Hitch & Army Press Conference - Today, 11am

[cprice12]

Very curious as to the content of this thing.
I'm thinking it could go two different ways...

- It could be that they are going to simply address questions about the season and the playoffs. Answer questions about the health of Lehtera, Bortuzzo, etc...who was playing with injuries, and what they were, etc.

...or...

- It could be that they are announcing Hitchcock is retiring from coaching (since his contract is up) and taking a different position in the organization. But like Strickland said, Hitch has stated he still wants to coach: https://twitter.com/andystrickland/status/593036893756862465 I find it hard to believe that they would announce that Hitch is staying on during this press conference. They didn't have a press conference last year when his contract was extended by a year...so why have one this year?

And if Hitch isn't staying on, then why have him at this Press conference to discuss the playoff failure and what is going to be done to fix it?

So this will be interesting...or maybe I am expecting too much out of it.

[glen a richter]

If the alternative is Todd McLellan, may as well keep Hitch. If the alternative is Dan Bylsma, Mike Babcock, or as suggested elsewhere Dave Lowry, then Hitch can definitely move onto bigger and different things as far as I'm concerned.

Hitch for McLellan is a parallel move, at best. A step back at worse, since Hitch actually has succeeded in the postseason before, albeit in a different era. If you keep Hitch, you have to modify the core. If you dump Hitch you should probaby modify the core anyway. It's a difficult situation for management magnified by the fact that the players have been real-season inept with every coach they've had. Who do you fire/not re-sign? Everyone?

I'm very curious what happens at the conference.

[heff]

I don't know much about how Front Office's function when it comes to the NHL, but I've seen you say a couple of times he'd take a different position in the organization.

That's not the usual standard operating procedure I see in pro sports, unless you were instrumental to a franchise's success. So why would Hitchcock be retained in any capacity, and what has given you the impression they're leaning that way?

Totally agree on McLellan being a lateral, if not worse, move.

[cprice12]

I don't know much about how Front Office's function when it comes to the NHL, but I've seen you say a couple of times he'd take a different position in the organization.

That's not the usual standard operating procedure I see in pro sports, unless you were instrumental to a franchise's success. So why would Hitchcock be retained in any capacity, and what has given you the impression they're leaning that way?

Totally agree on McLellan being a lateral, if not worse, move.

They have stated publicly that when Hitch is done coaching, he has another position within the organization waiting for him if he wants it.
And Hitch has been as instrumental to winning as MacInnis, Hull, Plager, etc. have. They never won cups here either, but they were given jobs.
This kind of thing isn't uncommon.

[cprice12]

I have zero desire to bring in McLennan. What has he ever done? I'd rather keep Hitch.
I think you either have to go young and up and coming coach (which is a gamble), or a cup winning coach (which wouldn't be cheap).

As much as I hate the Wings, it would be great to get Babcock if he leaves Detroit. The only question there is how much you'd have to pay him, and if this franchise would be willing to do that.

I'm not crazy about Bylsma. But who knows what will make this team click like it is supposed to in the playoffs? Maybe he would be the perfect coach.

Claude Julien might be a fantastic coach here as well.

Hey... at least there is something to talk about still.

[dmiles2186]

If Hitch stays in the organization, I'm 100% behind that. The guy is a great hockey mind and obviously, he's proved it not only in the NHL but with Team Canada at times as well. I believe we have a great front office in place and he'd only strengthen that.

I wondered at one point if they'd announce an extension, but we're less that 48 hours since getting bounced from the playoffs. To me, that's not enough time for Army to do an evaluation of Hitch and decide whether he's staying.

So that leads me to think either A) Hitch was staying no matter what happened and they announce the extension.

Or B) What Curt said: Hitch is retiring and getting a FO job.

[ecbm]

Would strongly prefer a Hitchcock clone who isn't Hitchcock if that's the only option.

That said, would love to see a different style. I watch the Rangers under Vigneault and wonder: how good could this squad be? Because the same Rangers squad looked slow and ineffective under Tortorella.

[abc789987]

It the press conference over yet? I'm reading some tweets and it doesn't sound like much... Same old crap they repeat every year?

[glen a richter]

Would strongly prefer a Hitchcock clone who isn't Hitchcock if that's the only option.

That said, would love to see a different style. I watch the Rangers under Vigneault and wonder: how good could this squad be? Because the same Rangers squad looked slow and ineffective under Tortorella.

