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Posts Tagged Ken Hitchcock

NHL Photo of the Day

Jan 17

Posted by EB in Media, NHL Photo of the Day | No Comments

Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Dallas Stars’ Kari Lehtonen gets deked and scored on by St. Louis Blues’ forward T.J. Oshie. Oshie’s goal midway through the third period put the Blues up in an eventual 1 – 0 victory. The victory has put the Blues at the top of the Western Conference with 60 points; a place no one predicted them to be at this season. Media is beginning to hail Head Coach Ken Hitchcock for his role in the change of play of the Blues, picking him early to win the Jack Adams Award. The Jack Adams award is an annual award presented by the National Hockey League Broadcasters’ Association to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success.

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St. Louis Blues hire Ken Hitchcock

Nov 7

Posted by Chris in News | No Comments

The St. Louis Blues juggled pieces of their lineup in the offseason in an attempt to get the right pieces in place and get back into the playoff picture. However, after a slow start this season where the Blues have amassed a meager six wins in 13 games and are second-to-last in the Western Conference, the team decided that their shakeup needed to continue and expand.

The team announced today that head coach Davis Payne was fired from the organization and Ken Hitchcock would immediately be brought in to replace him. The 40-year-old Payne was brought in as head coach in January 2010 and only coached the team for one full season in 2010-11.

“It’s shocking and it’s disappointing, but in the end, you’re responsible for all the areas of your hockey team,” Payne said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “There were pieces that weren’t firing on all cylinders and it’s under my umbrella of responsibility.”

The Blues had high expectations this season after adding veterans Jason Arnott, Jamie Langenbrunner and Scott Nichol to the lineup. While Arnott has delivered so far with eight points in 13 games, other Blues members are off to slow starts. Goalie Jaroslav Halak has just one win in seven starts for the Blues and forward Chris Stewart, who posted 23 points in 26 games after a mid-season trade last year, has just three in 13 games so far this season.

“I’ve had great success in working with top guys and getting them to play,” Hitchcock said in his press conference this afternoon. “I think there’s potential with a lot of guys to be top players here.”

Hitchcock last coached in the NHL for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was let go by the organization in February 2010. This will be Hitchcock’s fourth NHL team after previously coaching the Blue Jackets, Flyers and Dallas Stars, who he coached to a Stanley Cup victory in 1998-99.

“I want us to be proud of the way we play the game,” Hitchcock said. “I think at the end of the day, I want people in St. Louis to say, ‘Man, that team plays the right way.’”

Hitchcock practiced with the team this afternoon. His first game behind the bench will be tomorrow when the Blues host the Blackhawks.

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Hitchcock Fired

Feb 3

Posted by EB in News | No Comments

Ken Hitchcock has been fired today by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Ken Hitchcock has been fired today by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Today the Columbus Blue Jackets have relieved Head Coach Ken Hitchcock and appointed Assistant Coach Claude Noel as interim head coach.

The move comes as no surprise as the Blue Jackets have been struggling and currently sit in 14th place within the Western Conference. The team who made their playoff debut last year is now no where near contention to make the playoffs again. In the last 10 games the team went 4-6-0, and like their overall season, they fall under .500 for wins.

Unfortunately, the team really has no players that they could move before the trade deadline, but perhaps that goes to show the lack of stars on the team. It would be nice if they could get Ilya Kovalchuk who is expected to be moved within a few days, but that seems as possible as the club to turn this season around and make the playoffs.

Perhaps now young star Nikita Filatov will be happy as he may receive more ice time. Nonetheless, the Blue Jackets should recognize this season is over. Work hard on improving for next year and try work the draft in their favor for next season.

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Filatov Unhappy in Columbus

Jan 9

Posted by EB in News, Soap Box | 1 Comment

Nikita Filatov is unhappy with Head coach Ken Hitchcock.

Nikita Filatov is unhappy with Head Coach Ken Hitchcock.

Columbus Blue Jackes 2008 NHL Entry Draft prospect Nikita Filatov expressed is unhappiness with the organization. The 19 year old signed a three year deal with the organization, has specifically pointed out head coach Ken Hitchcock. Either changes need to be made, or he plans on not coming back.

Hmm…

The team will most likely not make the playoffs. Also, head coach Ken Hitchcock will likely be removed before the season is out. But who does this 19 year old kid think he is?

The Western Conference is by the far the dominant league. Take the teams 45 points, 13th division standing and 8 points put of the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference, they would be in 11th place and only 3 points out of the playoffs. Also, last season was the teams first ever playoff appearance. So can you really blame Coach Hitchcock?

Filatov is a 19 year old who if he has such a problem, can go play in the KHL on his home soil. He would make more money, no doubt about it. But there is a reason players want to play in the NHL. Let the boy learn the hard way, let him understand he is not the voice of the team and he needs to learn the ropes before demanding such things.

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