Will we ever see a Russian NHL head coach?

[dalewood12]

Currently, Sergei Gonchar is an assistant coach in Vancouver, and Viacheslav Fetisov was an assistant coach in New Jersey.

Do you think we will see one in the next few years? Ten years?

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[Bozo Nicholson]

No not never.

 

[Stive Morgan]

Igor Larionov is probably the closest bet but I see a Swede or Finn being the 3rd Euro coach

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

No not never.

This is a hilariously confusing answer. The triple negative.

 

[the]

I know Kovalev had some NHL coaching aspirations. Perhaps he could succeed mainly because he’s fluent in English.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Buffalo should hire Fedorov. He didn't play for them, but he still an NHL legend, a HoFer, speaks English fluently, and he has some head coach experience.

 

[Killer Orcas]

I'm sure we will just need one that's good available and speaks English good enough to yell at players and the refs!

 

[GreatSaveEssensa]

No not never.

So yes then?

 

[Galactico]

Yes. If there are Serbian coaches in the NBA I don’t see why we wouldn’t see Russian coaches in the NHL.

 

[Breakers]

Malkin dedicated his hart trophy to Gonchar. Said he was the best teammate he’s ever had. Taught him so much about the North American game

He seems like he could be.
Hughes thinks he is a really good coach
He has a Norris, and potentially a 2nd as his teaching the defense core

 

[Hallonbroder]

Really hope not

 

[ViD]

Ovie will be coaching the Caps

 

[Acallabeth]

Michkov will be the best coach in the world one day.

 

[ViD]

Michkov will be the best coach in the world one day.

Btw, Znarok actually got some sort of a position at the Flyers

 

[jetsforever]

Ever? Yeah pretty likely

 

[ponder]

How many European head coaches have we seen in the NHL, ever? Is it just these 3?

• Ivan Hlinka
• Alpo Suhonen
• Ralph Krueger (born in Canada and spent most of his youth there, but has overall lived longer in Germany than Canada - he'd probably consider himself more German than Canadian?)

So a Russian coach in the next few years? Highly doubt it, given how closed the league is to any sort of European coaches, we seem to see assistants but almost never head coaches. NHL coaching is still quite the old boys club.

But will we see a Russian NHL coach ever? Sure, "ever" is a long time, it'll happen eventually. But my money is not on it happening over the next few years.

 

[Arto Kilponen]

How many European head coaches have we seen in the NHL, ever? Is it just these 3?

• Ivan Hlinka
• Alpo Suhonen
• Ralph Krueger (born in Canada and spent most of his youth there, but has overall lived longer in Germany than Canada - he'd probably consider himself more German than Canadian?)

So a Russian coach in the next few years? Highly doubt it, given how closed the league is to any sort of European coaches, we seem to see assistants but almost never head coaches. NHL coaching is still quite the old boys club.

But will we see a Russian NHL coach ever? Sure, "ever" is a long time, it'll happen eventually. But my money is not on it happening over the next few years.

And then some interims too, but whether head coaching in a game and being a head coach are the same thing, that a different topic.

 

[frontsfan67]

Currently, Sergei Gonchar is an assistant coach in Vancouver, and Viacheslav Fetisov was an assistant coach in New Jersey.

Do you think we will see one in the next few years? Ten years?

I predict gonchar becomes a head coach in the next few years.

then when ovi retires some sorry team will give him a shot if he is open to that just like Gretzky got a shot at it. It’ll fail miserably but that may be another record he sets- fewest amount of games before getting canned.

 

[WayTooCold]

No. The Russians and euros suck at English language. That's why the first 3 has sucked.

 

[Guadana]

Poor guys who never wants to see Russian coaches. They are looking at Russian players every day. And some of them are winning Hart's, Vezinas, Conns Smyths etc. Its painful.

Anyway I think may be Gonchar is closest candidate, I'm not sure, that Brylin or more over Fedorov and Larionov will have head coaching job in NHL soon.

 

[Hallonbroder]

If there are Russian coaches, what will they do with players like Ponikarovsky, Fedotenko etc?

 

[centipede2233]

Well if i was alive and you asked me in 1942 if we would ever see a German player in the nhl id say no. And I would be wrong. So I guess yes

 

[Hallonbroder]

I guess that’s accurate. But at least it’s not the same germany

 

[Nogatco Rd]

then when ovi retires some sorry team will give him a shot if he is open to that just like Gretzky got a shot at it. It’ll fail miserably but that may be another record he sets- fewest amount of games before getting canned.

Why so bitter?

 

[PM88RU]

I’m sure there are good and excellent Euro coaches, but…

The thing is, if you’re European then after playing a career in NA you’ll be able to come back home, be a star here and bring your input to a local hockey even on state level, helping hockey federation in general or clubs or just kids/grown up players to develop (founding your school e.g.) etc

Or one will rather choose to compete with NA coaches in a league where coaches are fired rather quickly and the stakes are the highest?

That’s up for every player to decide