Can Igor Larionov be a head coach in the NHL?

[Kshahdoo]

I mean look at what he's doing in the KHL. He took one of the poorest teams and has made it one of the top ones.

And Torpedo plays very entertaining hockey, similar to what Larionov used to play with CSKA, Team Soviet and Detroit. He utilizes players' skills, speed and IQ above all i.e. it's prety good and up-to-date system for the NHL.

The only problem is he's soon-to-be 62, but he still looks very good, not like an old fart at all.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Hard for non North Americans to coach in the NHL.

A huge part of coaching is connecting with the culture, across various generations and understanding the nuance of how to motivate and effectively communicate.

 

[SI90]

Yes but can we also give Ollie Jokenin an opportunity please!

 

[ThatGuy22]

I mean look what he's doing in the KHL. He took one of the poorest teams and has made it one of the top ones.

And Torpedo plays very entertaining hockey, similar to what Larionov used to play with CSKA, Team Soviet and Detroit. He utilizes players' skills, speed and IQ above all i.e. it's prety good and up-to-date system for the NHL.

The only problem is he's soon-to-be 62, but he still looks very good, not like an old fart at all.

How's his English? I can't recall ever seeing an interview with him although I'm sure their are plenty.

He did spend a decade plus in America, so maybe it would work.

But isn't he pretty heavily invested in promoting Russing hockey like Fetisov?

 

[Mr Kot]

Yes but can we also give Ollie Jokenin an opportunity please!

this but unronically

 

[danny90]

If Paul Maurice can still get a job I don’t see why not.

 

[ViD]

How's his English? I can't recall ever seeing an interview with him although I'm sure their are plenty.

He did spend a decade plus in America, so maybe it would work.

But isn't he pretty heavily invested in promoting Russing hockey like Fetisov?

 

[ozzie]

Like any coach, right team, right circumstances? They don't call him the Professor for nothing. He's better than a lot of current NHL coaches. He just needs a good fit and support. With the way the current NHL is headed, his style may actually be perfect timing for a skilled team.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Like any coach, right team, right circumstances? They don't call him the Professor for nothing. He's better than a lot of current NHL coaches. He just needs a good fit and support. With the way the current NHL is headed, his style may actually be perfect timing for a skilled team.

Exactly. Top NHL teams play exactly the hockey Larionov used to play so who knows this hockey better than him?

 

[Honour Over Glory]

How's his English? I can't recall ever seeing an interview with him although I'm sure their are plenty.

He did spend a decade plus in America, so maybe it would work.

But isn't he pretty heavily invested in promoting Russing hockey like Fetisov?

He literally used to translate for Bure back in the early 90s.

Also I think he’s coaching that team because his Son is also there. Pretty sure they’d give him any job in the KHL anyway.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Larionov is very well respected in the hockey establishment. If he really wanted an NHL coaching job, he could probably make it happen

 

[ThatGuy22]

He literally used to translate for Bure back in the early 90s.

Also I think he’s coaching that team because his Son is also there. Pretty sure they’d give him any job in the KHL anyway.

Well, if he's got the big barrier crossed only a matter of an owner/gm being creative...

That leads to it being improbable, but I'd love to see new blood

 

[Kshahdoo]

He literally used to translate for Bure back in the early 90s.

Also I think he’s coaching that team because his Son is also there. Pretty sure they’d give him any job in the KHL anyway.

His son was signed after he became a coach and Larionov jr is 7+20 after 34 games so if we assume KHL teams not purposedly letting goals in from him because he's Larionov's son he's doing very well in the KHL.

And btw it's another thing that Larionov has done. 31 year old Kruchinin plays the best hokey of his life and beats his KHL records, Kovalenko jr is 15+19 after 39 games, and he was considered a bust before this sesason. Yu Sato who was a 3-4th liner in the USHL (!) plays and scores in the KHL now. And there are a lot of such stories on Torpedo.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

His son was signed after he became a coach and Larionov jr is 7+20 after 34 games so if we assume KHL teams not purposedly letting goals in from him because he's Larionov's son he's doing very well in the KHL.

