Did Ovechkin get Boudreau fired?

[olp1fan]

I don't know what to think about this...Caps started off very strong and then it kind of went downhill just before Boudreau sat OV down during overtime...after that it kind of looked like Ovechkin gave up..he's making around 9 million I think and he just gave up on his coach

OV is not a leader..it was a big mistake making him the Captain...he needs to be let loose without the responsibilities a captain gets

I like Dale Hunter..one of the best coaches of all time in the OHL..love to see OV quit playing for him! if OV doesn't get it going Crosby will be up by his points total by christmas

I feel bad for Boudreau but hopefully he goes somewhere!

Also Carolina coach Paul Maurice was fired too and Kirk Muller! is the new coach ... bad day for NHL coaches

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/story/2011/11/28/sp-nhl-capitals-boudreau.html

Tuned out by his players, coach Bruce Boudreau was fired by the Washington Capitals on Monday after winning 200 games faster than any coach in modern NHL history but stumbling regularly in the playoffs despite a talent-laden lineup featuring two-time league MVP Alex Ovechkin.

Boudreau was replaced by former Capitals captain Dale Hunter, who was greeted by loud cheers from more than 100 fans when he skated onto the ice at Monday's practice. Hunter, never before a coach in the NHL, will make his debut behind the bench Tuesday night when Washington hosts the St. Louis Blues to begin a three-game homestand.

"This was simply a case of the players were no longer responding to Bruce. When you see that, as much as you don't want to make a change, you have to make a change," general manager George McPhee said.

"Bruce came in here and emptied the tank. He gave it everything he could and did a really good job, but the tank was empty," McPhee added. "When that happens, you get a new coach, where the tank is full and see if it makes a difference."

Hired four years ago on Thanksgiving Day, Boudreau went 201-88-40 in the regular season but 17-20 in the playoffs — exiting in the first or second round each time. This season he tried a new approach, emphasizing accountability and the willingness to bench his star players — team captain Ovechkin included — as punishment for subpar performances.

The Capitals started 7-0 — a franchise record for consecutive wins to begin a season — but have since slumped badly. They have dropped six of their past eight games, including a 5-1 loss Saturday night to a Buffalo Sabres team missing nine regular players.

Ovechkin has only one goal in the last eight games.

"I don't think this has anything to do with Alex Ovechkin," said McPhee, noting that the team's highest-paid player will remain its captain. "I think it's got everything to do with this team not playing well."

The 51-year-old Hunter played for the Capitals from 1987-99, the last five seasons as captain, and is one of four players to have his jersey number retired by the franchise. A banner with Hunter wearing his red No. 32 hangs on a wall behind one end of the ice where the Capitals practice. He stood in a nearby corner of the rink for one part of Monday's session.

"Obviously Dale was an intelligent player. He had talent and he was tough," McPhee said. "And he was downright mean sometimes."

Hunter played 19 NHL seasons and is the only player in league history with 1,000 points and 3,000 penalty minutes. His career total of 3,563 penalty minutes ranks second all-time.

Hunter has coached the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League for 11 seasons, compiling a 451-189-23-24 record. He became the fastest coach in OHL history to reach 300 and 400 career wins. Like Boudreau, who was promoted from Washington's minor league affiliate in the AHL to replace Glen Hanlon, Hunter is getting his first NHL coaching job in Washington.

"Coaching's coaching, and he's been coaching at a good level and at a high level," McPhee said. "The same questions were asked of Bruce when he came here, and he had an outstanding record."

Boudreau turned around a moribund franchise when he was hired in 2007, leading the Capitals to the first of four consecutive Southeast Division titles and winning the league's coach of the year award in 2008. Nicknamed "Gabby" for his gift of gab, he bought an offensive philosophy that meshed well with Ovechkin and the team's other "young guns" such as Alexander Semin and Mike Green, but he was never able to get Washington deep into the playoffs.

Boudreau had the team adopt a more defensive mindset during a losing streak last season, but it failed to pay dividends in the spring. The Capitals were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round of the post-season.

Boudreau's assistant coaches — Dean Evason, Bob Woods and Blaine Forsythe — will remain in their posts under Hunter.

