Running in place

Lack of results make Fraser's ouster seem merciful

I had the privilege to interview Scotty Bowman for NHL Radio twice following his Stanley Cup victory with the Detroit Red Wings last June.

The first encounter was on ice immediately following the Game 5 celebration in which he stunningly announced his intentions to step from behind the bench.

An hour or so later, in a more formal setting and after he had fielded countless questions regarding his retirement, I asked him to name the greatest accomplishment on his resplendent resume, figuring he would struggle to prioritize. Instead, he answered without hesitation, "never having been fired as a head coach."

There it was: Bowman had floored me twice in one evening with disarming, straightforward honesty.

Now, longevity is a distinguishing accolade no matter the pursuit. But to succeed for more than 30 years at the top of your profession with nary a pink slip is unheard of, a notion I pondered further today as the Thrashers fired head coach Curt Fraser. He is the only bench boss the franchise has ever known.

No matter how you view Fraser's tenure in Atlanta, there is no escaping the fact that he could no longer avoid what is for most coaches inevitable. His ouster had nothing to do with effort or commitment. On the contrary, Fraser continued to work tirelessly, trying to make a difference, constantly looking for that elusive panacea.

If anything, Fraser spent more hours agonizing over recent results than ever before. And in winning but 64 games in roughly 3 1/2 seasons, he has endured his share of agony.

Actually, his laboring over losses became the telltale sign that a change was more than imminent -- it was merciful.

When effort fails to equate to desired results -- regardless of the culprit -- it is time to move on. There comes a point when the harder you try the worse it becomes.

All good intentions aside, Fraser and the Thrashers had definitely reached that point. Does that make Thursday's eventuality any more palatable? Of course not.

Fraser is a proud competitor, and on many levels I'm sure he feels a sense of failure. But he is also more insightful than many would give him credit for, especially those who simply equate his rough-and-tumble playing style as the extent of his outlook and acumen. To them, his diverse interests and grasp of several topics would surprise more so than today's predictable outcome.

Yet, with time comes clarity of reasoning -- a quality that became increasingly hard to come by as the losses mounted and frustration permeated the proceedings. In the end, the coaching profession is all about meeting or exceeding expectations in the standings. This fact was not lost on Fraser.

Will he be a better coach next time around, no matter where that next challenge may arise? To use one of his favorite affirmations ... "Absolutely."

Darren Eliot, a former NHL goaltender, is a hockey analyst for CNNSI.com.

 

Related information

Stories

Q&A with Atlanta Thrashers general manager Don Waddell Jon A. Dolezar: Matador defense cost Fraser his job Thrashers fire first-ever coach Fraser 2002-03 NHL Coaching Changes

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video