by Bob Herpen
Phanatic Magazine
It's a fact of life in the National Hockey League, that the day you're hired as head coach of any of its 30 clubs, you're basically on the clock and whenever the sands slip through the bottom of the hourglass, you're time is up.
Such was the case for Minnesota's Todd Richards and Marc Crawford in Dallas -- both unceremoniously canned in the last 48 hours for not leading their teams to the postseason.
Richards was apparently given a short leash, despite promises that his guidance would provide a complete 180 degree turn from the stunted, defensive system that failed to produce results under previous boss Jacques Lemaire. In two years, the Wild never scored more than 220 goals -- well under three per game. The franchise hasn't made the postseason since 2007, and but Richards was still given his walking papers after turning in a winning record both years.
Crawford, he of the incredible long-lasting hair helmet that probably made Kerry Fraser jealous, was bounced from North Texas after winning 37 and 42 games in his two years behind the bench. It didn't matter that the 1995 Jack Adams Trophy winner, a 1996 Stanley Cup winning coach, and the man who completely transformed the Vancouver Canucks, made a seven-point improvement this year.
It's make the playoffs or bust. No excuses, no exceptions. No play in May, no reason to stay. And for the Stars it was extra painful because they were knocked out on the final day by losing in regulation.
Both were given curt, "thanks for two years of service but we feel there needs to be a different voice to lead (insert club here) forward" blurbs from their respective GMs.
A generation ago, with only 21 teams in the league, you either had to be incredibly bad (see: 1983 Whalers, 1986 Red Wings, 1990 Nordiques) or incredibly unlucky (1986 Sabres, 1988 Rangers and Penguins) to land in that bottom five. Seedings were divisional, based on 1-4, 2-3 in the standings. One year, Toronto made it with 52 points because they finished fourth in an exceptionally weak Norris.
Ostensibly, Gary Bettman "fixed" that problem by rearranging the playoff rankings by 1-8 in each conference, but with 22 of 30 teams in contention in the final two weeks, the pendulum has swung too far to the other side. In the Western Conference, the eight-seed (Chicago) made it with 97 points. Every year in each conference, you have to have at least 90 to realistically expect a playoff berth.
Even though the NHL hands out points like Halloween candy and it's no guarantee of success, quick triggers always bring up nagging questions...like how can Chuck Fletcher and Joe Niewendyk can both guys so soon? Why aren't winning records enough anymore? Where does the burden of expectation lie and what role do the higher-ups have in framing that expectation?
Whatever it is, it needs to be altered. And fast.
Richards was a newbie, Minnesota being his first NHL head coaching experience. You can understand how management can see some things unfold that reveal he's not the guy. But he still "won" in the truest sense -- his record was above .500. With Crawford, who got a raw deal at the end in Vancouver, an even rawer one in LA, how bad is it that he was given Das Boot after winning 42 games and dragging his Stars into contention late in the year? Doesn't that deserve another chance given his credentials?
Apparently not, because the title of "NHL head coach" must also mean "alchemist" to some owners and general managers. As far as Minny is concerned (to steal from Rick Pitino) Marian Gaborik ain't walking through the door. Andrew Brunette isn't the man he was in 2003. In Big D, there's no Mike Modano, Brenden Morrow and Brad Richards were hurt for long stretches and Jamie Langenbrunner had to be picked off the Devils' scrap heap. Expectations were completely out of whack in both scenarios.
But no matter. Blood must pour forth from the stone because hockey in big markets where there's a ton of interest must mean playoffs every year despite the actual level of talent. In that case, then GMs should all get together and find 30 Merlins from a parallel dimension because mere humans can no longer cut it.
Can you imagine the howling in Philly if the Flyers actually didn't make it last season? Peter Laviolette would have to sit down with ice packs strapped to his pants and carry a rubber donut for the last six months.
Reason still gets twisted like a pretzel even if you take both GMs at their word, that missing the playoffs is the key to a change in direction.
If the logic that dictated Richards' and Crawford's dismissals really held true, then Paul Maurice (91 points 9th in East) should be blown away from Carolina, Ron Wilson (10th place, 85 points) would have to say sayonara to Toronto, whatever Sutter brother coaching Calgary (10th in West, 94 points) should be shown the door to the unforgiving prairie and Davis Payne (87 points, 11th place) would have to do the walk of shame under the Gateway Arch on his way out of St. Louis.
All of the above missed the playoffs but their teams stayed in contention until the final games.
There comes a point when the realities of job security outstrip the desire to get a high-profile job in one of the NHL's big markets. If what happened in Minnesota and Dallas keeps up, the top coaches, like Crawford, who have been treated unfairly can simply turn down offers. It remains to be seen if the quick hook Richards experienced will adversely affect his chances to helm another NHL club, but why would he, or the recently-dumped Cory Clouston in Ottawa, want to go through the process again?
Regardless of who is given the reins, the head that wears the crown shouldn't feel the pressure of a hair-splitting blade without demonstrating actual failure. The playoffs are a privilege, not a right these days, and failing to qualify should not be a reflection on the job a head coach has actually done.
The sooner those in charge get in tune with reality, the better off they -- and the men they hire to guide their players -- will be.
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