Offseason coaching news and notes

Santacapper

Santacapper

Pretty much a regular
Add John Tortorella's name to the list of potential coaching candidates in San Jose.
Sources tell TSN the Sharks have asked for permission to speak to Tortorella, fired by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
Tortorella joins Mike Milbury, Joel Quenneville and Kitchener Rangers coach and general manager, Peter DeBoer and Portland's Kevin Dineen among those believed to be in the running for job.
Tortorella guided the Lightning to its first Stanley Cup in 2004 and won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in the same season.

<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>// <![CDATA[if (document.getElementById('tsnCallout')) {var divText = document.getElementById('tsnCallout').innerHTML;var flashvars = {};flashvars.callOutText = divText;var params = {};params.wmode = 'transparent';params.allowscriptaccess = 'always';params.scale = 'noscale';params.salign = 'tl';var attributes = {};swfobject.embedSWF('/media/flash/headlines/storyCallout.swf', 'tsnCallout', '340', '1', '8.0.0', false, flashvars, params, attributes);}// ]]></SCRIPT><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window['OneClipVideoListRenderer']) {OneClipVideoListRenderer.SetDefaultPath('feature');OneClipVideoListRenderer.ClearClips();OneClipVideoListRenderer.AddClip({image:"http://images.ctvdigital.com/images/pub2upload/9/2008_6_5/vinny-88.jpg",title:"Thoughts on Tortorella",description:"Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier comments on the firing of head coach John Tortorella",clipid:57901});}</SCRIPT>
 
The search for a new NHL head coach in Ottawa continued on Wednesday as the Senators interviewed Kitchener Rangers head coach Peter DeBoer for their vacancy.
Other rumoured candidates for the job include former Atlanta coach Bob Hartley and Sault St. Marie Greyhounds coach Craig Hartsburg. John Tortorella, who was fired as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, is also reportedly a favourite.
DeBoer, who's been behind the bench in Kitchener since 2001, has 539 wins behind the bench in junior and led the Rangers to a Memorial Cup in 2003. He also led the Rangers to the Cup final last month, where they lost to the WHL's Spokane Chiefs.
DeBoer is under contract with the Rangers through the 2009-10 season, but has a 30-day window in his contract that allows him to pursue other opportunities.

<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>// <![CDATA[if (document.getElementById('tsnCallout')) {var divText = document.getElementById('tsnCallout').innerHTML;var flashvars = {};flashvars.callOutText = divText;var params = {};params.wmode = 'transparent';params.allowscriptaccess = 'always';params.scale = 'noscale';params.salign = 'tl';var attributes = {};swfobject.embedSWF('/media/flash/headlines/storyCallout.swf', 'tsnCallout', '340', '1', '8.0.0', false, flashvars, params, attributes);}// ]]></SCRIPT>
 
Ron Wilson may become the next head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he hasn't accepted the job yet.
Sources tell TSN Wilson was offered the position after meeting with the team on Tuesday.
He is returning home to contemplate the offer and the Leafs intend on talking with him again on the weekend.
If hired, Ron Wilson will become the 36th head coach in team history.
Wilson, 53, has spent the last two decades behind the bench, compiling a record of 518-446-127 over his 1,091 games with the San Jose Sharks, Washington Capitals and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. His career win totals rank third among active coaches, behind Bryan Murray and Mike Keenan. He was also an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks in 1991 and 1992 under head coach Pat Quinn.
Wilson enjoyed a career season in 1997-98 as head coach of the U.S. National Team at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, and also led the Capitals to the Stanley Cup Final against the Detroit Red Wings. In 1996, he coached the U.S. to victory at the inaugural World Cup of Hockey.
Wilson, who was fired last month after the Sharks was eliminated from the playoffs by the Dallas Stars, spent five years in San Jose as head coach, leading them to four straight postseason berths and the Western Conference Final in 2004. He holds club coaching records for wins (206), winning percentage (.535) and postseason games coached (52), and the Sharks put together a 206-134-45 record in the regular season and a 28-24 playoff record.
The Maple Leafs are still in search for a general manager to eventually replace Fletcher, with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Richard Peddie and lawyer Gordon Kirke continuing to work to that end.
Wilson's relationship with Anaheim Ducks' GM Brian Burke adds intrigue to the speculation that the team may wait for Burke in an effort to hire him as general manager next summer.
The former college teammates in Providence worked together in Vancouver when Burke was the assistant GM, and Burke is the also the godfather of Wilson's daughter.


