Because it’s how it is done in that organization, the head coach is always in a fight for his job. Bill Barber has his number retired as a franchise treasure, but he was unable to survive an end-of-the-season rip job from Brian Boucher. They’re all fired. Peter Laviolette was the last to go, nine periods into a season. And does anyone remember Terry Simpson?
But such front-office behavior, displayed over so many years, splashed upon so many careers, almost makes a head coach work as if he is double-parked, rushing to get things done, making rapid-fire goaltending changes, benching Hall of Fame-caliber players if they don’t score often enough, the way Berube did with Vinny Lecavalier.
