Thrashers’ search: Pondering Chicago assistant (and Hartley)
Rick Dudley has an important decision to make: Who will coach his team? (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
Given the sports landscape, I don’t expect the masses to obsess over Rick Dudley’s head coaching search the way most did Mark Richt’s search for a defensive coordinator. (Could Kirby Smart fix goals-against?). But this will be arguably the biggest decision Dudley makes. So for what it’s worth, here are five names to consider:
John Torchetti is a popular assistant coach with Chicago.
♦ John Torchetti: Some around hockey already consider him the favorite. He’s an assistant with the Chicago Blackhawks, where Dudley worked before coming to Atlanta last year. Torchetti also worked with Dudley at two other NHL stops, Tampa Bay and Florida. His strength is as a teacher and working with young players. He has never been a full-fledged NHL head coach but did have two interim stints with Florida and Los Angeles.
♦ Craig MacTavish: He had a pretty solid first five seasons as Edmonton coach (three playoff berths, one Stanley Cup finals appearance) before the Oilers slid in his last three years, leading to his firing last year. Edmonton’s biggest problem for a while was economics (an inability to keep good players), and then miscalculated on several players. But MacTavish was respected and his teams always played hard. Known for being
Craig MacTavish coached Edmonton to the Stanley Cup finals in 2005-06.
glib, MacTavish said the following when hired as a commentator by the Canadian sports channel, TSN: “I’m happy to finally be among the experts where the issues are many and solutions obvious. I appreciate TSN providing a safe haven for unemployed coaches, as we rehabilitate ourselves towards future employability.”
♦ Bob Hartley: A longshot? Yes. But don’t laugh. Hartley, who has been out of coaching since being fired by the Thrashers, would love to get back behind a bench. He still maintains a home in Atlanta. He is the only coach to get this team to the playoffs. He could provide the structure the team needs. He loved coaching here and he never has publicly spoken ill about the organization, ownership or Don Waddell. When I phoned Hartley, he said only that he would like to get back into coaching but declined further comment.
♦ Ken Hitchcock: Yes, it has been a decade since his
John Stevens made the playoffs two of his first three seasons in Philadelphia.
meteoric success in Dallas (Stanley Cup, two finals appearances, five postseasons in seven years). He had a decent run in Philadelphia (three playoffs in four years, including a run to the conference finals). He made the playoffs only once in four seasons in Columbus but it could be argued he didn’t have a great roster, either. Here’s the thing: Hitchcock is one of the smartest hockey coaches ever, and he excels at preaching defense and getting teams to fight for loose pucks. He’s worth considering.
♦ John Stevens: My pal Craig Custance of the Sporting News is pushing Stevens, who spent three-plus seasons as Flyers coach before being fired 25 games into this season. He made the playoffs two of his first three seasons, losing both years to Pittsburgh (conference finals and first round). Downside: He has a reputation of being player-friendly, and the question is whether the Thrashers want somebody tougher after John Anderson.
So there are five names. Anybody else you would like to see the Thrashers go after. And please don’t say Scotty Bowman. Or Toe Blake. (Old time hockey!)
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Previous post: Thrashers make changes, but did they go far enough?
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75 comments Add your comment
Wristshot
April 15th, 2010
6:57 am
Ted Nolan.
JD
April 15th, 2010
7:00 am
I don’t want to see Don Waddell’s fat face at all in the off season or during the season.
brian rudisel
April 15th, 2010
7:19 am
Michel therrien
collegedude
April 15th, 2010
7:40 am
Let’s get Hitchcock.
Falcon fans, come meet & have lunch with 3 Falcon’s legends & support a local charity at the same time. Jeff Van Note, Jessie Tuggle, & Buddy Curry will be there and have a Q&A session with those in attendence. Check it out here: http://www.falconnationcharities.org/lunchwithlegends.html
Resign or Resign?
