Province Article: 11 coaches who could be behind the Vancouver Canucks’ bench next season

[zipzap2013]

http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/05/01/10-coaches-who-could-be-behind-the-vancouver-canucks-bench-next-season/

Three seasons. Three coaches.

Hard to fathom, or maybe there was something to the Torts retort when John Tortorella suggested the local hockey populace should let go of that clinging embrace to 2011. For that matter, toss in 1994, too.

Now that Tortorella is on the way out after just one year as an engaging yet erratic coach of the Vancouver Canucks, its placed the franchise at the fork in the road. And whether you believe its time to reload, retool or rebuild Tortorella was adamant that he said: From Day 1, I thought it was a stale group together for a long time the course that president of hockey operations Trevor Linden and his new general manager and coach chart must balance the present and future.

It means finding a tactician and a teacher, not a tyrant.

A new GM will want autonomy in hiring a coaching staff, and its usually a process of connecting the prospect dots where he crossed paths with candidates or the understanding that he should be casting a wider net. Give those who have headed to Europe to reignite their NHL coaching careers as much of a look as those current in The Show, the AHL or the WHL.

If Boston Bruins assistant GM Jim Benning is the front-office favourite here the former Canucks defenceman did play with Linden and the new president likes the way the Bruins use a four-line deployment then the new coach wont be like Tortorella. He played three lines. Linden likes four and even cited how critical he believes Shawn Thornton is to making the Bruins tick. Then again, how could you not like the Philadelphia Flyers rejuvenation under Craig Berube? Tough. Talented. Deep. Tough series loss to the New York Rangers. Assistant GM Ron Hextall has done a nice job there, too. Heres a look at some who should be considered to run the bench here:

1. John Stevens

Los Angeles Kings assistant coach

Upside: Darryl Sutter gets headlines, but Stevens deserves credit for the top-ranked defence thats allowed 2.05 goals per game. A former head coach of the Flyers, his club advanced to the Eastern Conference final in 2007-08.

Downside: Could feel like a bridesmaid if the Canucks come calling again he was thought to be the front-runner before Tortorella got the job here but insiders say he would relish another shot at a head-coaching gig.

1a. Todd McLellan

San Jose Sharks head coach

Upside: In four of the last six seasons, guided the Sharks to at least 100 points. Schooled in the Detroit Red Wings system, his teams play with pace and he has been able to motivate a star-studded lineup while annually incorporating young talent. Would have been considered here when Alain Vigneault was fired, if available.

Downside: Blowing a 3-0 series lead to Los Angeles could be his pink slip. Getting to two conference finals is impressive, but the winds of change are expected to howl in San Jose. Still, a very smart coach. Big upgrade.

2. Kevin Dineen

National womens team head coach

Upside: Hired by Hockey Canada to stabilize the national womens program in advance of the Sochi Olympics. Good teacher. Brought structure, accountability in gold-medal run. Guided Florida to first postseason appearance in 12 years in 2012 and fired in November of 2013. Coached Team Canada at mens under-18 world tourney.

Downside: Insiders say he was made the scapegoat for a bad team in Florida. Would he warm to ex-Panthers he coached to some degree if David Booth, Mike Santorelli, Shawn Matthias, Jacob Markstrom are all here?

3. Brad Shaw

St. Louis Blues associate coach

Upside: Along with head coach Ken Hitchcock, good at getting Blues to play a 200-foot game. A big reason St. Louis finished second in penalty-killing, third in defence and seventh on power play and offence. Is comfortable in position, for now.

Downside: NHL head-coaching experience amounts to going 18-18-4 with the New York Islanders in 2005-06 as an interim replacement to the fired Steve Stirling, but anxious to get the big job again.

4. Barry Trotz

Former Nashville Predators coach

http://postmediaprovince.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/trotz.jpg?w=460&h=444

Upside: The only bench boss in Predators franchise history, the expiry date finally arrived for an amiable bench boss whos good at working with youth and getting through to veterans. Had seven plus-30 players in the 2011 second-round series against the Canucks, and 15 who were 25 or younger.

Downside: Only made playoffs in seven of his 15 seasons, getting to the second round twice. Franchise developed great defencemen but never had much punch up front. Too budget-conscious. Could fill vacancies in Florida or Washington.

5. Kirk Muller

Carolina Hurricanes head coach

Upside: Was on the Canucks radar in 2011 when they looked for an AHL bench boss for the Chicago Wolves. He chose the Milwaukee Admirals. A good one-on-one communicator, commands respect from a 19-year playing career and 1993 Stanley Cup with Montreal.

Downside: The Hurricanes were eight points shy of a playoff berth and a 1-7-0 skid sealed the fate. Something is wrong in Raleigh. The Canes were 22nd in offence and 19th in defence. Muller may not survive.

6. Guy Boucher

Coach, Bern in Swiss National A League

Upside: As a rookie Tampa Bay head coach, led Lightning to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final in 2011. As a rookie head coach of Hamilton Bulldogs, led club to third round of playoffs in 2010 and named AHL coach of the year.

Downside: Last season in Tampa, club lost focus and fell to 14th in the conference and was fired after a 13-17-1 start.

7. Mike Johnston

GM/coach of WHLs Portland Winterhawks

Upside: Has 10 years of NHL experience and the former Canucks assistant also guided Linden. Has developed Ryan Johansen, Nino Niederreiter, Sven Baertschi, Nicolas Petan and Derrick Pouliot and also groomed Utica Comets head coach Travis Green. Got Hawks back to the current WHL final, which begins Saturday.

