Speculation: Head Coach Hunt 2021

[cobra427]

The AB/Chayka/RT era is like what happens when the boss goes on vacation and lets the assistants run everything while he’s gone.

No adult supervision, with inexperience at all positions

 

[RemoAZ]

I had RT at the top of the list of who they interviewed. Can't remember who else they did interview.

The difference now is we have a hockey guy that was in the front office for an organization that built a cup winner. Does that guarantee he's going to make all the right decisions? Absolutely not but I like the resume of the guy making those decisions now over the last one and as Chayka would say, "by a large margin".

 

[Jakey53]

No adult supervision, with inexperience at all positions

Moe, Curly and Larry. RT talks and acts like Curly.

 

[Sm00chy]

 

[JasonDemersWasOkay]

Confirmation that we’re interviewing Nelson from Friedman.

I think we can put to bed that whole fun “we’re only specifically interviewing guys in their 40s” discussion that kinda took up 3 pages of this thread lol

 

[rt]

Confirmation that we’re interviewing Nelson from Friedman.

I think we can put to bed that whole fun “we’re only specifically interviewing guys in their 40s” discussion that kinda took up 3 pages of this thread lol

Good news! I have Nelson clearly ahead of every single name on the 40s only list, apart from Rocky Thompson. Nelson is five years younger than Rick Tocchet, so I guess BA can still be technically correct when he says they're targeting younger coaches, if he means strictly younger relative to Rick Tocchet - LOL.

I think Nelson would be maybe the most comfortable hiring for me. Of all the candidates mentioned, I feel like he carries the least risk and has the highest floor. He's a guy who's been around forever, has a great resume, and if he got the job the entire hockey world would collectively say, "finally, about time". Reminds me of the Bill Armstrong hiring honestly. It's a dude who's paid the dues, had the success, is a well-known name, and has been on everyone's shortlist for a long time.

 

[Grimes]

Glad we are getting a jump on this. Glad we are interviewing a guy who checks off a lot of checkboxes of what I consider to be a successful coach in today's NHL. May not be the most exciting of the prospects but is a damn solid one.

 

[SR]

Anyone want to bring me up to speed on Nelson while I go google him?

 

[WrinkledPossum]

I wanted Todd Nelson over Rick Tocchet last time. Would be happy with him replacing him. Correcting a Chayka mistake.

If I'm remembering correctly he was coming off a Calder Cup win when we last interviewed him. This time he's one season removed from a Stanley Cup appearance.

 

[JasonDemersWasOkay]

If Nelson can have us playing a heavy play-dictating style like the stars I’m all for it.

The only thing I would worry about is the stars are largely a team that has lacked finish while being a more talented team offensively than the coyotes.

 

[Jakey53]

Good news! I have Nelson clearly ahead of every single name on the 40s only list, apart from Rocky Thompson. Nelson is five years younger than Rick Tocchet, so I guess BA can still be technically correct when he says they're targeting younger coaches, if he means strictly younger relative to Rick Tocchet - LOL.

I think Nelson would be maybe the most comfortable hiring for me. Of all the candidates mentioned, I feel like he carries the least risk and has the highest floor. He's a guy who's been around forever, has a great resume, and if he got the job the entire hockey world would collectively say, "finally, about time". Reminds me of the Bill Armstrong hiring honestly. It's a dude who's paid the dues, had the success, is a well-known name, and has been on everyone's shortlist for a long time.

I believe he could be a solid hire. Had great success in the AHL.

 

[Jakey53]

Can someone tell me about Lane Lambert? He has learned from one of the best, but I have never followed his career.

 

[rt]

I wanted Todd Nelson over Rick Tocchet last time. Would be happy with him replacing him. Correcting a Chayka mistake.

If I'm remembering correctly he was coming off a Calder Cup win when we last interviewed him. This time he's one season removed from a Stanley Cup appearance.

Nelson was my run-away favorite early until Tocchet's name came up. That shot Tocchet right to the top of my list. I think I was basically saying I'd flip a coin and had the two tied at the top when they went with Tocchet and I was happy. The only poster that was vocally against the Tocchet hire was XX. I can't remember but I think XX had Keefe in front and Nelson in the two slot. Did not like Tocchet.

