The coaching merry-go-round is starting to heat up as there are now four openings for head coaches in the NHL, Nashville, Vancouver, Florida and Washington with a few more potential opening in the mix, depending on playoff outcomes or the hiring of new GM’s. This is the first time that Nashville has been part of the coaching carousel, finding a new head man takes a little time and a lot of patience. Now that there are a few more experienced NHL coaches in the mix, the decision may get more difficult for GM David Poile, and the playing field got more interesting for former Preds head coach Barry Trotz.
First… in Nashville, the name Peter Laviolette has been the one you hear most… a coach that would be an excellent fit for many of the players on the current Predators roster… Laviolette coaches a very aggressive style that puts forechecking at the forefront… but there are now some other names you may want to add to the conversation…
John Tortorella – I know the media hates him, after all… he doesn’t suffer fools easily, but this is a very good hockey coach that ended up getting caught up in the exit of a GM who completely undermined anything he tried to do in Vancouver… including getting rid of both starting goaltenders within a year. Frankly, I would’ve loved to have been a fly on the wall in some of those GM/Coach meetings in Vancouver, for no other reason that knowing the real story of how that whole situation came crashing down. Given the local media in Nashville isn’t like the gang in New York or Vancouver… this could be an extremely interesting (if short-term) option for the Predators... but, to be fair... is not one I see happening.
John Stevens – Currently an assistant with Los Angeles, Stevens is a product of the Philadelphia system, spending 6 years as an AHL head coach with the Phantoms and four seasons in Philly with the Flyers, he might be ready for another shot at the head role. Certainly fits the “defense-first… mindset and given the fact the LA scored less goals than the Predators did in the regular season, should fit the personnel in Nashville. Great guy and sometimes has been considered a “player’s coach.… That being said… would that be much of a change from where the team has been over the past few seasons? If you're sending a message... then send a message.
Guy Boucher - Boucher’s ascension to an NHL head coach role was meteoric, after five years coaching in the QMJHL (2 as an assistant, three as head coach) he spent one year as an AHL head coach before getting the job in Tampa Bay… his three season tenure with the Lightning included a run to the Eastern Conference finals in his first year. His fall from grace happened just as fast, he is now coaching SC Bern in Switzerland. Still a bit of an enigma and may be a bit of a stretch for David Poile.
Not even including internal candidates Phil Housley or Lane Lambert, there are plenty of other options here… but one name flying under the radar that may be an interesting one to keep in mind. Glen Gulutzan. Gulutzan got caught up in a transition time in Dallas, two years behind the bench with the Stars did not bear fruit for the playoff starved franchise, but this coach has an excellent reputation and has been described as an up-and-comer… which is a bit unusual for a coach that has already been behind an NHL bench.
The watch is on…
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Monday Random Playoff Notes
- SlapShot Radio is back this Wednesday, live at Tavern 96. It’s a party on the patio as we will be watching game four of the Penguins / Rangers series and talking hockey! The guest list is being assembled, but make sure you come out and join us! We’ll be there by about 5:30 with giveaways (including a whitening from Dr. Jane Bacon (A $500 value) and much more!
- The list of Predators heading to Belarus for the Worlds is growing. Since the Ad’s were eliminated from the Calder Cup playoffs, Simon Moser and Calle Jarnkrok are headed overseas to represent their countries. This brings the number of Predator players participating up to nine.
- A rare back-to-back as the Pens and Rangers play game three tonight at the Garden. This is the fifth game in seven nights for the Rangers, you have to wonder how much this odd schedule is taking out of them, even if they survive this series with Pittsburgh.
- Dare I use the “D… word? After a rocky start, the LA Kings are looking like a team of destiny. Overcoming an 0-3 hole in round one and taking Game One of the Freeway series with Anaheim in OT. No sleep for the weary tonight… gotta watch game two.
- The patience being exhibited in San Jose is simply amazing. I have to say… if I’m the owner, that team is blown up. The Sharks just seem to always be mentally fragile come April, showing time after time that the team just doesn’t seem to be built for success in the playoffs.
- Shocked at the Wild taking out the Av’s, but it does appear that all is being righted as Chicago is all over Minnesota in taking a 2-0 lead in their second round series. The Blackhawks have completely neutralized the $200 million dollar couple. Ryan Suter is a -5 on the series thus far with no points, Zach Parise has only one point and is a -3. Get paid big bucks, get big pressure…
- When asked about expansion over the weekend, NHL Commish Gary Bettman was non-committal.
- Updated standings in the SlapShot Radio league on NHL.com’s Bracket Challenge… we’ve got a tie for first after Round One of the playoffs… frankltd and KootenayIce are at 79 points, each only missing the winner of the COL/MIN series. I am languishing in a five-way tie for 26th place in the SSRListeners league.
- A sign that the draft just isn’t that strong… Florida GM Dale Tallon is shopping the first round pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. With no strong consensus number one… Florida may be looking to augment its standing for next year’s draft, which is anticipated to be a good one. Plus if Tallon can get a veteran or two to help lead his already young team, so much the better.
- Now that the second round is here, local TV announcers for NHL teams have nothing to announce. Nice story here on this. There's a simple solution for this, the technology is there. Why can’t we use the local announcers on the SAP channel of network games? Problem solved and the local color is maintained… it's so simple...
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SlapShot Radio, Join Pete Weber and I as we chat with hockey’s best, every Wednesday night at 7pm on 102.5 the Game and the SlapShot Radio Network. We are live at Tavern 96 for the playoffs.
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