Boudreau, I think, in addition to possessing a savvy hockey head must also have enjoyed inordinate credibility with most of the players in every room he’s coached to get the results he has.     

Skepticism surrounding the long-term prospects of the interim coach are premised, I think, on the fact that Boudreau’s predecessor, too, arrived in Washington via the American League, and that like Glen Hanlon, Bruce Boudreau never before managed an NHL bench. But such a view views the coach in static fashion; Bruce Boudreau was a better coach in Hershey than he was in Manchester (and he was quite good there as well). Why wouldn’t we think he’d improve here too? And he brings a championship pedigree with him.   

This week Boudreau was asked, with reference to his team’s last-place standing, just how much improvement he thought the team could make this season. Noting that more than 50 games remained, he responded, “Why not first?”

We shouldn’t have expected any other answer.  

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Posted at 9:24 am. Filed under American Hockey League, Bruce Boudreau, Eastern Conference, Hershey Bears, John Walton, Morning cup-a-joe, Washington Capitals.
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4 Comments

  1. James wrote:

    Hopefully this really will be the start of a new era! Most of Washington hasn’t been excited about Hockey in a long time!

    James from DC Metrocentric

    Friday, December 7, 2007 at 10:22 am | Permalink
  2. P-Mac wrote:

    You could even bill this as the first meeting of *two* new coaches and their “real” teams and systems.

    After an abysmal start to the season, the Devils are finally showing promise under Brent Sutter’s system. They have rattled off eight straight wins going into tonight. All but one is a “real” win (i.e. non-shootout).

    Can’t wait for the return date on Monday.

    Friday, December 7, 2007 at 11:33 am | Permalink
  3. B.ORR4 wrote:

    P-Mac, the Caps hold a big advantage here because while they have tape on Sutter’s “system”, NJ has nothing to use as preparation since Boudreau’s system has really just been installed this week. I think the Devils are going to be in for a real tough night.

    Friday, December 7, 2007 at 11:55 am | Permalink
  4. P-Mac wrote:

    Too true. Plus, the Capitals waltzed into Ottawa around this time last month and up-ended another eight game winning streak.

    Being I am a Devils fan at heart, I hope that does not happen tonight. But I guess I “win” either way.

    Friday, December 7, 2007 at 1:29 pm | Permalink

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