Black Monday

Today, the monday following black friday, two coaches in the NHL have received the axe. Bruce Boudreau of the Washington Capitals and Paul Maurice of the Carolina Hurricanes saw their coaching stints end. Both teams entered the season with different expectations but shared some of the same headaches that can bother a team early on.

The Capitals once again are aiming their sights on a stanley cup run. They have led the eastern conference in points the last two years but have had dismal playoff efforts, failing to reach the conference finals. Boudreau has had ample opportunity to succeed with arguably the best team on paper in the league but has not done so when it has counted. Washington is a couple games over .500, but 3-7 in their last ten games including some embarrassing blow outs along the way. The firing of Boudreau seems to be a wake up call for the team, a reminder that they need to play up to their potential. 

Boudreau feeling the heat

Maurice and the Hurricanes have set their expectations a little lower. After failing to reach the playoffs by two points last year and eight in 2009-2010, the teams eyes were set on finally breaking through. A slow start has landed the team at a 8-13-4 record. The Hurricanes can't afford to fall back this early on, and have to hope this sparks a change.

Maurice has been fired twice from the 'Canes organization

But what does firing a coach actually do? Will NHL players who are already motivated by millions of dollars actually change due to a firing? 

My first thought is no. These players are grown men who if preform well are rewarded with millions of dollars. This money is necessary to support themselves or their family. This seems like enough motivation, but more than not these mid-season firings work and there have been enough examples just this season. 

The St. Louis Blues were 6-7-0 until they fired David Payne and hired Ken Hitchcock. Since then they are 7-1-2. Montreal started 1-5-2 until they fired assistant coach Perry Pearn and went on to win four games in a row. 

One could make the argument that the new coach is bringing fresh strategies and plays to the table but it is unrealistic players would pick up and execute anything new so fast. 

I would hope that a job didn't have to be lost for professional athletes to start playing at 100% but it seems to work, and until the trend starts going the other way it will undoubtedly continue to happen.