A thankless job

It's time to praise the coaches who are getting things done

The numerous coaching changes made throughout the season are already a matter of public record. As the NHL schedule enters its final phase, it is high time we accentuate the positive and acknowledge those coaches delivering according to the plan set out by their respective GMs.

In the East, two veterans with impressive resumes have performed predictably. Tough-minded taskmasters, Ken Hitchcock in Philadelphia and Pat Burns in New Jersey, have brought the desired effect to their most recent posts. Early on, it was clear to the Flyers' players that the edicts of Hitchcock's demanding approach were non-negotiable -- without exception.

Key injuries to forwards John LeClair, Simon Gagne and Justin Williams crimped the offense -- the Flyers have scored the fifth-fewest goals in the league. But by adhering to Hitch's lockdown mode of hockey, the team has found a way to remain in the top four in the Eastern Conference.

Meanwhile, Burns has the Devils battling Ottawa for the top spot in the Conference and in position to possibly secure the Presidents Trophy for the most points when the regular season concludes. This accomplishment comes without a game-breaker on offense and flagging production from the power play.

Burns and his no-nonsense style suits the Devils particularly well, especially the core of veterans. His penchant for preaching counterpunching on offense based on neutral-ice turnovers, as well as favoring a more controlled manner on defensive-zone breakouts has maximized the strengths of his team while at the same time limiting exposure to some of their weaknesses.

Also having an impressive impact behind the bench is John Tortorella in Tampa. Unlike Burns and Hitchcock, his resume lacks the distinction that comes from winning a Stanley Cup or multiple Jack Adams Awards. Still, the Lightning have designs on the playoffs and possibly the Southeast Division title. Never mind that the Bolts are the fifth-youngest team in the NHL.

Tortorella has found a way to keep his team focused while enduring injuries to top defensemen Stan Neckar and Jassen Cullimore -- losses that have particularly hampered the team's penalty-killing effectiveness. Possibly his greatest achievement this season, though, has been keeping the team viable while netminder Nikolai Khabibulin struggled to find consistency in his game.

Out west, Dave Tippett and Marc Crawford have guided the front-running Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks beautifully. In his first NHL head coaching assignment, Tippett inherited a star-studded roster assembled by GM Doug Armstrong. He has proven to be the right choice, bringing the varied talents of his team together seamlessly. Crawford, on the other hand, continues to nurture the team he took over a few seasons ago. He has further built upon last season's strong second-half showing, keeping his team playing at a high level all season -- avoiding any prolonged lapses.

Then there are the extreme opposite cases of Mike Babcock in Anaheim and Barry Trotz in Nashville. Babcock himself is another first-time NHL bench boss, while Trotz is the only coach the Predators have ever had in their five-year existence. He recently became the all-time leader in games coached at the start of an expansion franchise.

GM David Poile has bided his time patiently as Trotz has developed the young nucleus in Nashville. After a sluggish start to the season, Poile's patience is paying off. Trotz and company are making a late-season push for the playoffs, looking to make good on the organization's postseason promise to ticket holders -- a guarantee that seemed fruitless as recently as New Year's Day.

For the Mighty Ducks, patience wasn't an option. New GM Bryan Murray knew he needed a spark and needed one now. Enter the fiery Babcock. His gung-ho approach has had an energizing effect on the reconstituted Ducks right from the first day of training camp, instilling a needed vitality and spirit.

As the season has gone along, the Ducks have gained confidence in their abilities. A strong showing by the Predators and Ducks the rest of the way might lead to Jack Adams consideration for Trotz and Babcock. More significantly, such a stretch might just spell a berth in the postseason for both teams.

And that, after all, is exactly what their GMs had in mind.

 

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