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THN.com Blog: Coaching carousel crumbling

Islanders owner Charles Wang and GM Garth Snow decided to hire a new gun instead of looking to the old guard. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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Islanders owner Charles Wang and GM Garth Snow decided to hire a new gun instead of looking to the old guard. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Ryan Dixon

Ryan Dixon
2008-08-13 11:26:23

I have no idea who New York Islanders GM Garth Snow talked to before hiring Scott Gordon as his new coach, but I do know John Stevens and Bruce Boudreau served as great references.

When it comes to coaching hires in the NHL, the ties, they are a changin’. A league that’s long been known for giving out more second, third and fourth chances than Mother Teresa has finally caught on to the notion that fresh blood and new approaches can invigorate a franchise.

Boudreau, the reigning Jack Adams winner, has been a full-time pro hockey coach since 1992, but never once stepped behind an NHL bench until taking over the Caps last November.

Stevens, anointed 2007-08 coach of the year by The Hockey News this summer, was just eight games into his first NHL season as an assistant coach in 2006-07 when he was tabbed to take over the Flyers from Ken Hitchcock.

Two guys, a pair of first chances, results that can’t be quibbled with.

And the trend, it seems, is gathering steam.

Already this off-season we’ve witnessed first NHL head coaching cracks be dolled out to Todd McLellan in San Jose, Peter DeBoer in Florida and John Anderson in Atlanta. Now, Gordon’s hire on Long Island brings the total number of bench bosses currently on their first NHL coaching gig to 15, making an even 50-50 split league-wide.

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Moreover, it seems GMs aren’t even particular about where their new generals come from. The majority are men who were head coaches in the American League, while McLellan was an assistant in Detroit and DeBoer made the jump from major junior hockey.

Not long ago, it would have been unfathomable to imagine such new faces being hired ahead of out-of-work coaches with previous NHL experience such as Joel Quenneville, Paul Maurice and Mike Sullivan, let alone men with Cup rings such as Bob Hartley, Marc Crawford and John Tortorella.

Now, those fellas are left double-checking their cover letter for typos, while hoping the NHL hasn’t completely morphed into the New Hires Only League.

Ryan Dixon is a writer and copy editor for The Hockey News magazine, the co-author of the book Hockey's Young Guns and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog normally appears Wednesdays and his column, Top Shelf, appears every other Friday.

For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

COMMENTS (15)

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Claire Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:46)



Todd McClellan was a head coach in the AHL/IHL and won the Championship with the Houston Aeros before accepting the assistant job with the Red Wings. Sullivan too was the Providence coach before being an NHL guy. Heck, even Ken Hitchcock followed that path, being an assistant with the Flyers before taking over the bench of the K-Wings of the IHL before being given his shot as the Dallas coach. This is the right direction for the NHL to go. There should be a couple more guys coming like Todd Richards who just took a job in San Jose to pad his resume like McLellan did, and Don Lever who won a championship with Hamilton. Now if they can finally get rid of Mike Keenan it will only be too soon. Hopefully the ECHL and AHL clubs can find fresh talent to fill in for the void that has been left by these talented guys.
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Bob Allisat Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:45)



Chuckie Wang and Garth The Snow seem to have made one good decision in hiring rookie Gordon as the Isles' coach. However hanging this guy between one wild spending nut case, one completely off-the-wall amateur Helmsman, a brokeback goalie for life PLUS a roster that is dubious at best may turn out to be good Scott's worst nightmare. I wish SG all the luck in the world but fear the force is very dim in the kingdom of Nassau. And that doth not bode well. As for the rest of the dead wood former NHL coaches out there biting their nails by the phone? Thank good ness there's the KHL. And all those Euro and other leagues out there.
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Tommy P Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:42)



The results in Washington and Philly last year were outstanding. Bordreau won the Jack Adams last year if I remember and John Stevens led the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Finals so neither team was "crappy" or certainly not coached using the same adjective. The Islanders would be smart to stick with that young core of players and building off that.
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obed Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:42)



If every hires a cheapo coach, I guess the wings will string a dynasty together.
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Flyerfan52 Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:40)



Seeing the results in Philly and Washington last year, I wouldn't have called either team "crappy". Of course, both promoted their own AHL coaches who were already familiar with the players. With NYIs young organization, an AHL coach is probably the best. Most players are so young they haven't even been in a pro league.
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whatsthatsmell Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:38)



For the most part, the teams hiring these rookie coaches are pretty crappy. How long will the owners wait for both coach and players to pan out?
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Seb Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:36)



I think Montreal helped that trend start a few years ago by bringing Vilgneault from the minors and then Julien a few years later. They both are respected coaches now in the league. Their coaching styles worked in the minors and works as well in the NHL. When the coach is good and their approach to the game fits well with both players and ownership then it dont matter where they come from or what NHL experience they have. Its very different for players tho, whose playing style might not transfer as well from minor to major leagues. They also need to adapt to the coache's style and not the opposite. So when u get a coach good enough to make ur team better, regardless of the players, I dont care whether hes from the minor\major league or even an ex-player!
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jan Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:33)



makes you wonder how patient GM's and owners will be with all these coaches who have had coaching experience (but not at NHL level). will these guys get a chance to learn?
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Jethro09 Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:33)



I'd rather take a chance on a guy like Gordon, who has promise and upside, than guys like Hartley and Maurice, who are recycled re-treads who are mediocre coaches to begin with. Hopefully, Gordon experiences the same success and Stevens and Bordreau have.
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Flyerfan52 Posted
(2009-04-30 06:47:29)



It's about time for fresh faces in the NHL coaching position. Just as there are fresh players every year, it's time for new ideas and methods from the coaches.
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