April 15th, 2010
7:49 am
Is Kurt Russell available? He was really good in that movie! MacTavish? Scottish hockey? I know “The Torch” has a good rep, but why was he passed over in Fla & LA? Hitchcock? “Vertigo” is one of my favorites! John Stevens=John Anderson. Seriously, hope it’s MacTavish or Hitchcock; though one wonders why such supposedly good coaches are still available.
tp
April 15th, 2010
8:20 am
Rick Dudley’s hair stylist. How hard would it be for that person to motivate a team when they’ve already convinced a man like Dudley to proudly wear a squirrel on his head?
Glovesave29
April 15th, 2010
8:28 am
If youre going to consider MacTavish, better keep the mascots away. Just ask Harvey the Hound in Calgary!
douglasville dawg
April 15th, 2010
8:34 am
Mike Keenan
All I'm Saying...
April 15th, 2010
8:38 am
I say go with the ‘Torch’ or Ted Nolan. If they say no, then bring in Don Cherry as he and his pet pit bulls are typically more entertaining than the hockey.
Sherry Taylor
April 15th, 2010
8:54 am
Sorry, but Old Time Hockey might not be a bad idea, you can’t argue with the success of some of those old time hockey guys, I will refrain from naming them, as you asked. But, player-friendly isn’t going to hack it either, we’ve seen that from the last two years. There has to be a happy median in there somewhere. I actually wouldn’t mind seeing Hartley come back, several of the players who gave him the hardest of times in the clubhouse are now gone, so why not, but you are correct, he is a long shot at best. it is a good list, Jeff.
Laura
April 15th, 2010
9:01 am
I don’t know, Brian – Therrien might be too “soff.”
I kid. He’d probably be able to get them into shape, as would Andy Murray, but you have to wonder if it’s worth it to hire a coach with a “shelf life.” Slater said something in an interview a while back that this team really needs continuity – it’s a shame we can’t find a Barry Trotz kind guy and hold on to him.
At least given their past sour grapes, we won’t have to worry about Dudley giving Keenan a chance.
BugKiller
April 15th, 2010
9:05 am
I say they get Whoopie Goldberg to sit behind the bench as Ida May and get coaching tips from the Ghost of Herb Brooks.
Because this team needs a Miracle if they’re gonna survive in Atlanta.
Waddell and the Atlanta Dispirited Group of A-Holes have just about destroyed hockey in Atlanta, and this seems more a band-aid (I cannot believe they’re keeping Waddell, who also ruined USA Hockey for a four-year period, in the building in ANY capacity) than a true fix.
Why not Mike Keenan? He’s coached all of the other teams, shouldn’t Atlanta be next on his list?
Seriously, though, I’d go with Craig MacTavish.
One of the last NHL players to play without a helmet. Tough as nails. Important, enforcer-ish presence on the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion Rangers team at the end of his career. Coached by Keenan. Played with Messier.
He’s gotta have some good ideas on how to fix this situation. So I say go with MacTavish. At the very least, he’ll get this team playing defense.
And possibly an offense that just isn’t “dump the puck in and let’s see what happens.”
GaVaHokie
April 15th, 2010
9:12 am
I’d like to see a movie about the Thrashers with Mickey Rourke playing Rick Dudley.
My Top 3 Coaching candidates… I’ll be happy with any of them.
Paul MacLean
Bob Hartley
John Torchetti
Jeff Schultz
April 15th, 2010
9:28 am
Wristshot — I like Ted Nolan . . . about 10 or 12 years ago.
Jeff Schultz
April 15th, 2010
9:30 am
Brian Rudisel — I almost threw Therrien onto the list. He’s an interesting guy and I thought did a pretty good job in Montreal, which isn’t an easy place to coach. (Think New York with a French accent.) He also got Pittsburgh to the finals — and then got fired the following year.
Jeff Schultz
April 15th, 2010
9:31 am
TP — Fortunately, GM jobs don’t come with grooming requirements. (I like the squirrel line though.)
