Is Larry Robinson the right coach for the Senators?
I was looking at Robinson's record as a head coach and found some of the information interesting. Here is the data on LA over those years:
So, while he was coach of LA, the GA/game dropped from 3.8 to 2.7 goals against per game. Unfortunately the goals for dropped as well - though not as fast and in 97-98 he saw the best year with 2.7 goals for and against per year. But I don't think it is worth spending too much time on LA as the team saw it's talent leave after Gretzky's departure.
What is more telling is Robinson's success after taking over from Robbie Ftorek and winning the cup with the Devils in 99-00. The following year, Robinson took the talented team to another level offensively. He got career years out of Elias, Sykora, Arnott's only point per game season, and Mogilny's best season since his first in Vancouver five years prior. They scored 45 more goals that year while not increasing their goals against. Unfortuneately they lost to Colorado in the final that year.
Robinson was fired halfway through the 01-02 season and was replaced by Constantine - a defensive coach that was dismissed after his first round playoff loss and replaced with Pat Burns.
So, while Robinson's record in LA doesn't provide any reason why he would be the right coach for the Senators at this time his performance in NJ is exactly what we are looking for - a proven winner - able to get more out of talented offensive players. Of the coaches mentioned so far, Robinson looks like the best match.
| Season | Pts | GF | GA | Coach
|
| 1991-92 | 84 | 287 | 296 | Tom Webster
|
| 1992-93 | 88 | 338 | 340 | Barry Melrose
|
| 1993-94 | 66 | 294 | 322 | Barry Melrose
|
| 1995-96 | 66 | 256 | 302 | Larry Robinson
|
| 1996-97 | 67 | 214 | 268 | Larry Robinson
|
| 1997-98 | 87 | 227 | 225 | Larry Robinson
|
| 1998-99 | 69 | 189 | 222 | Larry Robinson
|
| 1999-00 | 94 | 245 | 228 | Andy Murray
|
| 2000-01 | 92 | 252 | 228 | Andy Murray
|
| 2001-02 | 95 | 214 | 190 | Andy Murray
|
So, while he was coach of LA, the GA/game dropped from 3.8 to 2.7 goals against per game. Unfortunately the goals for dropped as well - though not as fast and in 97-98 he saw the best year with 2.7 goals for and against per year. But I don't think it is worth spending too much time on LA as the team saw it's talent leave after Gretzky's departure.
What is more telling is Robinson's success after taking over from Robbie Ftorek and winning the cup with the Devils in 99-00. The following year, Robinson took the talented team to another level offensively. He got career years out of Elias, Sykora, Arnott's only point per game season, and Mogilny's best season since his first in Vancouver five years prior. They scored 45 more goals that year while not increasing their goals against. Unfortuneately they lost to Colorado in the final that year.
Robinson was fired halfway through the 01-02 season and was replaced by Constantine - a defensive coach that was dismissed after his first round playoff loss and replaced with Pat Burns.
So, while Robinson's record in LA doesn't provide any reason why he would be the right coach for the Senators at this time his performance in NJ is exactly what we are looking for - a proven winner - able to get more out of talented offensive players. Of the coaches mentioned so far, Robinson looks like the best match.
