After a few rumours sending him all over the world, Guy Boucher has finally found a job in the NHL, as assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He has coached twice in his NHL career, with the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2010 to 2012, and in Ottawa with the Senators from 2016 to 2019.
In his first season with both clubs, he saw his team eliminated in the conference finals, while in his second full year, he didn’t make the playoffs.
In the third year of each reign, that’s when he was fired.
He used a very special tactic, that of rest, and this is what led to his dismissal.
“If I hear one more time that rest is a weapon, I’m going to go crazy .” https://t.co/r2fzTTdp8X
– TVA Sports (@TVASports) July 21, 2023
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Guy Boucher coached with a very unique strategy: rest is a weapon.
That would have explained why the Senators were so surprising in the playoffs, despite Andrew Hammond guarding goals as if he were Martin Brodeur in his prime.
He gave only the bare minimum of training, so the players were in top form to surprise their opponents.
It seemed to work well for the 2017 playoffs, but the following season, Boucher would take his slogan a little too far.
According to The Athletic, during the 2017-2018 season, Guy Boucher’s team took part in just 49 training sessions over the course of the season, or less than two per week.
It just doesn’t make sense. I’m willing to believe that rest is important and that you shouldn’t burn out your players, but less than 50 training sessions in 185 days is borderline absurd.
The results weren’t coming, and general manager Pierre Dorion was no longer able to hear about the famous ” rest is a weapon “.
“If I hear one more time that rest is a weapon, I’m going to go crazy. – Pierre Dorion
March 1, 2019 marked the end of his time at the helm of the Ottawa Senators.
I hope for his sake that he has learned from his mistakes and won’t impose rest on Sheldon Keefe’s troupe. It could cost him his job… again.
Breaking news
– Samuel Piette is reportedly ill and will not be in uniform tonight.
Our XI 👊#CFMTL | #LeaguesCup2023 pic.twitter.com/G1G9k6oACd
– CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) July 22, 2023
– Beautiful to watch.
The atmosphere was good today 😎
Good vibes#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/ibvgBvxUwL
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) July 22, 2023
– Ivan Demidov is projected as one of the top three prospects for the 2024 draft, along with Cole Eiserman and Macklin Celebrini.
The truly insane thing about Ivan Demidov (#91 in Blue) is that on top of having elite hands, great vision and solid offensive skill… he’s also engaged and intelligent defensively.
He has no business defending the rush as well as he does on the PK here. #2024NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/rphI74n96A
– Hadi Kalakeche (@HadiK_Scouting) July 22, 2023
– Interesting.
Whether it’s being overshadowed by their teammates or the rest of the #NHL‘s top players, these six players deserve more hype for their impressive efforts, writes @JLStoller.https://t.co/C4auk7UkYJ
– The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) July 22, 2023