Downside: Is he too far removed from the NHL game? Pros are different animals than wide-eyed juniors, who willingly drink the coaching Kool-Aid.

8. Doug Houda

Boston Bruins assistant coach

Upside: If Benning becomes the GM here, he may want to pluck a coach out of Boston responsible for a strong defensive stand and a good amount of grit. Thats Houda. In eight seasons in Beantown, doesnt get enough create for pushing the right motivational buttons. At 47, the former WHL defenceman ready for next challenge.

Downside: Never the main man. Assistant in Rochester of AHL and assistant in NHL. The big job is a big step.

9. Jeff Blashill

Coach of AHLs Grand Rapids Griffins

Upside: After a Calder Cup title as a rookie coach last season, named AHL coach of the year for getting the Griffins playing even better this season. Despite 13 members of that championship club and 18 in total off the roster playing for the parent Detroit Red Wings, who used 37 players to extend their playoff appearance record to 23 seasons, the AHL club went 46-23-2-5. Currently leading the Western Conference quarterfinal vs. the Abbotsford Heat, 2-1.

Downside: Should be promoted back to Wings. If not, bidding will be fierce among NHL clubs.

10. Troy Ward

Coach of AHLs Abbotsford Heat

Upside: Got to the postseason despite apathy. The parent Calgary Flames operated at a break-even budget and losses were passed to the city that amounted to $7.2 million over first four years of a 10-year-agreement. Another $5.5 million was paid to get out of the deal. The team will move and the future of the game in Abbotsford is murky.

Downside: Is he head-coaching material? As assistant in Pittsburgh, passed over in Calgary for Bob Hartley.

[Absent Canuck]

Thankyou for the effort

+1

I take Guy Boucher . He is a players coach and likes to play a wide open uptempo style. We may not win every game but at least it will be fun to watch.

[JeremyCuddles]

12. Emilio Estevez

Pros: Brought a bunch of blue chip prospects with little to no potential and made them strong contenders. Lovable personality, outside of the box thinking, and scouts his own prospects.

Cons: Probably isn't a real coach.

Edit: Aladeen has brought to my attention the legendary flying V. Another Pro to Emilio. How could I forget?

Puckdontlie adds Emilio's (Bombay's) alcoholism and sleeping with stars mom to list of cons. Gotta warn The team.

[Aladeen]

12. Emilio Estevez

Pros: Brought a bunch of blue chip prospects with little to no potential and made them strong contenders. Lovable personality, outside of the box thinking, and scouts his own prospects.

Cons: Probably isn't a real coach.

plus he developed the undefendable flying V manoeuvre

[Nuxfanabroad]

13. Al freekin' Pacino

Pros: emotional, would do an excellent, "Do you remember?" Netflix-spiel.

[Brick Tamland]

Billy Bob Thornton...

[aGENT]

Trotz with Johnston as an associate...?

[TOMapleLaughs]

Jules from Pulp Fiction?

[Brick Tamland]

Blashill, Houda or Trotz

[Heretic]

Benning and Houda - that would tick off the Bruin's faithful if they can turn our team around!

[chrisbanks]

Thankyou for the effort

+1

I take Guy Boucher . He is a players coach and likes to play a wide open uptempo style. We may not win every game but at least it will be fun to watch.

do you not remember the trap game he threw out there that got him fired?? or him going bananas on the bench he was crazier than torts... but most canuck fans would love him because he always went crazy on the refs and it was always the refs fault ... torts actually held his players accountable and this fan base doesnt like that its never the players fault...

[Nas19]

Trotz's downside makes no sense.

EDIT: The coach can't be budget conscious. That's not his job. It's the GM's job. Trotz did an amazing job with what he head in Nashville. Anyone who says otherwise is an idiot. That being said I don't think Trotz is the right coach for the Canucks.

[tas]

Trotz with Johnston as an associate...?

that's my ideal.

[aGENT]

that's my ideal.

Does look pretty good on paper...

[aGENT]

Trotz's downside makes no sense.

*It's a Province article.

[oldnews]

Something that's not a fluffy, arrogant opinion piece from the Province....it must be Kuzma.

A few interesting names there - Blashill, Houda, Johnston.

I like Trotz among the experienced NHL head coach group.

As for this part:

Downside: Only made playoffs in seven of his 15 seasons, getting to the second round twice. Franchise developed great defencemen but never had much punch up front. Too budget-conscious. Could fill vacancies in Florida or Washington.

I don't see any of that really reflecting on Trotz - more of an organizational reality - and pigeon-holing him to Florida because he coached a budget-conscious club might not be fair. Not sure why they or Washington would be considered the candidates.

[Absent Canuck]

I dont think Trots wants to leave his management position in Nashville.

[Honky Cat]

Trotz's downside makes no sense.

EDIT: The coach can't be budget conscious. That's not his job. It's the GM's job. Trotz did an amazing job with what he head in Nashville. Anyone who says otherwise is an idiot. That being said I don't think Trotz is the right coach for the Canucks.

I would agree that Trotz isn't the right choice for Van..We have two of the best puck possession players and a management and fan base that wants entertaining hockey..He's a really good coach,but does not translate to our situation at all.

[NightHawkSniper]

12. Emilio Estevez

Pros: Brought a bunch of blue chip prospects with little to no potential and made them strong contenders. Lovable personality, outside of the box thinking, and scouts his own prospects.

Cons: Probably isn't a real coach.

Hmmmph, that's Coach Bombay to you sir.

[BeefcakeBo]

I'm a little surprised that no one has suggested the possibility of Adam Oates as a new head coach.