Talbot Puts An End To Therrien Rumors

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Jun 10, 10:24 AM | Hype this story!

According to The Sidney Crosby Show’s translation of Max Talbot’s recent RDS column, things between the players and coach Michel Therrien aren’t as bad as they seem.

“Obviously, I had heard criticism voiced towards our coach Michel Therrien.

“I am not embarrassed to say that several people seem jealous in this case. Without the good work of Michel Therrien behind the bench of our team, we would not have reached the Stanley Cup finals. During the season, he made several decisions beneficial to our team and often they were not obvious decisions to be taken. It’s so easy to criticize, but Michel is an excellent coach and he proved it with the many young people we have.

“A journalist for the Toronto Sun has even claimed that Brooks Orpik would not want to come back with the Penguins next season if Michel Therrien retains his post. The same article suggests that Jordan Staal has a poor relationship with our coach.

“In fact, I find these assertions rather strange. We just had a team dinner Thursday evening. Both players were present and I did not feel anything telling. I really do not know where the author unearthed that story and it would astonish me if he has talked to any players of our team to write that article. You really have to take and leave with journalists…”

The Toronto Sun article Talbot is referring to was written by Steve Simmons, who has no apparent connections within the Penguins locker room.

He writes:

“For one thing, there is a brewing problem between coach Michel Therrien and some of his players — a number of them despise playing for him.

“No one will choose the Stanley Cup final as a forum to call out their coach but there are far too many whispers out there that too many players can’t stand working for — or with— Therrien.

“If that isn’t an issue to be dealt with immediately, it is certainly something that will grow with time. Brooks Orpik, the free agent defenceman who will be coveted by many teams after July 1, has told people he will not re-sign in Pittsburgh if Therrien is the coach. Jordan Staal, the terrific young player who lives in the shadow of Crosby and Evgeni Malkin — but is poised to bust out as one of the most complete centres in hockey — is another Therrien complainer.”

Several aspects of these columns strike me as interesting:

  • Isn’t a Toronto Sun columnist writing inside information about the Penguins about as credible as a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist writing inside information about the Maple Leafs? The Toronto newspapers should stick to covering Toronto and leave the local stuff to the local media and the national coverage to the national media.
  • If Simmons wants to have any kind of credibility, he might want to use a quote or two from the disgruntled players. After all, if the unrest is so rampant, wouldn’t an unhappy player — especially one who is an impending free agent — be willing to speak out against the oh-so-horrible coach?
  • Talbot’s writing puts an end to the Therrien rumors. If they were untrue, Talbot simply would ignore the issues. That he took time specifically to address them speaks volumes to how wreckless they truly are.
  • Talbot’s column also shows amazing support for a coach many fans are looking to crucify. This piece, quite easily, proves just how big of a role Therrien has played in the team’s success, as if further proof was needed.

Comments

  1. stefanh

    Jun 10, 10:59 AM

    Great read here Matt. Simmons is that same guy that last summar Mats Sundin had a career ending back injury. The guy is a complete joke. I’m also sick and tired of all the knowitalls that never sat a foot in the Penguins lockerroom and still knows everything about the relation between coach T and the players. Good riddence!

  2. Dabich

    Jun 10, 11:08 AM

    Thanks for the insight Matt. Looks like this guy should stick to writing Soap Operas. Not that there isn’t friction at times between player/coach/ and player/player. We’re all only human, right?

  3. Head Coach Michel Therrien

    Jun 10, 01:27 PM

    De Max Talbot, I dunno I jus’ ‘ave some kind of hunch about him…

    Michel

  4. Pens1967

    Jun 10, 02:25 PM

    A supervisor can always be friendly, open and accessible to his or her employees, but he or she can’t and shouldn’t be friends with them. It’s just doesn’t work in a superior/subordinant relationship. (FTR, I’ve been on both sides.)

    Therrien has actually been a pretty good boss. Yes, early on in his tenure, he did call out the defense and while he’s been critical of individual performances, I don’t think it was ever anything but “tough love”. When Crosby was being accused of “diving” in the playoffs, MT was right there to say “enough”. He was there for Malkin, too, to deflect the criticism of his play at the end of the ECF and start of SCF.

    To me, Therrien has exactly the right perspective, coaching is a lot like parenting; you have to know when to be understanding and patient and when to be tough. IMHO, Therrien gets the mix right the great majority of the time.

  5. Matt Bodenschatz

    Jun 10, 03:18 PM

    Pens1967 — if your comment on this story is a nail, you hit it squarely on the head. Very well said. I agree 100 percent.

  6. Pens1967

    Jun 10, 03:29 PM

    Matt, the real proof is in the pudding. Under Therrien, players like Whitney, Malkin, Malone, Orpik, Talbot, Staal, Letang, Fleury have gotten better. If Orpik and Malone leave for greener monetary pastures, they will both have Therrien to thank for pushing them to play to their potential.

  7. Dave

    Jun 10, 04:45 PM

    I was upset to see all of the attention going against Coach Therrien in the Hockey world, most specifically the explosion created along hockey blogs on this Toronto Sun article.

    I am proud to see Max support his Coach.

  8. Moncalvo

    Jun 10, 06:25 PM

    I concur with the opinions above. Articles of the type Simmons wrote have a “Page 6” color to them, and hold about as much water. Whilst you’ll always have occasional blogs or radio personalities making some fairly “out there” assertions – we would hope that Mr. Simmons, as a member of the Sun, would demonstrate a higher degree of skill substantiating his story – or at least preface the rumours.

    Though often not mentioned within the sports context, I see this debate often played out in editorials/ombudsman statements in the Washington DC papers – the thin line of interpretation as always.

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