Glen Hanlon Must Go

[skinstzar]

What the **** was Alex Ovechkin doing on the ice with 35 seconds left and a two goal lead against Colorado. I watched him skate to the boards and throw a check. I got out of my seat and screamed at the TV just knowing he was going to get hurt. Two seconds later, bam, he gets hit by a shot. Down he goes and gets taken off the ice putting no weight on his left leg. It looks like he is okay but my god, what in the hell was Hanlon thinking? It shows a complete lack of focus on his part and he must go.

[clubisyohankovic]

not a great reason to fire a coach.

[arenasisgod]

that was NOT COOL

[RonArtest15]

This is no reason to fire Hanlon or even think that. Ok, so AO was out there doing what he always does....throw his body around, but how encouraging is it to know that Hanlon trusts Ovechkin in 1-2 goal games late in the third period? If this was last year, AO's lack of defensive awareness would have kept him on the bench in a crucial situation. I think that while we can look at it as "what was Hanlon thinking?" we can also view it as a step in the progression of Ovechkin to become the complete player he should. Maybe we will see him on some PK at some point? I am happy that he is alright after taking the shot to the leg, but this could have happened at any other point during a game. I can't tell you how many times this season I have seen Ovechkin go down to BLOCK a shot. I don't know if this is what the coaches have told him or if he is just trying to help the team, but fact of the matter is, I am happy we have a player who will do anything to help his team to victory. Even if it means being out there in crunch time, when things intensify a little more than usual....

[macnoke03]

Fire Hanlon over that? I think not.


Anyways, that was a big win last night. Great way to start off the West Coast trip. Kolzig played great and it's good to see other players besides AO involved in the offense.

[skinstzar]

Of course I don't think Hanlon should be fired over that but I was soooo disheartened to see Ovey laying on the ice in pain. This kid will be the best athlete to ever wear a uniform in our great city. Sure we had Jordan but not in his prime. Alex is the future of hockey, the NHL and the Washington Capitals. The only thing that is going to prevent him from reaching immortality is injury and there is no viable reason for him to be on the ice in that situation.

I actually think Hanlon has done a great job and this team will make a strong run at the playoffs this year.

[macnoke03]

Of course I don't think Hanlon should be fired over that but I was soooo disheartened to see Ovey laying on the ice in pain. This kid will be the best athlete to ever wear a uniform in our great city. Sure we had Jordan but not in his prime. Alex is the future of hockey, the NHL and the Washington Capitals. The only thing that is going to prevent him from reaching immortality is injury and there is no viable reason for him to be on the ice in that situation.

I actually think Hanlon has done a great job and this team will make a strong run at the playoffs this year.

ok, that makes a little more sense. Maybe you should change your thread title :)

[herrmag]

This is no reason to fire Hanlon or even think that. Ok, so AO was out there doing what he always does....throw his body around, but how encouraging is it to know that Hanlon trusts Ovechkin in 1-2 goal games late in the third period? If this was last year, AO's lack of defensive awareness would have kept him on the bench in a crucial situation. I think that while we can look at it as "what was Hanlon thinking?" we can also view it as a step in the progression of Ovechkin to become the complete player he should. Maybe we will see him on some PK at some point? I am happy that he is alright after taking the shot to the leg, but this could have happened at any other point during a game. I can't tell you how many times this season I have seen Ovechkin go down to BLOCK a shot. I don't know if this is what the coaches have told him or if he is just trying to help the team, but fact of the matter is, I am happy we have a player who will do anything to help his team to victory. Even if it means being out there in crunch time, when things intensify a little more than usual....


You have a very creative explanation for it, but I'll bet you dollars to donuts Hanlon NEVER does this again. Dumb idea, I'm sorry. Up two goals, under a minute. Your most potent offensive weapon. Makes no sense, regardless of his improving defensive skills. This wasn't "crunch" time, this was "the game is over" time. If we play the wrong team, expect Ovy to get a cheap shot, especially when we are in THEIR house, and the crowd is pissed. This is hockey, not baseball. My :2cents:


P.S. Hanlon is a hell of a coach.

