tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post7997194457998318500..comments2023-06-01T21:15:57.354-11:00Comments on The H Does NOT Stand For Habs: Cunney's WorthJ.T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00012075493503316318noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-38711400925398242892012-01-24T05:56:06.862-11:002012-01-24T05:56:06.862-11:00@dwgs
Well, I see what you mean, but when you use ...@dwgs<br />Well, I see what you mean, but when you use averages and such, you have to keep in mind that your data may be flawed by statistical aberrations, i.e. when one data is so far away from the average that it can skew the whole picture. In this case, when you have an average of 2,47 (you noticed I DID provide the numbers including the blow-outs, right?) and numbers that deviate alot from it (like 6 or 7), then you must take that into account. Or you can go with something else, like the median, for example. In this case, it's 2 G/G (closer to 1,85 than 2,47). And let's say we go with your suggestion (taking away the 2 worst goal inputs, even though 0 is closer to the average of 2,47 than 6 or 7), we still get an average of 2,18, wich sucks. I am by no means a statistician, but I still know that good statistical methodology is not just applying a formula, it's applying your judgement as well. <br />I'm not trying to twist anything to match a supposed theory: all the numbers show that scoring is down under RC. I wish it were different, I wish under RC goal scoring was up and the team back in the playoff picture and lookng like it might do some damage in the post-season, but it just ain't that way.<br />And Gomez in the shoot-out...Pierre P.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-3650640686870146662012-01-21T05:50:30.817-11:002012-01-21T05:50:30.817-11:00After watching the Pittsbugh game I conclude Cunne...After watching the Pittsbugh game I conclude Cunneyworth's worth is zilch, zero, nada.dustynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-64537100328627607702012-01-20T08:02:06.472-11:002012-01-20T08:02:06.472-11:00Sorry Pierre, but you can't casually dismiss n...Sorry Pierre, but you can't casually dismiss numbers that mess up your theory. You could just as easily throw away the numbers from the two games where they got shut out to skew the results the other way. Not defending Cunneyworth, just questioning the methodology.dwgshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10802983136638036023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-6472520950278787032012-01-20T06:23:03.069-11:002012-01-20T06:23:03.069-11:00RC is not putting Eller in a position to succeed. ...RC is not putting Eller in a position to succeed. He's doing the exact opposite by giving him Plekanec minutes: he's putting him in a position to fail, then benches him when he predictably does. <br /><br />Whether he is trying to win hockey games or trying to develop the kids without thinking about victory, I don't see a way that this makes sense. In a situation like this it's not the player that is failing, it's the coach.<br /><br />I'm endlessly amused, though, by how he is doing in spades exactly the things Martin was blamed for (often unfairly): benching kids after mistakes, line tinkering late in games, constantly changing player roles...MathMannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-88925125868330361532012-01-20T04:39:42.727-11:002012-01-20T04:39:42.727-11:00Hi,
I don't want to be picky, but despite what...Hi,<br />I don't want to be picky, but despite what some say about more offense being shown with RC as coach, the fact is under JM the team has a 2,52 G/G, while under RC they are at 2,47 G/G, with two blow-out wins. If you take out the game against Ott (6 goals) and the one against the Jets (7 goals), you have a 1,85 G/G. <br />Hard to believe, but we actually score less with RC than we did with JM. And if you like at the GA/G, we went from 2,45 under JM to 2,93 under RC.<br />I don't care what he says to his players, in what language, and if they like him or not. The facts are that we are losing (4-10-1 record, 9 pts out of a possible 30, a record that means a 25 pts season!), because we score less and are getting scored on more.Pierre P.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-1001896852417395452012-01-20T02:10:59.476-11:002012-01-20T02:10:59.476-11:00I am pretty confused by some of RC's lines, us...I am pretty confused by some of RC's lines, use of players and the 'keep it simple' mantra as well. <br /><br />But it's premature to say he is a 'terrrible coach' as some have done here - it's pretty early. And it feels like he's trying to instill a work ethic, character, identity (or something) in this team that will serve them better in the mid to long term and sacrificing the short term. <br /><br /><br />It looks increasingly like someone gave up on the team Martin/PG assembled for this year and this season just before the Martin firing - knowing it would drop us into the bottom 1/4 of the league. RC might have a specific challenge they have laid out for him that is not focused on wins/playoffs.Vnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-66339453998896474032012-01-19T19:09:12.146-11:002012-01-19T19:09:12.146-11:00Nice post JT!
