What I have never understood about Eaves is how he can do so well at preparing players for pro hockey, but can't get consistent results on the ice while they are under his watch. Eaves has a system and never deviates from that system, but that system only delivers once every 4 years, and is sometimes competitive in between, but has really bad seasons in between. If it takes players 2 years to learn the system or they have to be really talented to achieve success in the system quicker (merely due to talent), maybe he needs a different system. As has been stated by others, BC, NoDak, etc have systems too I assume, but those systems don't have the EXTREME down cycle that UW has endured for a decade. Some how Jerry York and Dave Hakstol and even Lucia Pet can take young players into their system and they succeed. Some seasons might be bumpy, but they aren't 1-10-1.
A good coach maximizes the talent that currently exists on the roster. IMHO, Eaves is NOT successful unless the players have been in his system long enough or are top notch talent. The other coach who frequents the KC, generally takes 2nd tier basketball players and turns them into consistent winners. The basketball team is ALWAYS in the running for the Big 10 and has an outstanding track record in the NCAA tourney. As sports this is an apples to oranges comparison, but as coaches this is apples to apples. I don't think Eaves knows how to coach up players effectively with any consistency.
I'm not into UW hockey like I was during my blogging days. Life has changed and I'm much busier, and that being said its really tough for me to get excited about going to the KC to see the same sad **** I have for the last 9 years. The power play only works with upper classmen, the 3rd and 4th line are told that scoring isn't something they should worry about, and when we do have leads the team seems to always plays not to lose instead of to win.
