Last year is the exception, we had zero chance to win that series. In the Cup we held a late lead in 3 of the 4 losses if I'm not mistaken and AV continued to turtle with the lead and allowed LA to punish us in our own zone. Watching those games you knew it was only a matter of time before we gave up a goal. We were easily the inferior team in that series but that doesn't take away the fact that we had the lead in most games and his continued insistence to allow LA to control possession cost us in those games. We could have easily led that series 3-2 rather than being eliminated after 5 games. The writing was on the wall that you can't turtle against a heavy possession team like the Kings or you will pay, but he still did it over and over.

2 years ago he neutered our chances because of his love for Tanner Glass. If you remember, we basically traded away Stempniak because AV never played him because Glass was deemed a better 4th liner in his mind. Such decisions made our 4th line a nonexistent threat to put points on the board. Having a 4th line that can put occasional points on the board can be a difference maker in tight playoff series. Had we advanced to the SCF that year our chances of winning would have been minimal with how ravaged our defense was by injuries, but at least we would have had another chance.

AV is a great coach, his record proves that. But the things that make you a great regular season coach don't always translate into the ultimate success you play the game for. If he wasn't so stubborn and didn't make so many nonsensical personnel choices, I'd be 100% on board with this early extension. Even though I don't think we're truly a contender this season, I would have rather waited to see how he handles the playoffs this season before extending him. I'm not upset over the move since there really isn't a better choice out there, I just feel it's a little premature.