Fact of the matter is, Cunney HAS g...Nice post JT! <br />Fact of the matter is, Cunney HAS given more leeway to his younger players, including Eller, to play in more situations where they can succeed. The lines that have worked, he has kept intact (DD-Patches-Cole / Eller-Moen-AK46 / Gorges-PK / Emelin-Diaz). He has employed a more aggressive, two-man forecheck. He plays 7 Defensemen because he doesn't have enough depth at forward to roll 4 full lines, and yes, he communicates to his players in the middle of the game. I can assume that whatever it is he wants to talk to his players about later in, in practice, he will remember, as opposed to jotting down. Has he made mistakes? Sure. Do I think he speaks "player?" Absolutely. And that is a necessity in today's NHL. It just is.<br /><br />PatrickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-2997032593655753252012-01-19T06:12:03.242-11:002012-01-19T06:12:03.242-11:00I really like Cunny, I think he has brought offens...I really like Cunny, I think he has brought offense back to the game.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14162783936999869984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-9923711745292497672012-01-19T06:03:42.137-11:002012-01-19T06:03:42.137-11:00I do like what his "coaching philosophy"...I do like what his "coaching philosophy" seems to be, and I would love to see him get some success, but we can't escape the facts: his record is abysmal, and he is responsible for the Hab's worse PP in their history. There is only one conclusion to be drawn form that: he is not a good coach (wich is a good thing in my personnal point of vue, since I would love a high draft pick).Pierre P.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-20076732956736043342012-01-19T04:28:33.708-11:002012-01-19T04:28:33.708-11:00I'm with Raj: Randy may be a great person, but...I'm with Raj: Randy may be a great person, but he is a terrible coach. The feel-good story around the poor anglophone coach being hard done in by the evil francophone media is nice and all, but the bottom line is when one sits back and actually evaluates the way he coaches, and I don't mean the buttering up comments from the players in the papers, I mean how he's actually using his guys.<br /><br />And the bottom line is, his personnel management is awful. He keeps using his best forward (Plekanec) with his worst (Blunden) and expecting this to succeed at any role. He keeps using his two best matchup centers in bottom-six roles. Twice in a row now he's thrown Eller in the toughnest matchups and then benched him for 20 minutes when he predictably floundered. His defenseman roulette is causing no end of problems, and when he starts tinkering with his lines at the end of game, he basically changes linemates every shift rather than see if something ends up working.<br /><br />He just doesn't seem to "get" it, which is odd given that this is a man with an impressive resume and several months of working under Martin, who had a keen grasp on matchups and personnel usage.<br /><br />Firing Martin and replacing him with Cunneyworth was needless and probably cost the Habs a shot at the playoffs. <br /><br />RC needs to be replaced. And his language has nothing to do with that, as it should be.MathMannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-84890995466012532052012-01-19T03:48:11.986-11:002012-01-19T03:48:11.986-11:00Nice article but you describe how a good assistant...Nice article but you describe how a good assistant-coach should behave.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-53629007755077565692012-01-18T18:32:38.347-11:002012-01-18T18:32:38.347-11:00Well, JT, I'm sorry but I'll have to be th...Well, JT, I'm sorry but I'll have to be the dissenting voice here. While RC is a fine individual who has been thrown straight into the deep end, and yet handled himself with dignity and class in public, I don't think he's a good NHL coach. <br /><br />Yes, he talks to players on the bench during a game. Just how much wisdom can you impart during a fast-paced game, when as a coach you have so much to keep track of? You have to match lines, deal with penalties (for and against), take note of which players did and did not do well, and in what situations all this occurred. JM was criticized for writing in his notebook and being impassive behind the bench. Well, he realized you can't instruct much during the game if you want to your focus on what you must do as head coach. That's why Muller did the talking and the diagramming of plays on the whiteboard. JM wasn't being aloof -- he was focused on his job and delegating everything else to his assistants, as he should have. He left instruction for the practices, <br /><br />I wonder how much Lars Eller likes playing for RC now?Eller was benched for 20 minutes or so tonight and just a little less last game. And for what crime? Tonight, not preventing Alex Ovechkin from scoring on a power-play. (Eller had good company). His coach also set him up to fail during the last game -- except that got papered over because we won. Isn't a coach's job also to develop young players and not set them up to fail? And to make sure even your veteran players aren't in over their heads? Tonight, why wasn't Pleks against Ovechkin, with Gorges and either Subban or Gill on D? Pleks and Jorges and Gill did a great job against Ovie in the '09-'10 playoffs? Why does RC get a pass for benching players for a whole period? (JM was lambasted for benching players for shorter periods of time). Why won't he bother to match lines when he the right of last change at home?