I'm no AV fan. The ironic thing is that AV IS/WAS just coaching. It's the medical staff's job to say whether a player is able to play or not. If Kesler was cleared to play by the medical staff and himself, then the coach expects a certain level of performance from the player. If the player isn't at that level, then coach can certainly say that he expected more from the player, call him out, whatever. If we believe the injury was affecting his performance, then he shouldn't have been cleared to play. It's not AV's job to say that since Kesler is only 70% healthy, its ok that he perform at 70%.

With Lu, he has an out clause in his contract during year 5 and year 7 regarding only the NTC. In year 5, he can ask for a trade and submit a list of teams (why bother with this clause if he's in fact asked for a trade already?). In year 7, the team can ask for a trade and ask him to submit a list of teams. The out clause does not mean that he or the team can walk away from the long term contract. I also haven't read anything concrete about his NTC being voided if he gets traded, just floated around online.

What a shocker. Fact is, this is SOP for just about anything where the press is involved: something gets said, it gets reported with a little embellishment, maybe a little slant... perhaps a little "error"... people go berzerk over what they heard rather than what was actually said, and there's no going back. By the time it gets cleared up, the story has grown mutant legs of its own and people will just go off on it based on whatever version of it fits their own version of reality.

AV can't fucking win. He tries to keep his mouth shut, and the fans and sports pundits go on about how he should just tell the truth because this is a sports town and we're all smarter than that and can see what's really going on regardless of what he says. So he lays it bare, and everyone shits on him with an "O NO HE DI'NT!" and "HOW CAN HE GET AWAY WITH THAT?".

If he'd stood up there and just said, "Oh yeah, Kes was hurt and that's why he didn't play well" the Macraes and McKenzies and BMacs would have been all about, "Well, sure he was hurt, but anyone can see he should have played better, what is AV trying to cover up?"

Personally, I liked that he stood up there and admitted he hadn't prepared the team properly for the playoffs... admitted he fucked up, owned it... okay, let's move on. I remember Pratt and Taylor going on about that sort of thing at length when the whole Tiger Woods mess was going on - Pratt especially said Tiger shoulda just stood in front of the cameras, admitted he fucked up, owned it, and moved on, because then you leave nothing for your doubters/naysayers/enemies to call you out on. If you try to hide shit, they'll just keep digging it up and never go away. So... put it all out there for them and walk away.

Really, we've seen the same thing with the 'roid monkeys in MLB: the guys that owned it have vanished from sight... those that keep trying to deny it are just continually getting browbeaten and questioned and belittled and dragged through the mud.

Agreed. Liked AV's answer. He goofed up, admitted it. I can live with that and look to next season.

:thumbsup: Tiger/MLB guys should of come clean. Media would of left them alone. Look at A-Rod. He admitted it and the media doesn't say anything about him now. Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire are basically crucified now.

End of Season sale is June 9 & 10 at the Canucks Team Store in Rogers Arena.

20-70% off apparel (including jerseys) | Game-worn jerseys from our 40th season | Used equipment | 2011.12 Playoff apparel

YEEE DEVILS

2-0 devils!

Devils ripping apart Rangers.

Devils for the cup!! Fav player is Brodeur so hope he gets to lift it once more

Well, the only good thing is that at least AV is realizing his mistakes.
He's a good coach, but keeps getting out coached in the playoffs.
Hopefully he will figure out those mistakes too and become better during the playoffs.

might be time for some new assistant coaches. correct me if im wrong, but quite often in todays game, the offensive and defensive coaches do as much or more than the head coach especially in a playoff situation. more video work and strategy work. its getting like football.

getting 'out coached' doesnt mean AV is a bad coach, it might mean the entire coaching staff of the other team prepared their team better.


does anyone REALLY know how everything works? everyone is an arm chair hockey genius but no one really knows how anything works. seems most fans think "bad players/trades. GM cant do job" regardless of how the behind the scenes stuff works. "coaches coach and he got out coached" regardless of how the other team was put together. "player isnt scoring goals on 1st line, put him on 4th line or trade for rick nash" regardless of whether or not he can even play a 4th line roll, or if he was injured. etc

o how fast things can change

devils stop skating = 2- 2 tie.

Back when Lu was drafted by the Islanders....
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...87042263_n.jpg

caught the game just in time for OT

go devils!

wow devils score right after i saids that lol

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKKKKKKKKKK YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

THE DEVILS ARE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP FINALS!

ONE MORE FOR MARTY!

:awwyeah:

wooooooooooooooooo eat it rangers :awesom:

Yeee devils

LA in 5

devils gonna win the cup

Lez go devs!

GO DEVILS

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...06647910_n.jpg

YESSS no more of that Messier asshole.

I hope NJD wins. Be nice for Brodeur to hold up his 3rd Cup then retire.