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Early impressions of Willie Desjardins?


Sixteen W's

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Guy has a massive boner for players that have played for him such as Vey from Medicine Hat. Guys like Kassian that are much more deserving get kicked to the curb. This is not a good thing.

Other than that, I like what he's done so far, we can finally transition the puck up the ice.

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I like the way he is rolling 4 lines and keeping ice time equal, that will pay dividends later on in the year. He also can adjust in game strategy like the 2nd period against the Habs when he used a hard neutral zone trap, also has the players working hard on active stickwork.

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Guy has a massive boner for players that have played for him such as Vey from Medicine Hat. Guys like Kassian that are much more deserving get kicked to the curb. This is not a good thing.

Other than that, I like what he's done so far, we can finally transition the puck up the ice.

Oh yeah? You mean like putting Vey on the fourth line? And don't try to argue that having Vey on the PP is favoritism. He's been perfect there.

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WD has been awesome so far! This team is looking better every game. Defensive zone mistakes are slowly dropping as the players adapt to what Willie and Lidster are teaching them.

Seems excellent at using players effectively, and they don't look like they are so afraid of making a mistake, that they are making them out of indecision.

He's a massive upgrade on Torts so far!

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He's a nice calm influence which we lacked last year.

I dont' disagree with you. In comparison to the mental brow-beating that Torts' doled-out to his players...WD is a refreshing change. Torts was also into core-busting & trying to move-along the unwanted, by hindering their progression so Gillis would agree that they were expendable,.. like Weise. Humour was also...discouraged.

WD has a far more positive outlook & honest energy. We don't see him lambasting his players, just coaching, teaching or encouraging them. But - the one thing I can say about WD is that he does not look all that calm behind a bench. He's very much engaged but he also looks like a nervous wreck. I suppose the players are pretty much used to this look by now,... so it's not un-nerving to them, in the least.

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I really like Willie's attitude and how he is willing to give his bottom 6 forwards more playing time. The bottom 6 is taking advantage of the extra playing time and they are getting better. The fact that he took the time to visit the core players in the off season was also a classy move.

He's a nice calm influence which we lacked last year. I also think he's proving to be a smart coach too. I like how he's put together two good power play units and good PKers.

And what great about these 2 PP units is they they are 2 totally different looks that dont mimic each other, that makes a change up, a real change up, and harder to defend against with so many different looks coming at you. I think the team;s PP will be very successful this year. Top half of the league for sure!

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He's getting the most out of just about every single one of the players. Willie deserves the Jack Adams right now purely because of how he's resurrected the Sedins, Miller and Edler's career's. All he's doing is playing them the same way AV did. Desjardins looks to be a very similar coach to AV in many ways - he's letting the players run the game the way they want to with a bit of input here and there.

With Tortorella, everything was by the book and the way Torts wanted it which didn't sit well with the more creative players on this team and definately not well with the instinctive players. With Desjardins, he's giving the green light to the top line and now we're seeing how good they can be again. He's really gotten Edler to simplify his game as opposed to Torts who filled his head with strict positioning rules, and now Edler's playing much more care-free, instinctive hockey.

Less is more, and that's what we're seeing right now.

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The bottom line for me is players seem to want to do well and try their hardest under Willie. When you have a coach like that the sky is the limit, maybe not instant success but along with JB I actually think we will get there this time.

Willie seems wily and JB is a shrewd old guy who people seem to respect. What's not to like and I'm not even going to hold them to success this season.

On top of all that we are playing exciting hockey when we get the chance. Other times we seem capable of arm wresting a result.

"All he's doing is playing them the same way AV did. Desjardins looks to be a very similar coach to AV in many ways - he's letting the players run the game the way they want to with a bit of input here and there."

Honestly, if you think that then I feel you are underestimating both Willie and AV. They might give the players and maybe the fans, the "impression" that they are running the game but I don't think that brings success, just like Torts sergeant major approach won't probably bring him success again.