 

[The Feckless Puck]

The only poster that was vocally against the Tocchet hire was XX. I can't remember but I think XX had Keefe in front and Nelson in the two slot. Did not like Tocchet.

I wasn't thrilled about it, but I didn't have any other candidates in mind so I didn't say too much about it.

 

[Dirty Old Man]

I guess I'm good with this, as I've always been of the opinion that the Stars overachieved in the bubble last summer, an opinion that got backed up this season.

Hmmm, a former Stars coach that gets the most out of his players...

 

[JasonDemersWasOkay]

I also like that Nelson compared to Tocchet had favorable reviews in his first brief head coaching stint.

Nelson was an interim for an awful pre-mcdavid oilers team in 2014-15, but it’s been said that he at least got the team playing respectable hockey until the end of the season.

Tocchet was awful his first go in Tampa and was awful here too.

 

[Grimes]

I wasn't thrilled about it, but I didn't have any other candidates in mind so I didn't say too much about it.

It's wild how many more options there are this offseason. It felt VERY narrow when we hired RT. I was in the same boat, not thrilled but was optimistic that maybe he was coming out of Pitt with new tactics, experience and philosophy.

 

[Jakey53]

I guess I'm good with this, as I've always been of the opinion that the Stars overachieved in the bubble last summer, an opinion that got backed up this season.

Hmmm, a former Stars coach that gets the most out of his players...

The Stars had injury problems this year.

 

[Jakey53]

It's wild how many more options there are this offseason. It felt VERY narrow when we hired RT. I was in the same boat, not thrilled but was optimistic that maybe he was coming out of Pitt with new tactics, experience and philosophy.

How do you know there are more options? Nelson is the only name mentioned and we are like three weeks into a HC search.

 

[rt]

The Tippett break-up happened WAAAY late in the offseason. Basically draft day. All the top candidates were gone.

 

[Grimes]

How do you know there are more options? Nelson is the only name mentioned and we are like three weeks into a HC search.

For one all top name guys like Gallant and Boudreau are available, which I don't believe there were really any "premium" coaches available four years ago. Then there is a whole group of guys who have been getting pro experience that were coaching in the juniors four years ago. The pool feels 5x larger. Not saying all of the names that are available or that have been mentioned here are interested in the position. But the amount of potential options are much higher than the four names we know we had interest in 4 years ago which were RT, Nelson, Keefe and I want to say Eakins.

 

[Schemp]

How do you know there are more options? Nelson is the only name mentioned and we are like three weeks into a HC search.

.: StLouis season just ended. Expecting Van Ryn to get an interview!

 

[rt]

If we're opening the search up to dudes in their 50s, I hope we take a look at David Quinn, Derek Laxdal and Brad Shaw, in addition to Todd Nelson.

I like Rocky Thompson the best. Then I like Todd Nelson and David Quinn in my next tier. After that, I probably have Derek Laxdal, Brad Shaw, and Mike Van Ryn in a group.

1. Thompson
2/3. Nelson/Quinn
4/5/6. MVR/Laxdal/Shaw

^ something like that. But this will change daily or weekly. LOL.

Anyway, people mistook my who rant about coaches in their 40s as a preference. It was not a preference. Only two of my top six are younger than 52 years old. I just find it funny how BA went around the radio show circuit talking up how he was looking for a coach who was YOUNGER and then the first leaked interview is a guy who's 52. Haha. I didn't expect it. I guessed it meant he was looking for youth. Apparently not. Which is fine by me.

 

[Mangosteen]

I guess I'm good with this, as I've always been of the opinion that the Stars overachieved in the bubble last summer, an opinion that got backed up this season.

Hmmm, a former Stars coach that gets the most out of his players...

Didn't the Stars underachieve? The owner was constantly calling out his stars? Wasnt Nelson the assistant coach? Understand tongue and cheek but I wouldn't touch any Stars coaches.

 

[WrinkledPossum]

Nelson was my run-away favorite early until Tocchet's name came up. That shot Tocchet right to the top of my list. I think I was basically saying I'd flip a coin and had the two tied at the top when they went with Tocchet and I was happy. The only poster that was vocally against the Tocchet hire was XX. I can't remember but I think XX had Keefe in front and Nelson in the two slot. Did not like Tocchet.

Hope this works link works. I much preferred Nelson or Keefe back then. Didn't hate Tocchet but was not enthused about his hire at all.
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