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BU 2020-21 Season: The Road to … Nowhere?

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  • Originally posted by Harry Cleverly View Post
    I'm not so sure about Quinn losing the Rangers better players. The whole team played HARD in their final game against the Bruins. They could have more easily just rolled over, but they didn't. They certainly didn't play like a team quitting on their coach.
    Yes, the final game of the season, which meant diddly-squat to both the Rangers and the B's. Yippee.

    Rangers fire David Quinn with eye on experienced replacement (nypost.com)

    Quinn was instrumental in the development of the cadre of impressive young blue bloods that features Adam Fox, K’Andre Miller, Ryan Lindgren, Pavel Buchnevich and Kaapo Kakko. He presided over Alexis Lafreniere’s improvement through his freshman season and over the wrenching transfer in goal from the iconic Henrik Lundqvist to Igor Shesterkin.

    But the Rangers too often seemed flat at the start of games and were unable to maintain a level of consistency through this unique season, and were hammered three times within 12 days by the Islanders by an aggregate 13-1 margin when the playoffs were still in sight late in the season.

    As well, Quinn was unable to get his marquee players to buy in on the need to adopt a more straight-line approach when opponents such as the Islanders game-planned to take away their time and space.

    His pleas for the club to adopt more of a shooting mentality never seemed to get through to the skilled players, who became increasingly stubborn this year in their quest to score picture-perfect goals
    .


    The Rangers are a soft team, that really cannot be questioned looking at their results down the stretch. With the fourth and final playoff slot within reach, the Rangers went an impressive 7-1-0 against the teams behind them - Devils, Sabres and Flyers - yet in games against playoff teams, they went 1-6-0 - with that win the meaningless one over the B's noted above.

    There's also a reason why Tom Wilson ran wild against the Rangers on the ice early last week, and it's because he knew he could get away with it against the Rangers, because (once again) they're as soft as a baby's proverbial bottom. I don't care what the Rangers did in the next game to "address the situation", or that they didn't mail it in against the B's in the season finale. It's all just posturing, if you're not putting in the hard work to compete at your best in the games that really mean something. Getting swept and outscored 13-1 by your nearby hated rivals with the season on the line isn't a great sign that your best players are "getting it". And if they're not "getting it" through the coach, who are they supposed to be getting it from, exactly???

    It's all too convenient to just blame Dolan for being Dolan. Unless you watched the Islanders' games, and think the Rangers came prepared to compete in any of them ... you can't blame the guy signing the checks for expecting a little more bang for his bucks. It's not all that unlike the Red Wings of the early '90's where they had a boatload of talent, but would get beaten by more physical teams in the playoffs every year (but at least they were making the playoffs) until Scotty Bowman came in and made sure all his guys - Yzerman included - bought into the two way game. The Rangers are wandering down the same path nowadays, and there was regression this season from last season. This is the NHL. Pretty good is not good enough.
    Sworn Enemy of the Perpetually Offended
    Montreal Expos Forever ...

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    • One has to wonder if part of Quinn is looking back now wondering if he should have followed more in Parker’s footsteps and never made the jump to the NHL? Obviously the dollars of that contract are very hard to ignore, but I’m sure he was getting paid a comfortable salary by BU (anyone have any idea what it was), and probably could have had a 20 year run as head coach before retiring. I’d guess that is what BU was expecting when they hired him.

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      • Originally posted by Chuck Murray View Post

        Yes, the final game of the season, which meant diddly-squat to both the Rangers and the B's. Yippee.
        Quinn's fate was unknown heading into the final game of the season.
        If the players wanted him gone, they would have rolled over. They didn't.
        They played balls out. What does that tell you?
        It should be obvious.

        Were the Rangers a soft team because of Quinn. Or because of the players that Gorton/Drury handed him?

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        • I would think Quinn had to have been making around 500k at BU

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          • Drury hired Mike Grier as an advisor. Is Jay Pondolfo next? #1995NCTeamReunion
            It Happened!!!!