The game and the players have changed, a coach has to work with them and utilise their qualities while giving them a system that lets them perform to their optimum.

Much of a coach's ability to do this starts with the GM and that is where both Willie and the Canucks have struck pay dirt with JB.

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The last 2 games vs. Habs and Oil... I have not seen that much effort and all out grunt from this team in years.

They've played HARD and that is all coaching. These guys want to play for WD and when you have an entire team buy in to what a guy is selling, the sky is the limit.

the upcoming trip to Cali is going to be really interesting

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He's getting the most out of just about every single one of the players. Willie deserves the Jack Adams right now purely because of how he's resurrected the Sedins, Miller and Edler's career's. All he's doing is playing them the same way AV did. Desjardins looks to be a very similar coach to AV in many ways - he's letting the players run the game the way they want to with a bit of input here and there.

With Tortorella, everything was by the book and the way Torts wanted it which didn't sit well with the more creative players on this team and definately not well with the instinctive players. With Desjardins, he's giving the green light to the top line and now we're seeing how good they can be again. He's really gotten Edler to simplify his game as opposed to Torts who filled his head with strict positioning rules, and now Edler's playing much more care-free, instinctive hockey.

Less is more, and that's what we're seeing right now.

If I was looking at the season right now why don't you give the Jack Adams to Mike Yeo of Minnisota , Or Therrien of Montreal? Way too early to give out the Jack Adams trophy.

Have you listen to the news conference with J.B ,Linden or Willie before the season started? They stated on what they were going to do ,and for the future. After watching the playoffs last year they know how important it is to have 4 lines playing. When have you seen Torts or A.V have their fourth line play more then 5 mins a game?

They also stated that the Sedins would be playing less minutes to try and keep then fresh.

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Guy has a massive boner for players that have played for him such as Vey from Medicine Hat. Guys like Kassian that are much more deserving get kicked to the curb. This is not a good thing.

Other than that, I like what he's done so far, we can finally transition the puck up the ice.

Do you see Dorsett and Vey playing on the top two lines? Dorsett been playing 4th line minutes since the start of the season and Vey on the third line. Would you say Kassian been kick to the curb by Tort,A.V and Ruff in Buffalo? Thats 4 NHL coaches including Willie. Thats not a good thing either!

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The bottom line for me is players seem to want to do well and try their hardest under Willie. When you have a coach like that the sky is the limit, maybe not instant success but along with JB I actually think we will get there this time.

Willie seems wily and JB is a shrewd old guy who people seem to respect. What's not to like and I'm not even going to hold them to success this season.

On top of all that we are playing exciting hockey when we get the chance. Other times we seem capable of arm wresting a result.

"All he's doing is playing them the same way AV did. Desjardins looks to be a very similar coach to AV in many ways - he's letting the players run the game the way they want to with a bit of input here and there."

Honestly, if you think that then I feel you are underestimating both Willie and AV. They might give the players and maybe the fans, the "impression" that they are running the game but I don't think that brings success, just like Torts sergeant major approach won't probably bring him success again.

The game and the players have changed, a coach has to work with them and utilise their qualities while giving them a system that lets them perform to their optimum.

Much of a coach's ability to do this starts with the GM and that is where both Willie and the Canucks have struck pay dirt with JB.

The only thing like AV is he has a game plan in mind. UNLIKE AV he alters his tactics and is flexible. AV has a game plan and NEVER deviates from it. I'd actually say he coaches more like Joel Quenneville. And they both have awesome stache's. Hmmmm...coincidence?

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Oh yeah? You mean like putting Vey on the fourth line? And don't try to argue that having Vey on the PP is favoritism. He's been perfect there.

Lmao good one. Not talking about the result from putting Vey there. The fact that Vey was immediately pinned to the top pp unit, no questions asked while Kassian isn't even on the 2nd unit.

What does Vey really do on the pp? Stands in the slot as a passing option and slides to the side of the net when Vrbata is at the point.

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