Bruins Sacrifice Coach Dave Lewis

After just one season on the job, Dave Lewis and his mustache was fired as coach of the Boston Bruins on Friday.

Coming off of a busy post-season, where they spent big bucks on the likes of Zdeno Chara and Marc Savard, the Bruins failed to make the post-season after posting a 35-41 record. The Bruins 1-10-1 record in their last 12 games killed their playoff chances, and Lewis' employment.

''I have great respect for both of those men and what they've done in the past and what I think they will accomplish in the future,'' [Bruins GM] Chiarelli said on a conference call with reporters.

A lack of consistent play throughout the entire season was a key factor in the decision to remove both coaches from their positions.

''You see a level of play that you expect and want and it teases you, and obviously something wasn't getting through,'' Chiarelli said. The general manager said he doesn't expect ''top level play'' all the time, but insists the team be more consistent on the ice.

Firing the coach is always the easy solution, but is it the right one in this case? Given the Bruins typically bad management, firing the coach doesn't do much but take the focus away from owner Jeremy Jacobs' stinginess.

By the numbers:

The Bruins finished 19th on the Power Play and 19th on the Penalty Kill during the regular season. Both figures are below average, but not horrible.

Brad Boyes went from 69 points in 82 games to 34 points in 62 games before being traded. He wasn't the only player to struggle to their usual standards. Brad Murray, Brad Stuart, and Zdeno Chara all struggled to a large degree.

The killer? The Bruins gave up more shots (2748) than any other team in the league. Even with Tim Thomas' average performance, the Bruins gave up the 2nd most goals in the league.

Offensively? The Bruins finished 25th out of 30 teams.

So, the Bruins somehow managed to finish with a fairly decent record despite the fact that they couldn't score or prevent scoring chances. Given how defense is often affected greatly by coaching, the Bruins have some justification for letting go of Lewis.

Unfortunately, for Bruins fans, the ownership never changes.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-16-2007 @ 11:47PM

Captain said...

Dave Lewis is a class individual ....Remeber you can only work with what you have Boston has crap is crap and will always be crap since they fired Don cherry ..Mr Lewis will catch on a nother coaching job and for Boston I say Left hand Middle finger ......

6-17-2007 @ 7:38AM

Jerry said...

What the Bruins need is a coach that will get into the faces of players that do not produce. Dave Lewis should not of been hired to coach the Bruins. Lweis came from a team that already had an established system thanks to Scotty Bowman. The team also need a goaltender that can stop easy shots from going into the net. Thomas is just a so-so goaltender and as for his backup he should stay in the minors or be packaged with another player and traded.

6-17-2007 @ 12:05PM

Ubba said...

Happy Fathers Day Men.
Turmoil again in Bean-town. How many changes have to be made??

Blame the coaches- Blame the players- Blame the salary cap.

How bout blaming the owners who do not give a frog's fat ass about winning. Oh, but they do make money.

Please sell the team....