Joe Friday
April 15th, 2010
9:45 am
Only way Torchetti doesn’t get the job is if he turns down the offer
smokemonster
April 15th, 2010
9:59 am
You forgot Emilio Estevez also.
bdawg1968
April 15th, 2010
10:02 am
The answer is Barry Melrose. The beard alone would get us 50 pts a season!
Seriously, folks...
April 15th, 2010
10:13 am
Any of the guys on my street. We’re all under 35 and can have Chelios buy us beers after the games.
Delbert D.
April 15th, 2010
10:25 am
I like it when they drive those Zamborghini snow plows. That’s is the exciting part.
Darkhorse
April 15th, 2010
10:29 am
Whoever can be a good teacher for the younger guys and command respect. I don’t think that’s Hartley with this group of players. Some people have thrown out Denis Savard’s name also.
Would love to see Hedberg and Chelios as assistant coaches too.
Rex
April 15th, 2010
10:30 am
Nolan would be great choice , when I lived in Buffalo he took a very average team and put a fantastic hard working product on the ice. IF Dudley shapes this team like he played they should be a tough physical team, he had punches like jackhammers.
thebighairybeast
April 15th, 2010
10:30 am
MacTavish would be my first choice. has experience in dealing with a team that keeps the money strings tight. Therrien would be second. Would love to see what he could do with a team in a less pressurized enviorment. Torchetti would be third. Hes had a hand in building a very good Blackhawks team.
Telfo
April 15th, 2010
10:31 am
there is a reason Hartley hasnt gotten another job….
Hitchcock is notoriously terrible with young players… and Mactavish is way too old school for a young team.
Torchetti is probably the guy, Stevens wouldnt be a terrible choice, but he is a lot like Anderson…. though the problem with Anderson was more the system and the lack of adaptability then it was his demeanor.
Supes
April 15th, 2010
10:35 am
Jeff, whoever gets the job, I hope it is NOT who Teflon Don wanted. I hope this is Rick Dudley’s decision alone!!!
Matt
April 15th, 2010
10:52 am
Melrose is an idiot. There is a reason the Bolts dumped his can so quickly. Leave “The Mullet” on ESPN where he can do no more damage.
Coach Uncle Bob Fan
April 15th, 2010
10:57 am
Coach Uncle Bob got hosed here!
The D
April 15th, 2010
11:10 am
ED LAUTER, anyobody know who he coached?
The D
April 15th, 2010
11:13 am
Let’s get Scott Mchpherson? The dude who coached our PEE-WEE’S to the National Championship, I am sure he could do better, GO THRASH
Steve
April 15th, 2010
11:15 am
Anybody but Hitchcock! Nolan definitley would bring a tougher brand of hockey to town, but he might be TOO defense minded and conservative, and he seems to have a bit of an ego problem (he left the Sabres in a snit because he was only offered a one-year extension, and then had to wait a decade to get another head coaching gig). I agree with Matt about Melrose. MacTavish might be a good choice.
I have a feeling Teflon Don will have a big say in the coach who gets picked.
GaVaHokie
April 15th, 2010
11:16 am
Ted Nolan has been fooled TWICE by the Atlanta Thrashers… there’s no way he steps into anyone’s office for an interview.
He was considered when we hired Fraser, and was all but offered the job before the last second decision to hire Hartley… he made a huge stink about it too in the press.
RFrancis
April 15th, 2010
11:30 am
We need Bob Hartley back. Only man to take us to the playoffs. He was fired for losing the first 6 of the next season. But he warned us ahead of time that the team would be weak to start. Another one of Waddell’s many poor decisions in firing him. Heck, make him an Assistant GM too while your at it.
chc4
April 15th, 2010
11:31 am
Curt Fraser?
Jeff
April 15th, 2010
1:41 pm
McTavish….we need some old school hockey around here for a change.
Smoothie
April 15th, 2010
2:12 pm
How about Jim Schoenfeld?? The game needs more color!!
cobbdawg
April 15th, 2010
4:47 pm
Hire Pat Quinn away from Edmonton!
