the Cunning Linguist wrote:
What I'm hearing is that Murray wasn't all that different inasmuch as they are both hardasses. I just don't have any confidence in Sutter being a good Xs and Os kind of guy that I think is demanded in today's NHL.
I think Xs and Os guys can be a bit overrated as well (see Tom Renney, reluctant as I am to use that example).
And if I'm reading things about the Kings correctly, Murray was an Xs and Os guy...sometimes systems can choke the lives out of teams. There comes a point when you just gotta tell 'em to play hockey. See what happened when Therrien got sacked and Bylsma took over. No way is Bylsma an Xs and Os guy.
Systems-loving coaches wear out their welcome quickly. The only guy who continues to defy this is Ron Wilson, and that's only because his boss is the most stubborn executive in the history of the game.