<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>// <![CDATA[if (document.getElementById('tsnCallout')) {var divText = document.getElementById('tsnCallout').innerHTML;var flashvars = {};flashvars.callOutText = divText;var params = {};params.wmode = 'transparent';params.allowscriptaccess = 'always';params.scale = 'noscale';params.salign = 'tl';var attributes = {};swfobject.embedSWF('/media/flash/headlines/storyCallout.swf', 'tsnCallout', '340', '1', '8.0.0', false, flashvars, params, attributes);}// ]]></SCRIPT><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window['OneClipVideoListRenderer']) {OneClipVideoListRenderer.SetDefaultPath('feature');OneClipVideoListRenderer.ClearClips();OneClipVideoListRenderer.AddClip({image:"http://images.ctvdigital.com/images/pub2upload/9/2008_6_3/dreg33.jpg",title:"NHL Insider",description:"NHL Insider Darren Dreger discusses how John Tortorella's dismissal will shape the coaching landscape.",clipid:57263});}</SCRIPT>
 
while personally I like Ron Wilson, I think he'd hate every minute here in Toronto, simply because the team is going to suck and he has never been much of a developer of talent.

Thinking they should go to a minors coach, along the lines of the Capitals... the Leafs are going to be really bad before they are good for 3 years or so IMO, stock pile young talent and stop doing what they;ve done for the last 15 years and add aging veterans to an already old team... or at least thats what Fletcher is saying
 
Santacapper said:
while personally I like Ron Wilson, I think he'd hate every minute here in Toronto, simply because the team is going to suck and he has never been much of a developer of talent.

Thinking they should go to a minors coach, along the lines of the Capitals... the Leafs are going to be really bad before they are good for 3 years or so IMO, stock pile young talent and stop doing what they;ve done for the last 15 years and add aging veterans to an already old team... or at least thats what Fletcher is saying
Click to expand...

I did not edit that one.....:smiley_acbe:
 
Santacapper said:
while personally I like Ron Wilson, I think he'd hate every minute here in Toronto, simply because the team is going to suck and he has never been much of a developer of talent.

Thinking they should go to a minors coach, along the lines of the Capitals... the Leafs are going to be really bad before they are good for 3 years or so IMO, stock pile young talent and stop doing what they;ve done for the last 15 years and add aging veterans to an already old team... or at least thats what Fletcher is saying
Click to expand...

I agree 100% SC. Plus Im not so sure Wilson's personality will go over too well with the Toronto media. Personally, I think its not a good choice. But if it is so necessary to get a proven NHL coach, then I think Hartley might be better at this stage.
 
Hartley would be a good call too Cat. Too true about his personality

reported they've agreed on a deal over the phone this weekend and Wilson will sign the deal tomorrow in Toronto.
 
Ron Wilson will head to Toronto in the next 24 hours where it is expected he'll sign a contract and officially become the new coach of the Maple Leafs.
Wilson and Leafs interim GM Cliff Fletcher verbally agreed to terms on a four-year contract over the weekend.
Maple Leafs interim general manager Cliff Fletcher told TSN on Sunday morning while they had a verbal agreement, the deal wasn't signed.
"It is not on paper and won't be until at least Tuesday," said Fletcher. "There is no contract until it is signed."
The deal is believed to be in the neighborhood of $6.5 million.
Wilson, 53, has spent the last two decades behind the bench, compiling a record of 518-446-127 over his 1,091 games with the San Jose Sharks, Washington Capitals and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. His career win totals rank third among active coaches, behind Bryan Murray and Mike Keenan. He was also an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks in 1991 and 1992 under head coach Pat Quinn.
He enjoyed a career season in 1997-98 as head coach of the U.S. National Team at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, and also led the Capitals to the Stanley Cup Final against the Detroit Red Wings. In 1996, he coached the U.S. to victory at the inaugural World Cup of Hockey.
Wilson, who was fired last month after the Sharks were eliminated from the playoffs by the Dallas Stars, spent five years in San Jose as head coach, leading them to four straight postseason berths and the Western Conference Final in 2004. He holds club coaching records for wins (206), winning percentage (.535) and postseason games coached (52), and the Sharks put together a 206-134-45 record in the regular season and a 28-24 playoff record.
The Maple Leafs are still in search for a general manager to eventually replace Cliff Fletcher, with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Richard Peddie and lawyer Gordon Kirke continuing to work to that end.
Wilson's relationship with Anaheim Ducks' GM Brian Burke adds intrigue to the speculation that the team may wait for Burke in an effort to hire him as general manager next summer. The former college teammates in Providence worked together in Vancouver when Burke was the assistant GM, and Burke is the also the godfather of Wilson's daughter.
Earlier this week, sources told TSN that Wilson was offered the position after meeting with the team on Tuesday. He then returned home to contemplate the offer.