The point is at his age, he’s likely ok with the grind in the KHL and coaching his son. He’s more likely to be given the reigns of a team as a Gm in the KHL. There’s also the issue of a Russian coach/Gm coming into the league at a time where there’s stuff going on and just recently, I think it was some Canadian city petitioning to ban Ovechkin from coming and playing.

So the timing isn’t right and by the time it is, at that age and travel in the NHL it’s pointless.

 

[Kshahdoo]

The point is at his age, he’s likely ok with the grind in the KHL and coaching his son. He’s more likely to be given the reigns of a team as a Gm in the KHL. There’s also the issue of a Russian coach/Gm coming into the league at a time where there’s stuff going on and just recently, I think it was some Canadian city petitioning to ban Ovechkin from coming and playing.

So the timing isn’t right and by the time it is, at that age and travel in the NHL it’s pointless.

I doubt it. I have a feeling he isn't on good terms with FHR, too independent. I bet if any NHL team offers him head coach job he'll immediately accept it... I mean during offseason of course, he won't leave his team in the middle of a season.

 

[SwedishFire]

Hard for non North Americans to coach in the NHL.

A huge part of coaching is connecting with the culture, across various generations and understanding the nuance of how to motivate and effectively communicate.

Larionov was called the professor as a player. But yrah, keep your coach, it sure will end well.

A NHL team should really go after Larionov, he understands all parts if the game. Just give him time to biild the group in his way.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Hard for non North Americans to coach in the NHL.

A huge part of coaching is connecting with the culture, across various generations and understanding the nuance of how to motivate and effectively communicate.

Hard disagree. You gotta connect with the players on a personal level, no one gives a shit if coach doesn’t listen to the same music or know what a Kardashian is.

 

[Jumptheshark]

I mean look what he's doing in the KHL. He took one of the poorest teams and has made it one of the top ones.

And Torpedo plays very entertaining hockey, similar to what Larionov used to play with CSKA, Team Soviet and Detroit. He utilizes players' skills, speed and IQ above all i.e. it's prety good and up-to-date system for the NHL.

The only problem is he's soon-to-be 62, but he still looks very good, not like an old fart at all.

does he want to be in the question. I think the Wings offered him a gig were he could have developed into a headcoach--but he did not want to do it at that point in time. Also, at 62/63 it maybe difficult for him to be a coach in the NHL for the first time

 

[mattihp]

Both Jokinen and Larionov could make good NHL coaches. But the NHL still has 15 years of recycling old guys before it is time for their assistants to show the worth.

I wonder how much Alpo Suhonen ruined by being a dud.

 

[Zine]

He needs more time to prove himself.

It was only 2 years ago when Larionov was pure garbage as the U20 coach. But I reckon that was due to a lack of experience; it was his first head coaching gig.

Larionov seems to be a fast learner though. He’s getting the most out of a rather bad Torpedo roster and their kids are developing great under him. He’s been nothing short of fantastic .
But consistency is everything. I’d like to see at least another year of current level coaching out of him before he tries the NHL.

 

[johan f]

Hard for non North Americans to coach in the NHL.

A huge part of coaching is connecting with the culture, across various generations and understanding the nuance of how to motivate and effectively communicate.

Plenty of europeans in teams. I could understand your point regarding communications if we lived in 1971.

 

[Mogo]

How's his English? I can't recall ever seeing an interview with him although I'm sure their are plenty.

He did spend a decade plus in America, so maybe it would work.

But isn't he pretty heavily invested in promoting Russing hockey like Fetisov?

The man is a professor I'm sure his english is good

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Hard for non North Americans to coach in the NHL.

A huge part of coaching is connecting with the culture, across various generations and understanding the nuance of how to motivate and effectively communicate.

Yet in many other leagues or sports there are tons of highly successful foreign coaches who don't often even speak the local language that great.

The NHL just happens to be run by people who don't want to open the door to competition for their jobs.

 

[Mulletman]

this but unronically

Yes Coach Olli Jokinen is something that needs to happen. People don't realize it but Olli Jokinen has totally turned his life around. People only remember washed up Olli Jokinen before he left the NHL:

But Olli has really pulled himself together since leaving the NHL. He stopped drinking, started working out, eating a carnivore diet and meditating every day. And now he looks like this:

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Maybe but KHL coaches would be playing Bedard for like 3 mins per game because they hate young players for some reason