JSS
April 15th, 2010
6:31 pm
Mike Keenan? Step away from the keyboard and retire your user name!
Where in the hell did Rick Dudley get that suit from? But do what you got to do Mr. GM, go break some knee caps! Can Ida May channel Red Kelly instead?
Thrashfan
April 15th, 2010
11:21 pm
Kudos Jeff on picking out a name like Torch. It depends how deep Chicago goes in the playoffs. As for all the retreads everyone here is calling for please stop now. I am most upset that people actually are suggesting Hartley. Everyone is so upset that Waddell is still here in a magic shell game yet we want to bring back HIS coach as part of the front office shuffle? Makes no sense. Keenan, Nolan, Hitchcock, these are just more retreads that wore out their welcomes.
I’ll throw a name out there since most can’t think outside the box here – Bob Boughner.
There are 5 ways to go with a new coach. 1) the retread. That might sell a few seats for the first week but it won’t work with this group of young kids. 2) the hot assistant. Since Torch was already mentioned I’ll let that name qualify for this type. We’ll call him our second choice. 3) the top minor league coach. Since we just blew our chances with Anderson who was that type we won’t do that again anytime soon. 4) someone with past ties. This also qualifies for Torch.
5) the wildcard that no one saw coming. That would be the boogie man. Boughner has done a fabulous job in 4 seasons in the juniors. A record setting season and some championships. Currently coaches potential #1 overall pick in next June’s draft. Coached a top 10 pick last year and had 4 other players drafted. Coached a top ten pick the year before and had another first rounder and a few others in later rounds get drafted. The guy can develop young kids. Won CHL Championship last year (and coy). Coached under 18 national team to a gold. Was a former captain in NHL. Served in NHLPA role while player. Currently also involved in ownership group to purchase O-team. Can deal with front office. This would be a sound choice.
Thrashfan
April 15th, 2010
11:24 pm
Kudos Jeff on picking out a name like Torch. It depends how deep Chicago goes in the playoffs. As for all the retreads everyone here is calling for please stop now. I am most upset that people actually are suggesting Hartley. Everyone is so upset that Waddell is still here in a magic shell game yet we want to bring back HIS coach as part of the front office shuffle? Makes no sense. Keenan, Nolan, Hitchcock, these are just more retreads that wore out their welcomes.
I’ll throw a name out there since most can’t think outside the box here – Bob Boughner.
There are 4 ways to go with a new coach. 1) the retread. That might sell a few seats for the first week but it won’t work with this group of young kids. 2) the hot assistant. Since Torch was already mentioned I’ll let that name qualify for this type. We’ll call him our second choice. 3) the top minor league coach. Since we just blew our chances with Anderson who was that type we won’t do that again anytime soon.
4) the wildcard that no one saw coming. That would be the boogie man. He has done a fabulous job in 4 seasons in the juniors. Currently coaches potential #1 overall pick in next June’s draft. Coached a top 10 pick last year and had 4 other players drafted. Coached a top ten pick the year before and had another first rounder and a few others in later rounds get drafted. The guy can develop young kids. Won CHL Championship last year (and coy). Coached under 18 national team to a gold. Was a former captain in NHL. Served in NHLPA role while player. Currently also involved in ownership group to purchase O-team. Can deal with front office. This would be a sound choice.
Brendan
April 15th, 2010
11:33 pm
I don’t know. Let’s see who gets fired, as the playoffs progress. We never know who might suddenly be on the market. We don’t really have to make this decision soon. So, we might as well wait.
n8
April 16th, 2010
7:11 am
It’s definitely going to be Torchetti, Dudley has taken him everywhere he’s been and he’s paid his dues.
Thrashfan
April 16th, 2010
10:54 am
n8 – while I already said who I want I clearly think you are right that it will be Torchetti. That said if Chicago gets knocked out early in the playoffs don’t be so sure. He would still be the leading candidate but it just wouldn’t the lock that he seems to be now.
R. Stroz
April 16th, 2010
11:51 am
I have a dollar that says if Dudley said he wanted Schultz to coach that Waddell would nix the idea.
