According to Fluto's Boston.com blog:
* With confidence sagging and his players thinking too much, Lewis pulled a strange one out of the coaching handbook before yesterday's loss to the Sabres. He pulled down the bear head that is propped above the door of the dressing room at TD Banknorth Garden, and tossed it at several players. Lewis said he probably repeated the head-pitch seven times with different players, with everybody catching the bear. "They didn't think about, 'Well, I've got to raise my right arm, my left arm, grasp it with my right hand and my left hand, squeeze it, hold it, and now I have to cradle it so it doesn't fall.' They did it instinctively," said Lewis. "When you're playing hockey at a level in this league and things happen like that, you're playing very well."
He's throwing a bear's head around? This is expected to motivate? I have a better idea...start benching people, take away letters (notably the "C")...leave the poor bear head alone.
He should do like what they did in the movie Major League, except instead of disrobing a cutout of the owner, Lewis could shave off a piece of that mustache for every win.
i personally love it when a coach flips the ****** out and pulls a nutty.
these guys have played hockey their whole life - i don't think playing hot potato with a stuffed bear head is going to motivate
Like an above post said - bench someone
Maybe taking the bear head and throwing it through one of the tv's and tossing the stick rack across the room would work - but soft tossing a bear head is just stupid - LEWIS SUCKS
I think he was trying to tell them to trust their instincts. He threw the head at them, and their instincts told them to catch it. He wants them to play that way on the ice instead of playing hesitant.
I think he was trying to tell them to trust their instincts. He threw the head at them, and their instincts told them to catch it. He wants them to play that way on the ice instead of playing hesitant.
You're right
I personally prefer the high voltage, no nonsense kind of coach over the calm, passive kind of coach
Why doesn't he cue up snippets of Bruins legends and memorable game from the storied history of the franchise and play them before each game, 15 mins apiece, to show his team what they are not, but what they should become.
When I watch old clips of Fred announcing a historic game, I get goosebumps. I'd want to play for that, who wouldn't want to live up to that history and be proud to wear a B on their chest?
Bring them out to center ice and make them all stare at the rafters for 20 mins in silence.. let them absorb the pride of the franchise.
Passing a bear's head around the locker room is something out of a kids book. Lame.
I think he was trying to tell them to trust their instincts. He threw the head at them, and their instincts told them to catch it. He wants them to play that way on the ice instead of playing hesitant.
Betcha it bounced off Yorks head and no one wants to say anything.
Apparently people here can't read between the lines.
It's about instincts. If you don't trust your instincts, you'll be a bad player. Sure, it's a strange method, but if these people are acting like kids (scared of pucks, shying away from contact), then treat them like kids.
Way too much blame is going to Lewis. He's a bad coach, but the players have given up as well. Both sides should be held responsible.
According to Fluto's Boston.com blog:
* With confidence sagging and his players thinking too much, Lewis pulled a strange one out of the coaching handbook before yesterday's loss to the Sabres. He pulled down the bear head that is propped above the door of the dressing room at TD Banknorth Garden, and tossed it at several players. Lewis said he probably repeated the head-pitch seven times with different players, with everybody catching the bear. "They didn't think about, 'Well, I've got to raise my right arm, my left arm, grasp it with my right hand and my left hand, squeeze it, hold it, and now I have to cradle it so it doesn't fall.' They did it instinctively," said Lewis. "When you're playing hockey at a level in this league and things happen like that, you're playing very well."
He's throwing a bear's head around? This is expected to motivate? I have a better idea...start benching people, take away letters (notably the "C")...leave the poor bear head alone.
According to Fluto's Boston.com blog:
* With confidence sagging and his players thinking too much, Lewis pulled a strange one out of the coaching handbook before yesterday's loss to the Sabres. He pulled down the bear head that is propped above the door of the dressing room at TD Banknorth Garden, and tossed it at several players. Lewis said he probably repeated the head-pitch seven times with different players, with everybody catching the bear. "They didn't think about, 'Well, I've got to raise my right arm, my left arm, grasp it with my right hand and my left hand, squeeze it, hold it, and now I have to cradle it so it doesn't fall.' They did it instinctively," said Lewis. "When you're playing hockey at a level in this league and things happen like that, you're playing very well."
He's throwing a bear's head around? This is expected to motivate? I have a better idea...start benching people, take away letters (notably the "C")...leave the poor bear head alone.
Later, as a drill, Lewis had them stand 10 feet from the net and have each guy try to toss it in the ol' 4x6.
Everyone missed.
I saw a clip about this on the NESN site. I am useless with links. They talked about Johnny Bucyk going bear hunting and taking one out and they had it in the room. Can anyone link that or did anyone else see that?
come on kevin, u know better than that. you know there is a plan here. they are doing the sabres thing and keeping afloat on the nhl level while keeping their sub 22 year olds (kessel not included) down on the farm to play together for a couple years. they hope thier drafting is successfull.......by the way, how old is jurcina really?
