Quote:
Originally Posted by Buccaneer
I just saw SI's 2008 Sports Turkeys and it listed Melrose. It said that he had an antiquated system that the co-owner had to diagram plays for the team during games. What's that about?
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by samifan24
I just read the same thing after you posted it here. The co-owner is Len Barrie, who played in the NHL for a few years. I'm sure there's more to the story but I don't understand why Melrose wouldn't diagram plays for his team.
|
This was first reported about a month or so on Hockey Night in Canada. Apparently some player told Al Strachan about the incident.
Apparently Melrose was never much of an X's and O's coach even back in his LA days. He had an assistant coach who handled that. By all accounts Melrose was always more of a motivator as a head coach. Over the last 10-15 years the game has really progressed in terms of strategies, positioning, etc. You have the dreaded trap, the left wing lock, and a host of other tactics. It's one of the big reasons goals have dropped. As the tactical/strategic aspect of the game became more important Melorse became less effective.
I also really think that the players had a hard time taking him seriously. Over the last 13 years while on ESPN Barry became sort of a cariciature of himself. I'm sure all the players had seen him on TV on many occassions. Between the mullet and all the "old time" hockey talk I think he became pretty easy to dismiss in the locker room.
__________________
Steve Yzerman: 1,755 points in 1,514 regular season games. 185 points in 196 postseason games. A First-Team All-Star, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Selke Trophy winner, Masterton Trophy winner, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Olympic gold medallist, and a three-time Stanley Cup Champion. Longest serving captain of one team in the history of the NHL (19 seasons).
|