Speculation: Head Coach Hunt 2021

[Grimes]

I’ll say this…

Hakstol > Tocchet

It's close. At least Hakstol has a chance to be much better than he was in the past. I guess we had that hope with Tocchet too, that he learned from his experience in Pittsburgh. We all know how that turned out...

 

[rt]

BA also likely saw a ton of Groulx's teams when he was in the CHL (same with Tourigny) and BA was a scout.

Scouts probably talk to coaches all the time too. And not only head coaches, but I would guess especially assistant coaches. Who are bound to talk about the head coaches. I think Plandwoski was based in the Q early, IIRC.

 

[Mosby]

I've heard a bunch of Brian Burke interviews where he talks about (when he was doing his pro scouting duties) going to the rink early and talking to the coaches before the games. Sitting down in their offices and asking who's playing well, who's not, etc. It's probably similar for some scouts.

 

[Mosby]

Craig says Leach is out of the running. Todd Nelson may have a third interview.

Groulx has also interviewed. Not just talked to him about the job.

 

[rt]

Craig says Leach is out of the running. Todd Nelson may have a third interview.

“…I have confirmed that St. Louis Blues assistant coach Mike Van Ryn and Providence Bruins head coach Jay Leach are no longer in the running…

…One source told me that Dallas Stars assistant Todd Nelson will have a third interview…

I have also been told that André Tourigny and the team have spoken again since he returned from …the World Championship. It sounds like more talks are planned…

…I don’t have a sense of where things are headed with …Benoit Groulx, who…has interviewed with the team…

…I do not know if the Coyotes plan to interview New York Islanders assistant coach Lane Lambert…”

Neutral Zone: Updating the coaching search as the Coyotes narrow the candidate list

 

[rt]

Recap:
-Leach and MVR are out.

-Nelson to get 3rd interview.

-Tourigny has had multiple conversations and more to come.

-Groulx has talked to the team. Not sure if more discussions will be had or not.

-Not sure if team will wait on Lambert.

 

[Mosby]

If MVR is out due to limited HC experience, the same should apply to Lambert, no?

 

[RABBIT]

Typically when you get a third interview, that’s good news. Didn’t work out for RT as much, but hoping it does for a Nelson. He’s been my number one candidate all along

 

[Mosby]

This will be Nelson’s fourth time interviewing with us. My goodness. Hope he has Air Miles.

 

[JasonDemersWasOkay]

It’s between Nelson and Groulx for me, either would be great

 

[RABBIT]

The good news is that I like all three candidates that we have left that we’ve been in contact with. I wasn’t too convinced on MVR, and I felt uneasy about Leach and Leaman. Tourigny interests me, Groulx the same, but Nelson has been the one all along for me.

 

[rt]

It’s between Nelson and Groulx for me, either would be great

I’d be very excited for Tourigny too. Any of those three and I’d be feeling really happy about it. My preference is for Groulx.

 

[rt]

The good news is that I like all three candidates that we have left that we’ve been in contact with. I wasn’t too convinced on MVR, and I felt uneasy about Leach and Leaman. Tourigny interests me, Groulx the same, but Nelson has been the one all along for me.

For me it’s
1. Groulx
2. Nelson
3. Tourigny

But I won’t be disappointed in any of the three.

Lambert is the one I don’t want. Lol.

 

[Mosby]

Yep, the good news is of the candidates who have actually interviewed, they're all good. Can't go wrong.

 

[Mosby]

If Tocchet can't get a job, does that mean we're stuck with Housley? Can we please just fire him? I can't imagine he's making more than a couple 100k.

 

[RABBIT]

If Tocchet can't get a job, does that mean we're stuck with Housley? Can we please just fire him? I can't imagine he's making more than a couple 100k.

even if RT can’t get a job, the chances of a new head coach coming in and just accepting a pre-existing assistant are slim. I would assume that they would let Armstrong know that they are looking for their own guys and Armstrong would give the greenlight on relieving Phil of his duties. Let’s just hope the guy that comes in here isn’t afraid to fire a Hall of Famer

 

[Jakey53]

I guess Tocchet wasn't the hot commodity many outside AZ thought?

That was mostly the media heads spouting crap, with most believing it as gospel.

 

[Jakey53]

Yep, the good news is of the candidates who have actually interviewed, they're all good. Can't go wrong.

How do you know they are all good? None of these names mentioned are seasoned successful NHL coaches. We are going on a hope and a prayer fellas, make no mistake about it, especially when you add in an inexperienced NHL GM. It could be a fun ride, and everyone who has done their dues deserves a chance, but for this franchise they can't afford three or four years of on the job training and to continually miss the playoffs. Oh well, it is what it is. Stepan and RT are both gone so I'm happy for awhile.

 

[Mosby]

I think that would be closer had we hired Van Ryn. He's not qualified. The above three all have deep resumes.

 

[Jakey53]

I think that would be closer had we hired Van Ryn. He's not qualified. The above three all have deep resumes.

Not NHL HC'ing.

 

[Mosby]

No, but there are tons of successful coaches around the league on their first go as an NHL HC. Off the top of my head, Bednar, Cooper, Brind'Amour, Evason, Ducharme, Keefe ... Gotta start somewhere.

 

[Grimes]

I'm actually surprised Tocchet knows how to make a slideshow.

He probably had his kid make it, or paid someone to make it. No way in hell he did.

 

[rt]

This is a really good interview with Tourigny:
‎The Hockey Masterclass: The Hockey Masterclass Episode 27: André Tourigny on Apple Podcasts

 

[rt]

And same format for Groulx:
‎The Hockey Masterclass: The Hockey Masterclass Episode 12: Ben Groulx on Apple Podcasts

 

[rt]

An interesting tidbit is how close of a relationship Tourigny and Groulx have. Andre says at one point that he’s never had a phone conversation with Groulx that lasted less than one hour. That a “quick hello” is an hour minimum. He says he calls him regularly because every time they talk, he feels he becomes a better coach.