Jeff Schultz
April 16th, 2010
12:40 pm
Stroz — Can I bet?
David
April 16th, 2010
2:44 pm
Denis Savard would be my first choice.
Brendan
April 16th, 2010
7:06 pm
If Dudley is not free to select the coach he wants, then he is not the GM.
Krust
April 17th, 2010
8:26 am
Bob Hartley is my choice..
Big Al
April 17th, 2010
8:53 am
Please bring back Uncle Bob!
B. Thenet
April 17th, 2010
11:20 am
Head Coach: Dudley is an old school guy, he works with guys he likes and knows(see Kubina and Artyukhin) so I figure it will be Craig Ramsay or Torchetti
For assistant coach: Chris Chelios That guy has hockey in his blood, he is not going to retire and sit on the beach somewhere. If he cannot play, might as well throw him behind the bench. Take a look at the Chicago Wolves records since they signed him,,,,,we have a team full of young defensemen. He would be a nice guy to have around.
ksiujgth
April 17th, 2010
12:40 pm
the team prez does nothing, so let dwad coach. that should make the cheapskate owners happy.
LAC
April 17th, 2010
4:52 pm
Not sold on Ted Nolan, too many questions. Stevens, seems a unfit, as in not a fit for Atlanta, Not an unfit coach. Hitch… Pass. Whoever comes in must be strict on the players, have structure
and make them PLAY DEFENSE, you win from the goal out, somthing waddell has NEVER understood.
Defense wins championships, in ALL sports and Atlanta has NEVER shown any decent defense since coming into the league, I think all would agree on that. So the mindset has to change to defense FIRST. I could care less if we WIN 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2, JUST WIN. With us being in the top 8 in the NHL in Goal Scoring this past season, just think if we could PLAY defense and cut down about 50 goals… We would be playing today !
Whoever IS the next coach needs be defense minded and lower the GA and SA next season…
If there is another losing NON playoff year next year, much like the Flames, the Thrashers will burn out in Atlanta once and for all, so the asg better be serious about WINNING and NO more lame EXCUSES !
Brendan
April 17th, 2010
8:43 pm
I don’t get a vote, obviously. But my choice would be Craig Ramsay.
HillMan
April 18th, 2010
1:07 am
Thinking out of the box, how about the guy who coached the ladies to olympic goal and has worked with college kids for the past few years and won an olympic gold medal in 1980. Do you believe in Miracles? We need one here – my vote coach Mark Johnson.
By the way, DW was a teammate of his before he was cut from the final 1980 roster.
Búsqueda thrashers ': ponderando asistente de Chicago (y Hartley)
April 18th, 2010
1:16 am
[...] Rick Dudley tiene una importante decisión que tomar: ¿Quién será el técnico de su equipo? (Hyosub Shin / AJC) Dado el panorama deportivo, no creo que a las masas a obsesionarse con Dudley entrenador en jefe de búsqueda Rick hizo de la manera más Richt de búsqueda de marca de un coordinador defensivo. (Podría Kirby inteligente fijar metas-en contra?). Pero esto será sin duda la decisión más grande Dudley hace. Así, por lo que vale, aquí hay cinco nombres a tener en cuenta: John Torchetti es un entrenador asistente popular entre Chicago. ? John Torchetti: Algunos alrededor de hockey ya lo consideran el favorito. Es un asistente con los Blackhawks de Chicago, donde trabajó Dudley antes de venir a Atlanta el año pasado. Torchetti también trabajó con Dudley por otras dos paradas de la NHL, Tampa Bay y la Florida. Su fuerza es como un maestro y el trabajo con jugadores jóvenes. Él nunca ha sido un entrenador en jefe de la NHL-hecho y derecho, pero tuvo dos periodos intermedios con la Florida y Los Ángeles. ? Craig MacTavish: Tenía una muy sólida primeras cinco temporadas como entrenador en Edmonton … URL del artículo original http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/04/15/thrashers-search-pondering-chicago-assistant-and-h... [...]
