EATING CROW

79-60-25. Or 79-85 if you want to just break it down into wins and losses of various types.

That is the record Marc Crawford compiled as head coach of the Dallas Stars, and ultimately that’s why he’s not the coach of the Dallas Stars today.

It’s a results oriented business, and the results weren’t good enough.

Sure its wrong to blame just him for the two non-playoff seasons but in pro sports there is always a search for one throat to choke. Crow’s was sticking out the farthest.

Crawford arrived in Dallas with admittedly “a lot to prove”. He leaves pretty much as he did when he was fired by the Los Angeles Kings in 2008 - with a lot of doubts that he still has what it takes to be a successful head coach in the ever-evolving NHL.

When his teams are “on” they play a reckless, get after it style that can overwhelm tired teams or teams that are trying to play safe. But when a smart, structured approach is needed…like say when injuries hit…?

On personnel issues I question whether he ever connected with individuals on this team. Maybe its just not his style but in today’s world it has to be. He all but lost his captain last season and he certainly lost his backup goalie this year. At the same time, he doled out oodles of ice-time to top players (ie Brad Richards) sometimes to the detriment of the group as a whole and without enough gratitude from those he was giving the ice-time to. “A spoiled child never loves its mother”

Bottom line, he couldn’t get more out of this group of players than the payroll suggested they could give. He couldn’t get them to survive and thrive. They just weren’t 100% believers in the message and/or the game plan. Too much gasconade and volatility, not enough structure and poise.

As little as I really know him, I like him as a guy (There are plenty in the organization that didn’t). He gave me time and the local media time whenever asked and he has an eager sense of humor. Unfortunately for his career, he’s probably going to rejoin our ranks as a broadcaster and he’ll be very good at that, again - but this time the booth is likely to be permanent.