger Report post Posted March 19, 2003 Christ, he made the playoffs, what more can we ask for? I'm pretty sure that Bostonians would say "a Stanley Cup"... True. But how can he be expected to win, if the GM/Owner won't get him a good DEFENSE. Hey, I only answer the easy questions. Seriously, though, you can't. When one of your top d-men is a guy who was at one time legally blind in one eye you've got problems... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MaxPower27 Report post Posted March 19, 2003 This is true. Berard still plays good though, but Ftorek should not be axed WHEN YOU'RE ON THE WAY TO THE PLAYOFFS. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bob_barron Report post Posted March 19, 2003 Is Larry Robinson available? no. he has a job back with the devils as a Special Assignment Coach. I'm pretty sure the Devils would let him leave if he wanted Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest nl5xsk1 Report post Posted March 19, 2003 Obviously the team will never win with the Jacobs/Sinden/O'Connell administration ... I think that we as Bruins fans have long since come to that understanding. So it's not just the coaching. But Ftorek should have been fired a month or two ago. It was just awe-inspiring to watch some of his lineup decisions (and I understand that the line changes were handled by the assistants, with Ftorek now handling the D while Cashman handles the forwards). Why have a 4th line that only plays 3-5 minutes a game? Why put an offensive black hole like Grosek or Axelson on the Thornton line when they were clicking so much better with Knuble? Why break up the Axelson/Ralston line, knowing that it fucks over our best penalty killing tandem? Why dress Sweeney and make Berard/Boynton a healthy scratch? Why dress Oliwa in games where there's not a big enforcer on the other team (i.e. Carolina or Detroit) rather than add a skill player? Why play the SOB Line together all the time (SOB: Stock, Oliwa, and Brown) - this isn't the 70s or late 80s when there was a need for multiple enforcers. Of course, I'm not much happier with MOC behind the bench. At least the first round elimination will be easier to stomach this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest cartman Report post Posted March 20, 2003 This is true. Berard still plays good though, but Ftorek should not be axed WHEN YOU'RE ON THE WAY TO THE PLAYOFFS. I seem to remember the Devils winning the Cup the same season that Ftorek was fired 8 games before the post-season... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bob_barron Report post Posted March 20, 2003 This is true. Berard still plays good though, but Ftorek should not be axed WHEN YOU'RE ON THE WAY TO THE PLAYOFFS. I seem to remember the Devils winning the Cup the same season that Ftorek was fired 8 games before the post-season... You have a good memory. They didnt do much better when they replaced him with Robinson but then went on to win the Cup Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest redbaron51 Report post Posted March 20, 2003 Too many questions, no good answers. F**k Ftorek. No wonder NJ won the cup the year they fired him. Thanks for letting me vent. To be honest, I think that NJ could have won the Cup WITH Ftorek, since they were still following his basic gameplans. Then again, how hard was it to teach clutching, grabbing and trapping? Anyways, Ftorek always seems to have an odd way of attempting to motivate players, and I really don't get how Boston has done as well as they have this year... Toronto hasn't grabbed it yet... On the Ftorek situation, you have a teamed tanked since December, and someone has to take the ax. The victim is Ftorek. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bob_barron Report post Posted March 20, 2003 Ummmmmmmmmm what the fuck do the Maple Leafs have to do with this thread?? Seriously- you're constant one line anti-Leaf posts are getting pretty old as you're basically adding nothing of value except to repeat the same old same old: The Leafs ain't winning the Cup Don't you have anything to contribute like maybe an opinion on hockey or something? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest treble charged Report post Posted March 20, 2003 Too many questions, no good answers. F**k Ftorek. No wonder NJ won the cup the year they fired him. Thanks for letting me vent. To be honest, I think that NJ could have won the Cup WITH Ftorek, since they were still following his basic gameplans. Then again, how hard was it to teach clutching, grabbing and trapping? Anyways, Ftorek always seems to have an odd way of attempting to motivate players, and I really don't get how Boston has done as well as they have this year... Toronto hasn't grabbed it yet... Christ. Do you have to bring your Toronto hate into EVERY thread dedicated towards hockey? No one's mentioned them yet, why do you feel the need to bring them up? Perhaps because you apparently know less about hockey than you think you do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest redbaron51 Report post Posted March 20, 2003 Its a joke... geez Leaf fans can't take a joke... ---------------------------------------------- Seriously though. The Bruins are not a team with tons of money like Colorado, New York, Detroit, Toronto or Dallas. They do have a substanable amount of money, but them able to keep Dafoe, and McLaren was an uneasy task. Boston got Hackett, which is a good goalie, but needs a strong defence to back him up. McLaren trade wasn't the best, McGillis is good, but he's not top defence material. Boston was also injury plagued through the season, so that also hurt the team through the season. Ftorek did his best, and when Boston Offence did well, their Defence went to shit and vice-versa. So who to blame...Robbie Ftorek...It all comes down to that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest starvenger Report post Posted March 20, 2003 Of course, I'm not much happier with MOC behind the bench. At least the first round elimination will be easier to stomach this year. I'd think that O'Connell might also be gone after this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