[bulldog]

you really can't complain about the Capitals' trajectory.

the 2003-2004 team was a severe disappointment and the $77 million Jagr was dragging the franchise down the hole.

a very deep rebuilding process has landed the team one of the best players in the NHL, Ovechkin, and the club has been able to bring forward young prospects and picks in Mike Green, Alexander Semin, Shaone Morrisson, Steve Eminger, Brian Sutherby, etc. while improving noticeably on the ice from 2005-2006.

the current team has the top end scorers and goalie tandem to be a playoff contender. Hanlon has done a good job of keeping players working hard despite the record last year and the tough division the club finds itself competing in.

the silver lining?

the Caps' finish in 2005 allowed the team to draft Niklas Backstrom. From all indications this is a guy that can be a 50-60 assist man in the NHL down the road.

teams can be playoff contenders in the NHL without a great playmaking centerman but Stanley Cup champs formula is usually strength down the middle starting at center ice - defense - goaltender.

the Caps have a young defense that is improving and good goaltending.

Backstrom is the missing ingredient for this team to take the next step in 2007.

The quandry for this team is going to be finding enough money to pay Ovechkin, Semin and Backstrom when they are all in the NHL and producing up to their capabilities.

I sure hope at that point more than 11,000 fans show up to watch the team at home, especially when the Redskins have performed so abysmally this season.

[Fatty P For The Pulitzer]

I'm a big Hanlon fan. Like Bulldog said, he is great at getting this team to work hard every night. And everything I read about him says he is a great teacher of the game too. I definitely think he deserves the opportunity to coach this team when AO, Semin, Backstrom, Fehr, Green, Eminger, Morrisonn, etc all mature into top-tier players and the team becomes a legit contender.

[arenasisgod]

"russian Machine Never Breaks"
"russian Machine Never Breaks"
"russian Machine Never Breaks"

[ceviker]

Hanlon proved to me last year that he is the man that should be coaching the Caps. Knowing very well taht team was going to go through some growing pains (i.e., suck), he made the Caps fight harder than ANY team in the NHL and no one liked to play us last year. Talk about fighting your guts out.

[stretch]

Hanlon gets the most out of what he has to work with, which isn't much. If anything it's McPhee who has to go. We needed at least one top pairing dman and he gets Pothier who was a 5th guy in Ottawa. Brashear? Zednik?? Aweful...
And we still have a glaring need at center. Beech and Klepis are no good and Backstrom won't be over until next season at the earliest.
:doh:

[The End]

Dude have you even been watching the team this season? Carrot has been doing a great job with all the young players he has. I think Zubris is a fine center and Pothier has been a fantastic pickup. Zednik is a streaky player and always has been, but starting tonight we are gonna start playing him with OV and Semin and he has 2 goals in this game against Calgary. We just got 5 points out of a possible 8 on a road trip that included Colorado, Edmonton, and Calgary, AND YOU WANT TO FIRE THE COACH?! You're crazy man. Hanlon has these guys playing great hockey right now i don't know why you can't see that.

[Jesus, Mary & Joe Gibbs]

2-1-1 on the longest road trip of the season...
I hate continuously losing in SO's in OT but I'll take it on the road...

[BayouBrave86]

Hell of a road trip. This could be Zubrus's breakout year haha. 7 goals already!

[The End]

With all the young players we have like Semin, OV, Green, Bradley, Fehr, Morrisonn and coming soon Backstrom...Hanlon is the perfect fit as coach. The guy won coach of the year with Portland, that means he knows how to coach young talent and it also means he's been coaching some of the caps players for longer than he's been head coach. Losing shootouts does stink but the key to making the playoffs in the NHL is getting points whenever and where ever possible. Last year the 8th seed in the east had 92 points. Every single one counts.

[herrmag]

Hell of a road trip. This could be Zubrus's breakout year haha. 7 goals already!


Shame on you!

[Big C]

hanlon is a pretty good coach dude