<br /><br />RC likes to "keep it simple" -- no creativity allowed on the PP (which he ran even when JM was head coach). "Drive to the net", "Finish your check", "Work hard" are the only other mantras he seems to employ. They are good ones to be sure but playing at an NHL level requires some sophistication as well -- which he seems incapable of. Cammalleri may have had a point or two in his (now infamous) remarks. <br /><br />Puck possession has plummeted, Pleks is now getting less ice time than Blunden, we still can't score on the PP, rookies aren't developed well -- those aren't the hallmarks of a good NHL coach. I know RC did great things in the AHL. Possibly, that's where he belongs. <br /><br />To me, this is 1996 all over again, RC is the second coming of Mario Tremblay. All we need is for PG to be fired -- which he probably deserves right now for entrusting a good team to RC. If someone like Pierre McGuire ends up being GM, it WILL be 1996 all over again. And we know how that era ended.Rajhttp://hansolo758.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-34256053901650491722012-01-18T17:53:26.422-11:002012-01-18T17:53:26.422-11:00Somebody please explain to me why RC dressed 7 def...Somebody please explain to me why RC dressed 7 defensemen tonight. Surely he must have known that Bourque would have to fight and he'd be down to 10 forwards 9 if you don't count Darche. <br /><br />Cunneyworth may have a plan but I don't see it.dustynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-40136635437388265232012-01-18T12:44:54.096-11:002012-01-18T12:44:54.096-11:00Stats are stats. The death spiral has stopped unde...Stats are stats. The death spiral has stopped under Cunnyworth and the team is playing better in my point of view.<br /><br />I don't like the "tank" talk. All you have to do is look at teams like Columbus who have drafted highly and achieved nothing to think "gee...is that a good idea?" I find it difficult to be enthusiastic over a team that does not try. People who try but lose generally develop character at the least.<br /><br />Character will take you a long way when the chips are down. Lack of it will get you a long way as well. At least two time zones and a whole other conference.Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16787679973071236816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-48089751308142460542012-01-18T10:57:44.081-11:002012-01-18T10:57:44.081-11:00I like what I see so far from Cunneyworth. This i...I like what I see so far from Cunneyworth. This is refreshing to see a coach that is involved in the game after Martin. I also appreciate a lot the way he manages time on ice for the defence and the double shifts for the best on offence. Finally, I liked the message sent to Eller, Kostityn and team when he benched them for part of the last game.<br /><br />But so far, he is not winning more than losing. He was responsible of the power play since beginning of the season and I do not see an improvement. We miss Kirk Muller very much in that area. With him, we are back to square one, going back to a coach without NHL experience or winning track record in AHL or the Juniors.<br /><br />I am looking forward to see either an experienced coach of the NHL and there is not a lot of good ones are not already employed. Or a winning coach of AHL or the Juniors, like Dale Hunter. I am thinking Patrick Roy which is on a track similar to Claude Julien, Michel Therrien or Alain Vigneault. We need a winner and it should be with some connection to the Canadians or Montreal.<br /><br />But I do hope that Randy succeed because I am a sucker for good troy ending.Frank Legonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-2610175658875961872012-01-18T10:55:10.361-11:002012-01-18T10:55:10.361-11:00Cunneyworth is indeed making the best of horrible ...Cunneyworth is indeed making the best of horrible situation. He is saying the right things and doing a reasonable job behind the bench. The players are saying all the right things too and with Cammalleri gone I don't expect that to change unless the team goes on an extended losing streak.<br /><br />The real question is whether or not Gauthier survives the summer. Randy will most certainly be gone unless the Habs make the playoffs and reach the conference final. And that's not happening.<br /><br />Watching the Islanders, Lightning and Hurricanes bust their asses trying to win each night and seeming to be on the improve, the Habs will have a fight on their hands to stay out of the cellar. As V said that's not such a bad thing.dustynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-79336331997313818342012-01-18T09:04:37.304-11:002012-01-18T09:04:37.304-11:00Go RC Go!!Go RC Go!!DanielleJamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-39722001368504356762012-01-18T08:52:47.008-11:002012-01-18T08:52:47.008-11:00Agree wholeheartedly with your article JT. He has ...Agree wholeheartedly with your article JT. He has handled himself admirally under extremely trying circumstances. <br /><br />I have to confess, I don't know how much I want him/they to win. Don't get me wrong - would love a sustained charge to the play-offs. But I am comfortable with 15th place in the Conference and the chance to snag a great young player because I don't think they can make the playoffs from here. <br /><br />Before Martin let go I would have bet they would make it, but very pesimistic now. If they prove me wrong, great. But really hoping they don't finish 10th.Vnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3435571560723564995.post-57960304255960666192012-01-18T07:48:28.790-11:002012-01-18T07:48:28.790-11:00At the end of this long season Cunneyworth will be...At the end of this long season Cunneyworth will be able to hold his head high, knowing he kept his dignity in an almost impossible situation while those above him looked like deer caught in headlights.<br /><br />DBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com