Speculation: Head Coach Search Thread

[Hey234]

Bucci hinting we're close to announcing a coach? Or I suppose it could be Mighty Ducks jerseys full time.

Friedman has said a few times on his podcast that the Ducks are the farthest away from picking a coach. Verbeek is apparently interviewing coaches at the combine next week. My guess is it's contract related.

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

Surprised this wasn’t posted, MMC must be slacking. For non-subscribers, not much in the way of actual reporting but Eric talks a lot about Travis Green and Greg Cronin as candidates and those are basically the only two he mentions. Also hints there could be a resolution sooner rather than later in a weird way.

He also mentions Jay Leach, Mike Vellucci and Joe Sacco as possibilities but has no idea if they even interviewed. Also kind of rules out a return of either Bruce Boudreau or Kevin Dineen to the organization, or a Jeff Blashill or Benoit Groulx reunion with Verbeek.

 

[ADHB]

In the comments, Stephens also said that Babcock doesn't seem to be a candidate, while also saying that PV would be tight lipped to everyone in the media. So don't expect a list of finalists to come out.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

So not much in actual reporting, just speculation by Stephens?

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

So not much in actual reporting, just speculation by Stephens?

Mostly but given the way he kind of tiers everything in that article it does seem like Green and Cronin are the leading contenders and that’s far and away the most info we’ve gotten yet. It’s actually pretty insane how tight of a lid they’ve kept on this.

 

[Gliff]

So not much in actual reporting, just speculation by Stephens?

Par for the course.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

If the Stephens article is revealing the coaching interview list is much shorter, then why exactly are we taking a longer time to nab a head coach? It doesn't make sense to rule out Dineen and Groulx, especially when both are currently AHL coaches, which are more known for development. This thought makes the Stephens article more guessing than reporting.

 

[Mr Rogers]

Green would be my guess at this point

 

[Ducks DVM]

If the Stephens article is revealing the coaching interview list is much shorter, then why exactly are we taking a longer time to nab a head coach? It doesn't make sense to rule out Dineen and Groulx, especially when both are currently AHL coaches, which are more known for development. This thought makes the Stephens article more guessing than reporting.

The next coach will work from the ground up, as Anaheim’s 23-47-12 record last season was the worst in franchise history. Verbeek, who has talked to numerous candidates over the past few weeks, has made it clear that he intends to be patient with his rebuild.

Two takeaways - the next coach will be taking a big bite out of the same shit sandwich roster Eakins just had and they all know what that means for their careers, and all the folks window shopping trades and free agents should be preparing for disappointment.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

Par for the course.

Still don’t know how he is employed by the Athletic. Can’t believe I actually subbed to him years ago

Two takeaways - the next coach will be taking a big bite out of the same shit sandwich roster Eakins just had and they all know what that means for their careers, and all the folks window shopping trades and free agents should be preparing for disappointment.

That’s why - barring minimal changes to the lineup, even with the prospect of drafting Fantilli, this team will be bad again.

 

[duxfan1101]

 

[Static]

Incredible. That team loooooved torts, right?

 

[squashmaple]

Hello, new friends.

 

[TheGoodShepard1]

I cannot believe Babcock managed to find work again in this league. Whenever Gary reinstates Quenneville, he’s gonna have a new job in about 2 seconds

 

[Mr Rogers]

IMO, we have actually seen no evidence that Babcock is no longer a good coach/incapable of having success in today's NHL. the Leafs core has serious character issues. He may not be a great guy at all, but it's entirely possible that he can still be a very effective coach.

 

[squashmaple]

IMO, we have actually seen no evidence that Babcock is no longer a good coach/incapable of having success in today's NHL. the Leafs core has serious character issues. He may not be a great guy at all, but it's entirely possible that he can still be a very effective coach.

Most of the stories about him pre-date Toronto. Look up things Wings players have said. We all know about the Marner and Spezza and Modano stuff, but he was driving Johan Franzen to a mental breakdown and tormenting no less than Chris Chelios in Detroit. Arguments could be made he actively cost the Wings at least one Cup if not two. He is neither a good coach nor a good person.

 

[Mr Rogers]

Most of the stories about him pre-date Toronto. Look up things Wings players have said. We all know about the Marner and Spezza and Modano stuff, but he was driving Johan Franzen to a mental breakdown and tormenting no less than Chris Chelios in Detroit. Arguments could be made he actively cost the Wings at least one Cup if not two. He is neither a good coach nor a good person.

Agree to disagree. When the Wings lost, it was simply to better teams (maybe the one exception is 2006 vs Oilers). Their core was washed pretty much starting in 2010 and they lost to simply better teams. ironically their W over the Ducks in 2013 was actually really impressive.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

I cannot believe Babcock managed to find work again in this league. Whenever Gary reinstates Quenneville, he’s gonna have a new job in about 2 seconds

100%

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

Most of the stories about him pre-date Toronto. Look up things Wings players have said. We all know about the Marner and Spezza and Modano stuff, but he was driving Johan Franzen to a mental breakdown and tormenting no less than Chris Chelios in Detroit. Arguments could be made he actively cost the Wings at least one Cup if not two. He is neither a good coach nor a good person.

I think the Modano, Chelios and especially Commodore stuff(probably Spezza too) is entirely overblown and not much of a red flag at all. In each of those instances he just didn’t rate them as players, which you should want in a coach, but people get so hyper-fixated on sentimental things. Most of them aren’t quite as bad as the Yandle thing but it’s the same sort of concept.

 

[Leonardo87]

Hey Folks,

Please let’s not get into details or accusations in regards to Coach Q.

Thanks, appreciate it.

Leo

 

[Terry Yake]

the old boys club will never die out

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

the old boys club will never die out

The idea that the NHL heavily recycles old coaches and never gives new blood a chance has got to be one of the biggest misconceptions still going. 15 current coaches are on their first stint as full-time head coach and another 5 are on their second, most of which were fairly short. There’s likely two more coming, too. There’s hardly an old boys club when roughly 2/3rds of hires aren’t a part of it.

 

[Static]

The Babcock hire is stupid because they already tried that exact type of coach in Torts and it flamed out badly. The personnel isn't all that different from what he was working with, why would they go back to that well?

 

[91Fedorov]

Personally, I'm still bummed that we didn't get Brunette. But with that said... Who are the top coaches some of you are hoping for?

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

The Babcock hire is stupid because they already tried that exact type of coach in Torts and it flamed out badly. The personnel isn't all that different from what he was working with, why would they go back to that well?

It ended badly but I doubt anyone looks as the Torts era there as a failure. It’s far and away the most successful six year stint in their franchise’s existence.