Speculation: Head Coach Hunt 2021

[rt]

My guess is Rangers go with Gallant. His Vegas money runs out in a couple weeks.

Seattle is waiting to see if they can get Brind’Amour but after he re-signs in Carolina they will hire Tocchet.

Buffalo will probably just keep Granato.

That all sounds right.

 

[Canis Latrans]

It’s also interesting that we have already given second interviews to both Van Ryn and Nelson. How do you determine who gets a second interview when you haven’t even talked to all of your reported candidates? Maybe one of those first two guys is close and the second interview involves ownership.

I don't think he's so rules-bound that he can't have four candidates get second interviews. This is pretty close to how interviews go for academia. You have three top candidates who come in to interview and give a job talk to the department, then it's not uncommon for your top candidate to be given offers elsewhere, so now you have to expand your search because the other two candidates bombed the face-to-face stuff and you know they won't fit. You could stick to just 3 second interviews, but you're really limiting yourself if your best of those go elsewhere and you find out you really misread the others.

 

[Jakey53]

I could also see a young head coach not being as familiar with the other best up and coming specialty coaches that could be on the staff. Say the candidate is a defense and PK guy; does he know who would round out his PP well, or should he just rope in his buddy as Armstrong himself did when he coached in the minors?

I would think being up front about what your weakness is in identifying an assistant for an area is better than tanking your future prospects because you hired some one incapable of shoring up your weakness and now the GM knows it was your poor decision alone.

I can easily see Armstrong stepping in to help out in finding the right assistants. You can't expect a less experienced guy to know the whole field and be fully apprised of the latest coaching innovations. No candidate is perfect, and it should be a team effort.

I see your point because of all the inexperience, and that is the problem I have. I just want someone to right the ship, settle things down, and give the players a sense of security knowing their coach has their back and gives the team a chance to win. Being a HC in the NHL is such a hard job, and being a successful coach is even harder, and being an inexperienced successful NHL HC has to be the hardest. I guess we are going on a "hope and a prayer" again.

 

[Jakey53]

My guess is Rangers go with Gallant. His Vegas money runs out in a couple weeks.

Seattle is waiting to see if they can get Brind’Amour but after he re-signs in Carolina they will hire Tocchet.

Buffalo will probably just keep Granato.

Is Seattle really that dumb?

 

[Jakey53]

It’s also interesting that we have already given second interviews to both Van Ryn and Nelson. How do you determine who gets a second interview when you haven’t even talked to all of your reported candidates? Maybe one of those first two guys is close and the second interview involves ownership.

I think they are just trying to stay ahead of the situation.

 

[Mosby]

Craig says we have "talked to" Nelson, Van Ryn, Tourigny, and Leach.

The first two have for sure interviewed. But I don't know if he is using "talked to" to mean "interviewed". Like maybe we just contacted the others to gauge their interest.

 

[rt]

Craig says we have "talked to" Nelson, Van Ryn, Tourigny, and Leach.

The first two have for sure interviewed. But I don't know if he is using "talked to" to mean "interviewed". Like maybe we just contacted the others to gauge their interest.

Where'd you see the Tourigny bit?

 

[Mosby]

It's in Craig's latest article. Looking at it again I see he added Benoit Groulx too.

 

[rt]

can confirm the Coyotes have spoken about the job (some of them will get second interviews).
Dallas Stars assistant coach Todd Nelson, who has been a candidate for multiple jobs in the past, including Dallas, Edmonton and Anaheim. Nelson has already interviewed once.
St. Louis Blues assistant coach Mike Van Ryn. Armstrong and Van Ryn won a Stanley Cup together in St. Louis in 2019. Van Ryn previously served as the Tucson Roadrunners coach (2017-18) and the organization's player development coach (2016-17) before taking his current position with the Blues. Van Ryn will have his first interview on Monday.
Providence Bruins (AHL) coach Jay Leach, who crossed paths with Armstrong while Leach played at Providence College and Armstrong was the Bruins' coach. Leach also played for Armstrong with Trenton (ECHL) in 2003-04.
Ottawa 67s (OHL) coach and Team Canada’s assistant coach at the World Championship, André Tourigny. Tourigny served previous assistant coaching stints with Colorado (2013-15) and Ottawa (2015-16).
I can also confirm, per sources, that as of this past weekend, the Coyotes had not contacted Providence College coach Nate Leaman, San Jose Sharks associate coach Rocky Thompson, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) coach Brad Lauer, who was Armstrong’s teammate in Cleveland (IHL), or former Lehigh Valley (AHL) coach Scott Gordon, who parted ways with the Flyers organization on May 18.

 

[Sm00chy]

 

[Mosby]

Benoit Groulx was the hot shit young coach a couple years ago. I don't know why it never happened. And now he has gone a long time without winning anything.

 

[rt]

Groulx would be interesting. Syracuse hasn’t won it all but they’ve been really good and a fantastic development factory for Tampa. Maybe a Plandowski connection?

 

[Jakey53]

Groulx would be interesting. Syracuse hasn’t won it all but they’ve been really good and a fantastic development factory for Tampa. Maybe a Plandowski connection?

Is is Groulx or Tampa's scouts that should get the credit? Maybe both?

 

[Grimes]

These are all pretty promising candidates. Not mention of Quinn is interesting. I wonder if that has implications to acquiring Eichel or not (not that I think that is the best route for us to go).

 

[Mosby]

Guessing Quinn is too expensive, even if the NYR pick up a portion.

 

[Mosby]

NYR hires Gallant.

Kind of funny that Tocchet is 0/2 on interviews (CBJ, NYR).

 

[Mosby]

If you're Tocchet, at this point do you prefer Seattle or Buffalo?

 

[TheLegend]

NYR hires Gallant.

Kind of funny that Tocchet is 0/2 on interviews (CBJ, NYR).

It’s actually not too surprising.

Gallant was the number one FA and the Rangers have no issue paying the dollars.

CBJ was looking for bargain basement so they stayed within themselves.

 

[AZDesertKnight]

If you're Tocchet, at this point do you prefer Seattle or Buffalo?

I don't think he gets either as a head coach. Tocch is an assistant coach at best

 

[Mosby]

It’s just going to be hilarious if “the most in demand coach” doesn’t have a job in October.

 

[Jormungandr]

I wonder how long our candidates (Van Ryn, Nelson, Groulx…etc) are willing to wait and be second fiddle while we obviously want, and are waiting for Lambert.

 

[Jakey53]

NYR hires Gallant.

Kind of funny that Tocchet is 0/2 on interviews (CBJ, NYR).

Why is it funny? If he was hired, now that would be funny.

 

[Jakey53]

It’s actually not too surprising.

Gallant was the number one FA and the Rangers have no issue paying the dollars.

CBJ was looking for bargain basement so they stayed within themselves.

I don't think CBJ's were looking for a bargain, not with JD running the show. JD wanted the right person and Larson was his man, and I think a good pick. CBJ keeps coaching stability and familiarity.

 

[rt]

If you're Tocchet, at this point do you prefer Seattle or Buffalo?

Seattle 100%

I don't really see Buffalo hiring him, anyway. I think they'll just keep their cheap guy.

 

[rt]

I wonder how long our candidates (Van Ryn, Nelson, Groulx…etc) are willing to wait and be second fiddle while we obviously want, and are waiting for Lambert.

Craig says the Coyotes have reached out to Nelson, Van Ryn, Leach, Tourigny and Groulx. He says they're waiting on Lambert. I'd have Lambert either 4th, 5th, or 6th on my list, if I had to rank just those names.