<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>// <![CDATA[if (document.getElementById('tsnCallout')) {var divText = document.getElementById('tsnCallout').innerHTML;var flashvars = {};flashvars.callOutText = divText;var params = {};params.wmode = 'transparent';params.allowscriptaccess = 'always';params.scale = 'noscale';params.salign = 'tl';var attributes = {};swfobject.embedSWF('/media/flash/headlines/storyCallout.swf', 'tsnCallout', '340', '1', '8.0.0', false, flashvars, params, attributes);}// ]]></SCRIPT>
 
why = MLSE & the teachers

or, to give a 'face of the franchise' and have another in with Burke... as far as why right now, I have no clue... it doesnt make sense for either party from a personnel perspective and just lends to the fact that Fletcher might just be the GM come the beginning of next season as he had said all along the #1 priority is a GM first so they can have their own coach.

The Leafs will be bad, very bad next year. Cant see Wilson making it through half that contract
 
Yeah, there's just no real good hockey reason to make that call given where that team is right now. At least, that's how it looks to me.

I really would like to see the Leafs turn it around, though.
 
I can understand why they didnt go to the minor system this time though, as that didnt work with Paul Maurice, there is a difference though IMO and that Maurice was hired with the idea of being the coach of the Leafs down the road and getting to know the young guys, then JFJ came in and was a cluster fuck from the get go...

I'd like to see them turn it around too... but the right way, ala the Sens, Pens, Sabres etc. all through the draft and young talent
 
The Los Angeles Kings have fired head coach Marc Crawford.
Kings president and general manager Dean Lombardi made the announcement Tuesday that Crawford will not return next season as the team's head coach despite having one year left on his contract.
In his two seasons as head coach, Crawford posted a 59-84-21 with the Kings.
"We appreciate Marc's commitment the two seasons he has been here," Lombardi said in a press release. "However, we believe that in evaluating where we are at and, more importantly, where we are going as an organization, we feel this coaching change was the right decision to make. We wish Marc the best in his future endeavors."
''Marc's record speaks for itself in terms of his winning record but I guess it just comes down to a matter of fit,'' Lombardi said during a conference call Tuesday.
The Kings hired Marc Crawford as the 21st head coach in Kings history on May 22, 2006.
''I think it's fair to say we did not expect the team to be out of the playoffs in January this year,'' Lombardi added. ''I don't think we were kidding ourselves into thinking we were world beaters, we set realistic expectations.''
Crawford began his NHL coaching career with Quebec in 1994 and in his first season he became the youngest coach to win the Jack Adams Trophy. After the Nordiques relocated to Denver he won the Stanley Cup in 1996.
Overall, in 12 seasons and 905 games behind the bench as an NHL head coach, Crawford, has compiled a regular season record of 438-342-125 and a playoff mark of 43-40.


<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>// <![CDATA[if (document.getElementById('tsnCallout')) {var divText = document.getElementById('tsnCallout').innerHTML;var flashvars = {};flashvars.callOutText = divText;var params = {};params.wmode = 'transparent';params.allowscriptaccess = 'always';params.scale = 'noscale';params.salign = 'tl';var attributes = {};swfobject.embedSWF('/media/flash/headlines/storyCallout.swf', 'tsnCallout', '340', '1', '8.0.0', false, flashvars, params, attributes);}// ]]></SCRIPT><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window['OneClipVideoListRenderer']) {OneClipVideoListRenderer.SetDefaultPath('feature');OneClipVideoListRenderer.ClearClips();OneClipVideoListRenderer.AddClip({image:"http://images.ctvdigital.com/images/pub2upload/9/2008_6_11/crawford4_061008.jpg",title:"NHL News of the Day",description:"Trevor Linden to retire, Kings fire Marc Crawford and Mike Babcock signs extension with Detroit.",clipid:58923});}</SCRIPT>
 
A week after winning the Stanley Cup, the Detroit Red Wings are set to reward head coach Mike Babcock with a three-year contract extension.
An announcement is expected to be made at a news conference in Detroit on Wednesday.
This season, Babcock led the Red Wings to the Presidents' Trophy with a record of 54-21-7. Then, the Wings went on to win the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in 11 years.
In his three seasons in Detroit, he's led the Wings to back-to-back 50-plus win seasons and two Presidents' Trophy awards.
Prior to joining the Red Wings, Babcock spent two seasons in Anaheim, leading the Ducks to their first-ever Stanley Cup finals appearance in his first season as an NHL head coach.
Internationally, the Saskatoon native is the only Canadian coach to serve as bench boss for the both the World Junior Championships team (1997) and senior World Championship team (2004).