McPhee said he began talking to Hunter a week ago about the possibility of returning to the Capitals. On Monday morning at 6:15 a.m., McPhee met with Boudreau and delivered the news. Now the team hopes its play will improve.

"Sometimes it's like having the same teacher for five years. How would you have liked to do that in high school? It's hard sometimes," McPhee said. "So you make the change and hope that a new voice and a new way of doing things and a new focus gets the best out of these players."

[Boges]

yes

[sharkman]

Tough call, but it certainly is possible. But after 5 years, it can't be the only reason.

[Shwa]

yes

agreed.

[Shakeyhands]

agreed.

Agreed too. Yes.

[olp1fan]

I hope Hunter rips the C off of OVs jersey

Play time is over boys

[blueblood]

I hope Hunter rips the C off of OVs jersey

Play time is over boys

You can have the nobody is bigger than the team fantasy laugh in or we can get with reality. Ovechkin is the face of the capitals franchise, their best player, and the guy who puts fans in the stands. He is the most important asset in the capitals franchise, hands down. is Ovechkin cocky, yes; however, any coach should realize that and work around that. You cannot replace a player like that, if he stops playing for the coach, then there is trouble. Coaches are a dime a dozen in the NHL and Boudreau found that out the hard way. Boudreau tried to change Ovechkins game when Ovechkin didn't want to, when you have a player like that you have to adjust around that player. Ovechkin has a desire to win, unfortunately Boudreau decided to become a headcase and lost the team. The GM should have gotten more defensively responsible players and the coach should have let the big guns do what they do best.

[olp1fan]

Boudreau tried to change Ovechkins game when Ovechkin didn't want to, when you have a player like that you have to adjust around that player. Ovechkin has a desire to win, unfortunately Boudreau decided to become a headcase and lost the team. The GM should have gotten more defensively responsible players and the coach should have let the big guns do what they do best.

Boudreau was trying to turn OV into a two way player..its most obvious now that all OV wants to do is play offense

This is why OV and the Capitals never advanced past the second round.. you need to play two way hockey in the playoffs to succeed

The man wouldn't even block a shot in the Montreal series a few years a go that resulted in a game winning goal

I felt so bad for his teammates

This is all OV, not Boudreau at all

And the OV Crosby debate needs to be put to rest, Crosby is 10 times the hockey player OV is

Edited November 29, 2011 by olp1fan

[blueblood]

Boudreau was trying to turn OV into a two way player..its most obvious now that all OV wants to do is play offense

This is why OV and the Capitals never advanced past the second round.. you need to play two way hockey in the playoffs to succeed

The man wouldn't even block a shot in the Montreal series a few years a go that resulted in a game winning goal

I felt so bad for his teammates

This is all OV, not Boudreau at all

And the OV Crosby debate needs to be put to rest, Crosby is 10 times the hockey player OV is

Crosby without a shadow of a doubt is better than ovechkin.

However, ovechkin is a game breaker and an elite player. He is one dimensional yet he is elite. He is like dany healthy and Patrick Kane and has one job and one job only and that's score. There is a rest of the team to play defense. Boudreau should have realized what kind of a player ov was and workers with it.

[olp1fan]

Crosby without a shadow of a doubt is better than ovechkin.

However, ovechkin is a game breaker and an elite player. He is one dimensional yet he is elite. He is like dany healthy and Patrick Kane and has one job and one job only and that's score. There is a rest of the team to play defense. Boudreau should have realized what kind of a player ov was and workers with it.

He is a game breaker I'll give you that but he will never be a champion until he becomes a 2 way player

[blueblood]

He is a game breaker I'll give you that but he will never be a champion until he becomes a 2 way player

If patty Kane can do it, ovechkin can

My link

Patty has his cup and did sweet nothing on defense. That's why you need role players on the team.

[olp1fan]

If patty Kane can do it, ovechkin can

My link

Patty has his cup and did sweet nothing on defense. That's why you need role players on the team.

yeah but Toews was the leader..why did Boudreau give OV the C? he's not a leader

[olp1fan]

lol OV isn't gonna like his new coach as Hunter doesn't believe in run and gun hockey...defense first, OV did it to himself when he decided not to play for Boudreau who was reasonable...Hunters not gonna take OVs primadonna shit...I see a big meltdown in the future for OV

[tducey82]

Yes I think he did. Ovie's a good player but he needs to be more than a goal scorer, let's see how he performs under Dale Hunter.