Vigneault promotes a really good offensive scheme. Tortorella, much like Hitch, drilled his players into the ground with defense and grinding and not much focus on the offensive end of the ice. It's not that kind of NHL anymore. What part of that Hitch doesn't get I don't know, but either he changes or the coaching staff as a whole needs to change. It wasn't long ago the Rangers were equivalent to the Blues, but we've been stuck in neutral while they'll probably end up winning the Cup this year, if not another SCF appearance at the very least. I hate the Rangers with a passion, but we badly need to take a page from them.

[ecbm]

Would strongly prefer a Hitchcock clone who isn't Hitchcock if that's the only option.

That said, would love to see a different style. I watch the Rangers under Vigneault and wonder: how good could this squad be? Because the same Rangers squad looked slow and ineffective under Tortorella.

Vigneault promotes a really good offensive scheme. Tortorella, much like Hitch, drilled his players into the ground with defense and grinding and not much focus on the offensive end of the ice. It's not that kind of NHL anymore. What part of that Hitch doesn't get I don't know, but either he changes or the coaching staff as a whole needs to change. It wasn't long ago the Rangers were equivalent to the Blues, but we've been stuck in neutral while they'll probably end up winning the Cup this year, if not another SCF appearance at the very least. I hate the Rangers with a passion, but we badly need to take a page from them.

Completely agreed. The Rangers have actually downgraded their squad under Vigneault but their improvement is borderline night & day. Whereas I won't be surprised if Tortorella never gets another NHL job.

[Portland Blues]

Is it over? If anyone can provide a summary that would be great. Surprisingly no coverage of it here in Portland, OR.

[ecbm]

Not impressed with what I'm getting about this press conference from the tweeter.

Sounds like they're leaving up to Hitchcock if he wants to come back or not-the worst possible decision. Trying to make it look like a decision that makes itself. This is great. Let's talk about bs like changes to the squad when we don't know who the coach will be.

Armstrong wants to bring back Sobotka and re-sign Bortuzzo. Yeah, I'd have some follow-up questions for those points.

Doesn't want to "tear it apart"-why not? And how else do we fund Tank's raise?

And a goalie tandem? Can someone name for me the last team that did well with that set up? Sounds like the plan now is to make minor changes around the fringes-well that is Army's MO.

Meh, sounds like team should have put out some indication that people shouldn't get hopes up for answers from this presser. Maybe that was the point of Stillman's non-interview interview on KMOX?

[abc789987]

Blues Hold News Conference To Announce No News

JR also has some coverage here...

[PGABluesFan]

From reading JR's tweets, it seems to me like nothing much was said that we didn't already know. Bortuzzo didn't play as they said he was recovering from an injury and it would be hard to jump right in, and Lehtera played through a hand injury. Anybody catch anything interesting?

[ecbm]

Really disappointing.

Again, team should have put out something about this being a standard, no-need-to-pay-attention presser.

The only salient things are bad: Hitch being allowed to make the decision about his status and not planning to have a clear #1 goalie next year (again, someone tell me what team has been successful like that).

That they're going to reach out to Boat is doubtful, think that was just a sop for fans, and that re-signing Tank is priority 1 is not news to anyone.

Wondering why I should pay attention to this team until I hear they've won 2 playoff series in the same season. Not seeing anything right now.

[ecbm]

Wondering why I should pay attention to this team until I hear they've won 2 playoff series in the same season. Not seeing anything right now.

And judging by the total lack of commentary from the peanut gallery on pieces covering this presser, it looks like I'm not the only one.

[PGABluesFan]

Wondering why I should pay attention to this team until I hear they've won 2 playoff series in the same season. Not seeing anything right now.

And judging by the total lack of commentary from the peanut gallery on pieces covering this presser, it looks like I'm not the only one.

This thread will be a few pages long come tonight don't worry

[cprice12]

It would have helped if one of the so-called "sports radio" stations in town would have broadcast the press conference or at least streamed it on their website.
Is that too much to ask? Apparently it was.

We have to rely on Tweets and articles written after the fact to hear what was said...and then you aren't getting 100% of what was said either.

Pretty pissed I couldn't listen to it.

[abc789987]

It would have helped if one of the so-called "sports radio" stations in town would have broadcast the press conference or at least streamed it on their website.
Is that too much to ask? Apparently it was.

We have to rely on Tweets and articles written after the fact to hear what was said...and then you aren't getting 100% of what was said either.

Pretty pissed I couldn't listen to it.

They will be posting the audio on the blues website soon. At least that's what the gametime article said...

[Kerfuffle]

Wow they bungled this. I think the fans would have appreciated decisive action even if it meant letting Hitch go. By saying it's up to him they wash their hands of it and look wishy-washy. I don't blame you guys for being frustrated - it's like 'just someone please make a decision'.