Talking Therrien

The sting of the defeat has begun to subside in me.  There is no way around the harshness inflicted upon me after losing the Stanley Cup to the boys from Murder City.  Still, the Wings deserved to win, and it has been well documented.  The Penguins came a long way and will have a bright future, also documented a good bit.  

One issue I feel has to be touched on is the woeful display of coaching in this Final by Michele Therrien, the Pens bench boss.  In the Pens road games vs. the Wings in the series, Therrien played into the Zetterberg vs. Crosby matchup, played into Babcock's pocket.  He essentially had to, being as the Pens had the first change on the road.  But, when the Pens came home, Therrien figured to have an ideal opportunity to get 87 away from the Conn Smythe winner, Zetterberg.  If MT had managed to do this, which should have been easy with the second change, Crosby would have had more time to work his magic as he did in game three of the tilt.  That was the only time in the series that Michele Therrien gave Sidney Crosby an opportunity to work with space and find his open men in the passing lanes.   Without Zetterberg and Datsyuk, it could have happened, but Therrien wrecked that with his coaching.  Babcock ran the changes and his bench well.  Therrien did it.  Not to mention that Therrien seemed to spend more time bitching about calls, and making himself look like a Flyers fan, than he did focusing on the game and how to win it.  

Now let's not forget that MT has coached the Pens into the Finals just two years and change into his tenure as Pittsburgh Penguins coach, and since the team was the worst in the NHL.  But don't be fooled and think it was all Therrien's doing, though he did help the cause at times.  It had more to do with the fact that the Pens boast three of the world's top 25 forwards, including the best in the world, Crosby, than it did with the man leading his team at practice and on the bench, in the dressing room.  

And the real kicker here against Therrien is that it has been said before, and speculated even more often, that many of the Penguins despise playing under his rule.  Among those rumored to dislike him are Brooks Orpik and Jordan Staal, particularly Orpik.  If Therrien is the coach, Orpik will not sign back with the Pens this summer.  If by some chance the Pens have a new coach, Orp will give it a thought at returning and passing up a few extra bucks on the open market.  

I THINK MIKE THERRIEN WAS THE BIGGEST SCAPEGOAT THIS SERIES FOR THE PENGUINS AND MAY BE FIRED THIS WEEK.   EARLIER, I FELT THAT I WANTED THERRIEN FIRED.  I HAVE COOLED.  THERE IS AN ADRENALINE RUSH SOMETIMES AFTER A BAD LOSS THAT TRIPS THAT REACTION.  BOTTOM LINE.  THERRIEN NEEDS TO WORK ON HIS IN GAME ADJUSTMENTS.

There I said it.  

Possible replacements for Therrien if Ray Shero sees as I do would include-

JOEL QUENNEVILLE- the recently fired coach of the Avalanche.  

BARRY MELROSE- ESPN analyst, former coach in NHL

RON WILSON- recently led Sharks to second best record in NHL

JOHN TORTORELLA- respected hockey man, led Lighting to Cup

PIERRE MCGUIRE- has said he'd be interested in coaching.  Rumor mill.

There is a possibility he goes.

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Resign Hossa.  Resign Fleury.  Staal/Geno need extensions.  That is pretty self explanatory.