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            • Originally posted by Bomber View Post
              Drury hired Mike Grier as an advisor. Is Jay Pondolfo next? #1995NCTeamReunion
              Chris Drury was named GM of Team USA for the upcoming world championships back in February. Interesting to note that Jack Capuano was named Head Coach just a few weeks ago. Can't tell if Capuano was Drury's choice or imposed by USA Hockey but if the former, maybe a hint at what his thinking might be?
              Last edited by Split-N; 05-15-2021, 08:06 AM.
              "Through the years, we ever will acclaim........"

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              • Originally posted by Harry Cleverly View Post
                Quinn's fate was unknown heading into the final game of the season.
                If the players wanted him gone, they would have rolled over. They didn't.
                They played balls out. What does that tell you?
                It should be obvious.

                Were the Rangers a soft team because of Quinn. Or because of the players that Gorton/Drury handed him?
                If you want to look at it that way ... Quinn's fate was up in the air for the final three (3) games of the season, once Gorton/Davidson were fired. Everyone knew that. First game after, they got involved in a faux line brawl with the Caps after they failed to answer the bell in the heat of the moment in the previous game. They lost that game, and the first game to the B's as well. So that's even a 1-2-0 record in three lame duck (NYR) games to close things out.

                Rangers vs. Bruins - Box Score - May 8, 2021 - ESPN

                It's a very fair question to ask if Quinn was responsible for the Rangers' softness, as opposed to the front office. But as I've pointed out previously, there was a widening rift in communications between Quinn and his top young talents on how to play the game in the NHL. There were important games down the stretch when the Rangers were no-shows. Your best argument seems to be that some of those guys figured it out in the season finale. That's fool's gold ... and if Drury thought things were salvageable at that point, Quinn would still be there. Obviously he didn't see it that way.

                Those of us who are college hockey fans have this tendency to view personnel decisions a little less harshly, which is why the coaches (especially the mediocre ones) tend to stay on a lot longer than their pro bretheren get to stay on. No doubt in my mind, if Quinn had a similar situation at BU, he'd get the benefit of the doubt. In the NHL (and MSG specifically) ... no way.

                I don't have an issue with Quinn BTW. But he knew what he was getting into, he took the job, he took the (ample) money, and would likely scoff at those who want to make excuses for him.
                Sworn Enemy of the Perpetually Offended
                Montreal Expos Forever ...

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                • Originally posted by J.D. View Post
                  I would think Quinn had to have been making around 500k at BU
                  More like 700k.

                  But not a Jack Parker type contract. At one point it allegedly said he had to be the highest paid college hockey coach in the country. So if another coach got a raise ahead of him, he'd automatically get a raise. That was before the Bruins came in for him a second time, and he got the brownstone on Bay State Road.

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                  • Originally posted by Harry Cleverly View Post
                    More like 700k.

                    But not a Jack Parker type contract. At one point it allegedly said he had to be the highest paid college hockey coach in the country. So if another coach got a raise ahead of him, he'd automatically get a raise. That was before the Bruins came in for him a second time, and he got the brownstone on Bay State Road.
                    Sweet deal. Always liked Parker, the BU program hasn't been the same without him ...
                    Sworn Enemy of the Perpetually Offended
                    Montreal Expos Forever ...

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                    • Don't think the Parker situation is comparable. The cheap Bruins probably offered him as cheap a deal as possible and they went through coaches left and right back then. Quinn got 13M guaranteed for 5 years. Had he stayed at BU it would take 20 years to earn as much ignoring the time value of money. Who knows if he would last 20 years. Poor health, decline in support for the program, off ice scandal, etc could get in the way.

                      Many of us in our careers face a situation where we're asked to step up and out of our comfort zone in exchange for a big increase in compensation. You can wuss out of course, but that's not exactly providing for your family as best that you can. Quinn did the right thing to see if he could cut it at the highest level. I doubt he has very many regrets.
                      Legally drunk???? If its "legal", what's the ------- problem?!? - George Carlin

                      Ever notice how everybody who drives slower than you is an idiot, and everybody who drives faster is a maniac? - George Carlin

                      "I've never seen so much reason and bullsh*t contained in ONE MAN."

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                      • Originally posted by Chuck Murray View Post

                        Sweet deal. Always liked Parker, the BU program hasn't been the same without him ...
                        I've been a dedicated follower since before Jack Parker became the HC. Parker coached BU through many great seasons. To this day, I enjoy listening to him discuss his career.