Sean Borner
April 18th, 2010
1:20 am
266-323 first go around then…… 2064-1642 (3 losing seasons out of 20 and 5 pennant with WS Title)
Give Hartley a shot and maybe he can mimic Bobby Cox. I bet he won’t even beat up his wife while doing it!
Acer
April 18th, 2010
7:42 am
Atlanta is in the process of developing a nice nucleus of young players. Certain suggestions thrown around here are just mind-boggling:
- Do you understand why the Islanders fired Ted Nolan? He didn’t play the young guns. Pass
- Hitchcock’s treatment of Filatov this season shows you how much he appreciates young players. Pass!
- Hartley was rumored to coach Omsk in the KHL. The player successfully avoided the HartleySystemOfSuck by threating to revolt against the hiring. I hope that he’ll never coach again. HUGE Pass!
- How many good young players have emerged from the MacTavish coached Edmonton Oilers? Not too many by my count. Pass!
Keenan. Pass!
- I doubt that Therrien is the answer. Pass!
- The young players in St.Louis mostly underachieve this season under Murray’s regime. He’s a good “firefighter” coach who can fuel a team for 6-15 months, before he runs of out answers. Pass!
- Savard is an interesting name. I’m just a little cautious because he was fired only 8 or 9 games into last season. Pass!
I’d like to know why Craig Ramsay makes a good head coach! Torchetti and Bougher sound very intriguing. My guess is that Bougher will not wind up in Atlanta. I don’t think that Dudley will hire a guy who never had a coaching related job in the NHL.
Thrashfan
April 18th, 2010
11:52 pm
Acer I think the DeBoer hiring has erased some of that stigma of no NHL experience but that’s why I called Boughner a wildcard. Not that being with the Panthers helps the DeBoer hiring look good. Let’s face it though unless Chicago gets knocked out too early it will be Torch. Boughner will wind up an NHL head coach one day though if not in our town.
Good call on all the retreads who treated young guys like garbage. Nolan will play Boulton over Kane. Nielsen & Okposo (even Comeau) are breaking out now that Teddy is gone. Hitch will bench someone like Filatov here. The last thing I want to watch is Hartley-Coburn II and Bob stunting another top 10 pick.
Acer
April 19th, 2010
4:30 am
DeBoer and also Gordon (NYI went with him) were rumored to be candidates for vacant Thrashers HC job in 2008.
Brent Sutter is another coach, in younger history, who went straight from Juniors to the NHL. IMO; he never really had the chance to work that much with younger players in NJ or in Calgary like he did in Red Deer. Perhaps, he’s on Dudley’s list despite having a job.
Sutter and DeBoer have more Junior experience and they also coached some bad teams, which gives them a little edge in my book. Boughner always had the advance of coaching mostly good players & teams. I bet that NHL GM’s will hesitate to hire him without knowing how he handles adversity. That’s especially the case for teams like Thrashers, Jackets or Lightning. Teams which experience adversity [read: a bad season.] this year.
Thrashfan
April 19th, 2010
11:43 am
Boughner took over a team right after that hazing incident that had that goon who’s in Tampa Bay now and was hovering around .500 after all that. They only had 1 good player get drafted that year to the NHL and the year before they had 1 or 2 late rounders who were both busts, so it’s not like he was coaching “mostly good players”. They didn’t start having all the top draft picks until he became coach and he was developing those picks. His first year they won less than 20 games. Next year they made the playoffs even though his captain and NHL draftee died (irregular heartbeat or something like that) and the next year after that they won it all. This year they finished top of the conference again. I think he’s handled adversity very well.
Jim n Buckhead
April 20th, 2010
9:07 am
We lost the Flames and now about to blow our last shot with NHL..someone needs to figure out how to get a corch who can coach and then get him some players…..build a winner and they will come….if not then hello Winnipeg….