<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>// <![CDATA[if (document.getElementById('tsnCallout')) {var divText = document.getElementById('tsnCallout').innerHTML;var flashvars = {};flashvars.callOutText = divText;var params = {};params.wmode = 'transparent';params.allowscriptaccess = 'always';params.scale = 'noscale';params.salign = 'tl';var attributes = {};swfobject.embedSWF('/media/flash/headlines/storyCallout.swf', 'tsnCallout', '340', '1', '8.0.0', false, flashvars, params, attributes);}// ]]></SCRIPT>
 
just lends to the fact that Fletcher might just be the GM come the beginning of next season as he had said all along the #1 priority is a GM first so they can have their own coach.
Click to expand...

TORONTO -- It appears that Cliff Fletcher will remain general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs until next summer.

Team president Richard Peddie tells The Canadian Press that Fletcher will likely call the shots until 2009.

The Maple Leafs GM search committee consists of Peddie and lawyer Gord Kirke.

Peddie says most of the top candidates they have considered are under contract to other NHL teams through next season and that he is content to wait before making a hire.

Fletcher will remain at the helm in the meantime.

The veteran hockey man was hired as the team's interim GM in January and was to become a consultant once his successor was found.
 
The Sault Star is reporting that Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds coach Craig Hartsburg will be introduced as the head coach of the Ottawa Senators on Friday.
The report states that Hartsburgh met with Senators owner Eugene Melnyk on Thursday and will be revealed as the team's new head coach on Friday.
Earlier in the week it appeared that the job would go to Kitchener Rangers' coach Peter DeBoer who had met with Melnyk in the Barbados on Wednesday, however the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.
When contacted by the Star, Hartsburg would not confirm or deny the report but did discuss the Senators on ice potential.
"It's a good team that needs some structure and some accountability," Hartsburg told the Sault Star. "And if it gets that, then it should be a good hockey club."
Hartsburg is looking to make a return to the NHL. His last job in the league was as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Flyers between 2002 and 2004. Prior to that he worked as a head coach for the Anaheim Ducks and the Chicago Blackhawks.
He also helped Canada capture gold at the IIHF World Junior Championship as an assistant to Brent Sutter in 2006. He was then handed the head coaching reigns and capture back-to-back gold medals in 2007 and 2008.


<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>// <![CDATA[if (document.getElementById('tsnCallout')) {var divText = document.getElementById('tsnCallout').innerHTML;var flashvars = {};flashvars.callOutText = divText;var params = {};params.wmode = 'transparent';params.allowscriptaccess = 'always';params.scale = 'noscale';params.salign = 'tl';var attributes = {};swfobject.embedSWF('/media/flash/headlines/storyCallout.swf', 'tsnCallout', '340', '1', '8.0.0', false, flashvars, params, attributes);}// ]]></SCRIPT><SCRIPT type=text/javascript>if (window['OneClipVideoListRenderer']) {OneClipVideoListRenderer.SetDefaultPath('feature');OneClipVideoListRenderer.ClearClips();OneClipVideoListRenderer.AddClip({image:"http://images.ctvdigital.com/images/pub2upload/9/2008_6_13/hartsburg_061208.jpg",title:"New Boss in Town?",description:"Reports indicate that the Ottawa Senators have hired Craig Hartsburg to be the club's new head coach.",clipid:59590});}</SCRIPT>
 
Hartsburg is exactly what I was hoping the Leafs would do... he knows the young talent in the IHHF and would be a good evaluator of talent with his time in the World Juniors etc
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Santacapper
Darcy Tucker era over
Replies
12
Views
981
Santacapper
Santacapper
Santacapper
Offseason Moves and News Thread - Giguere re-signs w/ Ducks
Replies
27
Views
865
Santacapper
Santacapper
Santacapper
Bonds Indicted
Replies
18
Views
1K
dunedan
D
Back
Top