                        But the Quinn years were good years, also. BU hockey took a big hit when he left for the irresistible Rangers' contract. The BU program hasn't been the same without him.
                        if you walk with Jesus, he's gonna save your soul, you gotta keep the devil way down in the hole

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                        • Originally posted by buoldtimer View Post
                          But the Quinn years were good years, also. BU hockey took a big hit when he left for the irresistible Rangers' contract. The BU program hasn't been the same without him.
                          Agreed. A few favorable breaks and Quinn's tenure would've been comprised of 1 national championship and 2 other Frozen Four appearances. Expectations were always high b/c of the exceptional high-end talent that he & Albie recruited, but aside from his 1st season, Quinn's BU teams were where I believe many BU fans expected them to be - consistently a Top-10 team nationally.

                          Quinn was also terrific as a "brand ambassador" for BU Hockey -- articulate, confident, personable, telegenic. As with Coach Parker, I really enjoyed listening/watching Quinn discuss BU Hockey.

                          My biggest knock on Quinn as a HC is that he relied too much on BU's stars, and wasn't proficient at developing depth/role players on the team where they improved year-over-year.

                          By all accounts Albie is a very nice guy who is well-liked, but as a head coach, I'm still not sold that he projects the level of confidence that his predecessors did. I know other BU fans have picked up on that and I wonder if his players feel similarly -- re: they really like him but may not respect him as much as a HC should be respected.

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                          • Originally posted by Friend_of_BU_Hockey View Post

                            Agreed. A few favorable breaks and Quinn's tenure would've been comprised of 1 national championship and 2 other Frozen Four appearances. Expectations were always high b/c of the exceptional high-end talent that he & Albie recruited, but aside from his 1st season, Quinn's BU teams were where I believe many BU fans expected them to be - consistently a Top-10 team nationally.

                            Quinn was also terrific as a "brand ambassador" for BU Hockey -- articulate, confident, personable, telegenic. As with Coach Parker, I really enjoyed listening/watching Quinn discuss BU Hockey.

                            My biggest knock on Quinn as a HC is that he relied too much on BU's stars, and wasn't proficient at developing depth/role players on the team where they improved year-over-year.

                            By all accounts Albie is a very nice guy who is well-liked, but as a head coach, I'm still not sold that he projects the level of confidence that his predecessors did. I know other BU fans have picked up on that and I wonder if his players feel similarly -- re: they really like him but may not respect him as much as a HC should be respected.
                            Well said. I agree with all of it, with a couple of additions.

                            I agree that Quinn's teams relied too much on the high end talent and did not recruit great depth at forward. Ironically, this past season did not have that issue. The depth at forward was fine.

                            BU were slow out-of-the-gate at the start of games under Quinn, and apparently so were the Rangers. I would have like more fire out of Quinn and his staff. He didn't need to be a dragon like Parker. That is obviously not his personality. But more fire in spots would have been most welcome.

                            Your description of Quinn is spot on -- "terrific as a "brand ambassador" for BU Hockey -- articulate, confident, personable, telegenic." He is someone that you'd want to be the face of the program.

                            Where Quinn was not, and could not be Parker, Albie is not and can not be Quinn.

                            I remember when Albie got the head job, he joked that his suits wouldn't quite fit him like "GQ" Quinn's did. That's fine. No one complained about Parker's plaid jackets long after they had gone out of style. Albie still needs to show that he can have the commanding presence that we have come to expect out of a HEAD coach. And that he and his staff need to show they can make in-game adjustments when shots on goal have dried up. The recruiting and game-planning is not an issue, IMO.

                            So maybe Albie should wear a Jack Kelley fedora, a Jack Parker red plaid jacket or go all out and get a Quinn Armani suit. Or just stick with his own style of a warmup top and baseball cap, and just step up his leadership game.













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                            • I see that Will McDonough, a soon to be 16 year old, from Duxbury, MA attended the recent NTDP evaluation camp. He plays for Boston Advantage. Does anyone know if he's the grandson of the late Will McDonough of The Boston Globe?
                              if you walk with Jesus, he's gonna save your soul, you gotta keep the devil way down in the hole

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                              • The season ticket email came out.... not sure if this is new info but we will have 2 home games against BC. Alaska and ASU will both be coming to town for a pair of games.

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