When a Coach Gets Fired, It’s More Than Just a Change Behind the Bench
Firing a coach is a time-honored tradition in professional sports. As a player, I’ve seen my fair share of mid-season coaching changes. It’s a feeling you never quite forget, whether it’s in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh – the city doesn’t matter, the emotional impact is the same.
I remember vividly when Craig Berube took over from Peter Laviolette in Philadelphia after only three games. Then, there was Michel Therrien getting replaced by Dan Bylsma during my rookie season in Pittsburgh. Each change brought its own set of challenges and opportunities.
Every player will resonate with what I’m about to say: the departure of a coach changes everything.
Coaches are architects of culture, builders of confidence, and tacticians who weave strategic plans. When they depart, it’s like hitting the reset button on the entire team.
A change in leadership can be a breath of fresh air, a rejuvenation after a frustrating stretch. There’s a palpable shift in the locker room. Everyone loves a fresh perspective, a new voice leading the charge. The energy resurfaces, the dynamic shifts. It’s a chance to start anew.
The trade that sent my then-coach Mike Therrien to the LA Kings, paving the way for Dan Bylsma back in 2008-09, resulted in a galvanizing effect on our team. We needed a change. Don’t get me wrong; Mike was a fantastic coach, someone I was grateful to have learned from. We clicked. I appreciated his guidance during my early years in Pittsburgh, including a stint in Wilkes-Barre during my one year in the American League. Looking back, I genuinely believe that change was necessary for us to win the Cup that year.
But it wasn’t just Bylsma’s arrival. Our team was experiencing a turning point regardless. Sergei Gonchar was battling injuries, we made key trades at conter-heated moments, and when Bill Guerin arrived, he injected with a different energy into the locker room. Several moving parts, but the switch behind the bench was undeniably significant.
And let’s be real, there’s a fascinating dynamic in the wake of a coach’s departure.
It’s almost mathematical. Guy Boucher, with his keen insight, once explained it perfectly: a third of the team is genuinely thrilled, another third is crushed. The remaining third is somewhere in the middle. Uncertain.
The key for the incoming coach is not to win over the unhappy third immediately. It’s more personal than that. They need to focus on those unsure, the wavering players in the middle. If he can bring those middle-of-the-road players into his corner, the disgruntled third doesn’t have much choice but to follow suit. There will always be a few grumbles in any locker room, regardless of who’s at the helm.
Everyone gets a clean slate. Lines get rearranged. Players are hungry to prove themselves, hoping to gain the new coach’s trust.
A change in coaches, for some on the ice, is a chance to reset narratives from a challenging season. You can’t blame the last guy. It’s time to own your performance.
Jim Montgomery’s entrance in St. Louis had this exact dynamic. I remember Montgomery’s years in Boston. I know him from afar. He’s respected in the league – a fair coach, always demanding the best from his players. The Bruins players loved him. His record speaks for itself: over .700 (120-41-23), and yet, last season ended prematurely for the Bruins.
Doug Armstrong and the Blues saw this as their chance to bring in a high-caliber coach. Montgomery deserved another shot.
The feedback I’ve heard from Bruins players comes flooding back from the front office personnel, to his players.
“We’re losing a good human being," they said. “
Montgomery made headlines when he publicly addressed David Pastrnak’s performance
“You need to be better,” he said before a playoff even.
Who scored the overtime goal in Game 7 to eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs? Pastrnak.
It adds complexity to the situation, and it makes you think that sometimes, a coach’s strength is knowing how to push these buttons.
It can be a cruel business. Just a few months later, the Bruins wanted to go in a different direction. Sometimes, that’s professional sports.
What are the initial emotional reactions of players when a coach is fired?
## When a Coach Gets Fired: More Than Meets the Eye
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re discussing a topic that can send ripples through any sports organization: the firing of a coach. Joining us is former NHL player [Insert Alex Reed Name Here], who has witnessed his fair share of coaching changes throughout his career. Thanks for being here.
**Alex Reed:** Thanks for having me.
**Host:** You’ve seen coaches come and go, both as a player in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. How would you describe the atmosphere in the locker room after a coach is let go?
**Alex Reed:** It’s a rollercoaster of emotions. Imagine a team as a tightly wound spring – the coach is the force keeping everything contained. When they’re suddenly gone, that spring unravels.
Some players are thrilled about the change, some are devastated, and others are somewhere in between, unsure of what to expect. It’s a period of uncertainty, a sense that everything is up in the air.
**Host:** You mentioned the emotional aspect, but there’s also a tactical side to consider, right? How does a coaching change affect a team’s game plan and strategy?
**Alex Reed:** Completely. Coaches are architects of culture, builders of confidence, and tacticians who craft the game plan. When they leave, the team loses its guiding light. It takes time for everyone to adjust to a new system, a new voice, and a new way of doing things.
**Host:** In your experience, are coaching changes always a bad thing?
**Alex Reed:** Not necessarily. Sometimes they can be exactly what a team needs. Think of it like this: a team can get stuck in a rut,
losing momentum and drowning in negativity. A fresh perspective, a new set of eyes, can reinvigorate everyone and breathe life back into the locker room.
I played under both Mike Therrien and Dan Bylsma in Pittsburgh, and both coaches brought something unique to the table.
Therrien was a great coach, but by the time Bylsma came aboard, we were primed for a change. The team dynamic was shifting.
Bylsma’s arrival, coupled with some key roster adjustments, ultimately contributed to us winning the Stanley Cup that year.
**Host:**
That’s fascinating. It sounds like there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye.
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely. It’s a complex and delicate situation.
For any incoming coach, the key is to connect with the players, build trust, and understand the team’s dynamics. Winning over everyone is impossible, but creating a positive and supportive environment is crucial.
