Ken Hitchcock
Ken Hitchcock
Kenneth S. Hitchcock, nicknamed "Hitch", is an NHL hockey coach and pro scout, currently coaching the St. Louis Blues. He has also served as head coach of the NHL's Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, and Columbus Blue Jackets. He coached the Stars to a Stanley Cup victory in 1999...
ProfessionCoach
Date of Birth17 December 1951
CityEdmonton, Canada
against four gave minutes players top
With four minutes left, we gave up a 3-on-2 against one of the top players in the world right now -- Crosby. You don't want to do that.
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I've seen young guys who've played great and I've seen them absolutely overwhelmed. I've seen young players literally in the fetal position during a series because they're overwhelmed by the intensity and the emotion of what's going on. And I've seen guys raise their level.
both counting good guys help players season start
Both guys are going to start the season with us. We are counting on them being good players for us. They are here because they can help us win. They are not here because they are young players.
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I've always found that veteran players play significant roles in playoffs because they know what the level is like. And over a short period of time they can get themselves to that level because they know it's a two-month season.
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You give skilled players that many power plays and eventually you are going to get some people tired and that is what happened. We made a couple of tired decisions at the end.
against everybody knows nine players point practiced
We had nine first-year players against Montreal. We practiced with 15 players today. Everybody knows our situation. We're limping. Still, we're only one point out of first place.
against everybody knows nine players
We had nine first-year players against Montreal. Everybody knows our situation. We're limping.
beat dealing eight eliminate fire giving level natural people players power reaction seven team
You are just dealing with an unbelievable level of fire when you're giving a team like that six, seven or eight power plays. You're not going to beat that team. You have to eliminate the reaching-in penalties. I know it's a natural reaction for most players but we've got to have the people that are doing it, not do it.
attitude five happy learned players satisfied soon standing start toward
We've learned to live with the idea that we will have five players out every game. I'm happy in one area, and that is with our attitude toward competing, but I don't think you ever want to be satisfied because as soon as you are, you start standing still.
learn players starting
You just have to keep going and our players are starting to learn that.
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Management has given us a real fighting chance here to have a real good team. And it's our job now, coaches and players together, to try and put this thing together.
both chances gave mistakes players scoring
We gave up two shorthanded goals, both off scoring chances of our own, and when you've got young players back there, those are mistakes that are going to happen. We'll get better with it.
chemistry develop normally obligation october players quickly
We have an obligation to the players to develop chemistry as quickly as we can. Things we would normally do at the end of October will be done in September.
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Those are usually a reward for hard work. Good players score those goals. Guys like you and me, the puck would end up in the seats.