Here is what Makarov said about this:
Translated from
www.sport-express.ru/art.shtml?86356
"Goose" Hitchcock
- Do you regret that you did not go, together with Larionov and Fetisov, to Bowmen’s Detroit to be a part of the Russian Five that won the Stanley Cup?
No I don’t, I have my own destiny. And a chance to win the Cup soon appeared.
After the unpleasant contract history with San Jose, I decided to finish my career. Before the World Cup of 96, I was coaching our national team. Unexpectedly, on one of our practices the general manager of "Dallas, Bob Gainey, came to me and said: "Sergei, you, I see, are in excellent shape. I want to sign a contract with you. You could teach the young some lessons." I thought about it and decided to go to Texas.
- Over there, if I am not mistaken, coach Ken Hitchcock was in charge, now successfully working in Philadelphia.
Yes, he is a very original character. Soviet temper ... And immediately upon arrival I understood that he will not let me play.
- Why?
Hitchcock could not stand Europeans. Plus everything on his team went according to scheme. During one of the first days, he began drawing me some kind of diagrams: how to go around players, where to be open, where to dump the puck. It was ridiculous ...
I tolerated it, tolerated, but then I could not anymore and explained to Hitchcock how everything is done in the actual game by the name of hockey. It seemed to me that my teammates started paying attention to me, see me almost as if I were a coach. Hitchcock, evidently, complained to the general manager. In the end, by mutual agreement of both sides, the contract was terminated, and my career ended.
- I have heard that Hitchcock could not even skate.
Yes, it was funny to look at – he put on skates and walked with them on ice, like a goose. And it was even funnier when, in one and a half seasons, Dallas won the Stanley Cup. However, Hitchcock, evidently, over screwed the bolts and soon he was fired afterall. On the request of the players themselves.