[fellowtraveller]

No, OV did not get him fired.

Losing games in the regular season is what got him fired.

The Caps have had a history of monster regular seasons followed by crappy playoffs.

Boudreaua acted to change their style so as to to have some comprehension of defensive play prior to the playoffs.

result this season: the Caps play poorly in the regular season too. Goodbye Bourgreau, the Caps cannot trade or fire their players, so Boudreau gets the chop.

Last chance for George McPhee too- if Hunter does not work out McPhee will be gone.

It is quite possible Hunter will successfully do exactly the same things with the team that Boudreaua did this year. Often the players know the onus is on them to perform in a way that wins, that the team has plenty of skill and now needs more will.

Washington is still a Cup contender.

Edited November 30, 2011 by fellowtraveller

[olp1fan]

If Hunter does not work out its obviously not the coach..a few players need to be traded ..cough Semin cough

If someone wants to take on OVs contract I can see OV being traded for someone..or even get the #1 draft pick next year from Columbus

Edited November 30, 2011 by olp1fan

[fellowtraveller]

The only conceivable way that OV gets traded is if the owner goes broke.

Hunter should be showing OV clips of Crosby, Sakic, Gretzky, Lemieux and even Jagr- all great offensive talents that learned to backcheck when they had to.......it would appeal to his ego and might get him working.

[Shwa]

The only conceivable way that OV gets traded is if the owner goes broke.

Hunter should be showing OV clips of Crosby, Sakic, Gretzky, Lemieux and even Jagr- all great offensive talents that learned to backcheck when they had to.......it would appeal to his ego and might get him working.

Or show him clips of Gaborik or Kovalchuk.

[Boges]

cough Semin cough

Perhaps you should spit then.

Rimshot!

[blueblood]

The only conceivable way that OV gets traded is if the owner goes broke.

Hunter should be showing OV clips of Crosby, Sakic, Gretzky, Lemieux and even Jagr- all great offensive talents that learned to backcheck when they had to.......it would appeal to his ego and might get him working.

Patrick Kane does not back check, yet he was a key piece. Washington needs better 3rd liners and stay at home d men. Ovechkin is not a Crosby and if he is wired to be a sniper, than a sniper he shall be.

[olp1fan]

Kane wasn't the captain nor the leader (Toews was) OV is the captain

OV will not enjoy Hunters D first game... I don't see how this will work out

as for Kovy he backchecks now!! sure his stats suffer but hes a better player for it

[olp1fan]

The only conceivable way that OV gets traded is if the owner goes broke.

Hunter should be showing OV clips of Crosby, Sakic, Gretzky, Lemieux and even Jagr- all great offensive talents that learned to backcheck when they had to.......it would appeal to his ego and might get him working.

Sakic, Yzerman, Lemieux.. your ultimate players

that could work

[blueblood]

Kane wasn't the captain nor the leader (Toews was) OV is the captain

OV will not enjoy Hunters D first game... I don't see how this will work out

as for Kovy he backchecks now!! sure his stats suffer but hes a better player for it

Kane is one of the offensive catalysts on that team, being a leader means nothing.

OV is captain because management wanted the capitals to be his team and was a carrot for him to stay there. It wouldn't put it past me if ov was a figurehead.

New jersey has one of the fewest goals for in the eastern conference. Kovy was brought in to score, not back check.

[fellowtraveller]

Or show him clips of Gaborik or Kovalchuk

OV does not see himself as being in their class of players, and he is right. he is better if he wants to be. Ovechkin has a whole dimension of meanness and physiclaity to his game that those guys only dream of.

Patrick Kane does not back check,

Rubbish. When he is told to check by Quenneville, he checks like a demon.

Ask Vancouver how that went for them a couple years ago.

Edited December 1, 2011 by fellowtraveller

[blueblood]

OV does not see himself as being in their class of players, and he is right. he is better if he wants to be. Ovechkin has a whole dimension of meanness and physiclaity to his game that those guys only dream of.

Rubbish. When he is told to check by Quenneville, he checks like a demon.

Ask Vancouver how that went for them a couple years ago.

My bleacher report article said Kane was notorious for not back checking, I'll go with their opinion on the matter.