Dave
April 20th, 2010
11:37 am
I’m going to be upset if they hire a coach with no past NHL head coaching experience. This has been Fraser and Anderson’s first gigs, and it doesn’t work too well. If this job is someone’s first, I’m going to take that squirrel on Dudley’s head and throw it at someone.
Hire McTavish, Hitchcock, Stevens, or Hartley.
Old Time Hockey
April 20th, 2010
1:19 pm
How about Don Cherry!! He’s one heck of a dresser!!!
Thrashfan
April 20th, 2010
9:23 pm
Scotty Bowman or Toe Blake could not have coached the 1999 Thrashers to success. They were an expansion team. So to say we need this or that because of what Fraser accomplished with an expansion team doesn’t fly. Hitchcock, Hartley and McTavish can’t work with youth. We’ve got youth. Stevens might be something. Enough with the retreads though.
Don Waddell
April 22nd, 2010
8:27 am
Reggie Dunlop ~ Player Coach
Pinball34
April 23rd, 2010
4:30 am
Hey Devils: KOVY=CANCER…. LMFAO
Enjoy the summer..
Just Curious
April 23rd, 2010
12:13 pm
Hey Schultz…Remember how you beat Waddell (and indirectly Dudley) over the head for trading an unsignable Kovalchuk to Jersey? Remember how you said “Lou doesn’t make many mistakes”?
Isn’t it time you own up and admit he got KILLED in this trade and Duds picked his pockets clean?!? We got their #1 Rookie, their #1 Prospect, a mostly solid D-man and a 1st Rounder for a guy who just said he loved playing for Jersey…”It was a great experience”…Emphasis on the PAST tense!
You were DEAD WRONG about this one — The BIGGEST trade in Thrashers franchise history!! The only way it would’ve paid off for Lou is by winning the Cup…Not gonna happen. The Kovy Factor throws cold water on a hot team and they can’t even get past the Dysfunctional Flyers…..Not even CLOSE.
Let’s hear it Schultz: We made out like BANDITS by dumping Kovy on Lou!!!! C’mon, I know you can say it because your know it’s TRUE!
ltrebemt
April 23rd, 2010
1:56 pm
hey guys, this isn’t some big joke. if we don’t get a coach with fire and discipline we are down the tubes for sure. no great ideas, just somebody that likes kids and knows when to spank. i really like what we have now. no kidding. a few small additions and subtractions and we have a team that can compete every night. i personally love hockey in our town and don’t ever want to loose it.
Flagstaff
April 26th, 2010
9:30 am
B. Thenet: I have heard a rumor that one of the reasons besides the playoff run that Chelios was brought here was so that the team would offer him a position as an assistant coach. This is unconfirmed, but a reliable source says that this is a possibility (that is, if he’s ready to stop playing).
GaVaHokie
April 28th, 2010
10:33 am
Another option in the “following Dudley everywhere” category is Don Lever, now coaching the Wolves.
Possible scenario… Don Lever as head coach… Chris Chelios as Wolves coach (grooming)
Lee
April 30th, 2010
2:59 pm
I wish someone rich like Arthur Blank would buy the Thrashers..
AceDawg
May 4th, 2010
10:31 am
Hiring Hartley back? Wow. That’s about as good an idea as bringing back the old Jason masks for goalies.
mike lavelle
May 5th, 2010
9:33 am
Don Lever would be a great fit,Lever has paid his dues and a great record in the AHL speaks for itself. Players come out to play for him everynight and has a great communative relationship with them-Lever deserves a look! p.s. Lever is currently coaching the Thrashers AHL team-Chicago Wolves,they are currently leading the Texas Stars 2-1 in the 2nd round.
Dave
May 9th, 2010
8:49 pm
My choices, in order
Stevens
Hitchcock
Hartley
MacTavish
Therien
DO NOT HIRE Torchetti. Might be a good coach. But everything that’s being said of him was being said of Anderson, and we all know how that worked. DO NOT hire a first time NHL coach. PLEASE.
foo
May 12th, 2010
4:34 pm
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